ELDON Lane continued their title push with a comfortable victory over Aycliffe side Horndale.

Struggling Horndale, who started the league in blistering fashion with five wins from the first eight games, now languish in the bottom four.

But Eldon are still sitting pretty at the top of the First Division thanks to the striking partnership of Steve Weldon and Michael Bland. Despite a spirited and battling performance by the visitors, Eldon raced into a 2-0 lead in the first-half thanks to a brace by Weldon. Bland added the third shortly after the break and Weldon completed his hat-trick before Bland grabbed his second.

New Masons kept up the pressure a with a 4-2 win against the in-form Grand. Two penalties in the first 15 minutes helped to give the Masons a 4 - 0 unassailable early lead but a magnificent comeback attempt from the Grand gave the Masons "a real scare" according to Masons captain Dave Trotter.

As Jonathan Slack brought down a Masons forward after 10 minutes, the future looked bleak for the in-form Grand. Slack gave away another penalty five minutes later, then a Slack own goal gave the mighty Masons a four-goal lead.

A penalty from Mark Priestley reduced the arrears, which was won when the dynamic Shaun Reynolds was cruelly brought down to earth in front of an open goal, and a masterful Simon Marshall solo effort ensured that the Grand made a game of it.

Three efforts from Mark Priestley hardly bothered the Masons' keeper and a Wayne Parnaby sitter was scuffed wide enough to bother the corner flag.

However, exceptional goalkeeping from Dave Baglin denied the Masons any more goals. A great game, evenly contested, was won by the Masons 4-2 but beware the Grand next season.

In Division Two, Masons United inflicted yet another defeat on nine-man Locomotion in the space of just a week. Seven days after beating the Aycliffe outfit 5-1, second-bottom United continued their impressive recent run by beating the struggling Loco 4-1 at home.

The visitors, who began the game with nine men, went behind to a Robert Wilson goal in the first-half, but they held out until half-time.

However, second-half goals from David Maughan, Lee Hall and Peter Smith - plus a sending off for Loco - stamped three points for United.

Meanwhile, bottom-of-the-table Victoria lost to a single goal against Broompark Loves. In a close game, it took a quality goal by striker Peter Jackson to decide the two teams. Craig Flowers whipped in a first-class cross from the flank into Jackson, who headed powerfully into the net.

Results - Invitation Cup, round two: Browney 6, Shildon Ath. 5.

Division One: Old Shildon 2, Salvins 3; Grand 2, N.Masons 4; Horndale 0, Eldon Lane 5.

Division Two: B Loves 1, Victoria 0; Huntsman 2, Pit Laddie 0; Masons Utd 4, Locomotion 1.

Tuesday, April 3 - B and A Trophy, quarter final: New Masons 3, Salvins 2.

Division One: N Aycliffe 2, Old Shildon 1; Croxdale 4, Belvedere 1.

Thursday, April 5 - Division Two: Railway 0, Henknowle 5; R.George 5, Locomotion 1; Green Tree 5, Shildon Ath. 1; Brawns Den 0, Europa 3.

Division One

P W D L F A Pts

Eldon Lane 21 16 1 4 81 42 49

New Masons 15 14 0 1 70 20 42

Newton Aycliffe 14 14 0 0 64 14 42

Salvins 14 11 2 1 57 18 35

Croxdale 19 10 4 5 53 42 34

Old Shildon 19 11 0 8 65 40 33

Belvedere 19 6 3 10 51 63 21

Grand 21 6 2 12 50 69 21

Browney 21 6 2 13 48 78 20

Horndale 19 5 0 14 40 78 20

*De Soto 19 5 2 12 43 72 15

North Eastern 20 4 1 15 49 99 13

Witton Royal 21 4 0 17 37 92 12

Division Two

Royal George 17 16 0 1 79 24 48

Green Tree 21 14 1 6 83 51 43

North Briton 18 12 2 4 66 44 38

Henknowle 17 12 1 4 57 42 37

Huntsman 14 11 3 0 90 25 36

*Europa 15 12 0 3 79 23 33

Brawns Den 20 10 2 8 67 61 32

Pit Laddie 21 8 1 12 42 66 25

B Loves 17 7 2 8 44 54 23

Black Horse 21 7 0 14 70 94 21

Locomotion 18 6 0 12 49 71 18

Masons Utd. 20 5 1 14 42 70 15

Shildon Ath. 22 5 0 17 38 94 15

Railway 17 4 1 12 39 75 13

Victoria 20 2 2 16 26 77 8

*Denotes three points deducted