The Mallard went down 3-1 at home to Whitehill. They were the stronger team in the first-half and went one up on 30 minutes with a goal from Barry Cougle.

Just before half-time John Todd equalised for Whitehill who were in control of the second-half with Peter Norton scoring twice, the second a penalty after 72 minutes.

Washington Westwood travelled to Hartlepool Boys Welfare to play them in the semi-final of the League Challenge Cup and Malcolm Nugent settled the tie in the first half with two goals for Westwood.

In the second-half Boys Welfare were unable to break down Westwood's stubborn defence.

With this result Westwood will have played in all the league's finals by the end of the season.

They have won the Washington Aged People's Trophy, lost in the final of the Clem Smith Bowl and hammered Birtley Town Reserves 5-0 in the final of the Mark Blake Memorial Trophy on Wednesday at Chester-le-Street's ground with Paul Diamond scoring a hat-trick. Westwood, two up at half-time, scored their other goals through Michael Ford and Nugent.

The League Challenge Cup final against Belford House is on Wednesday, April 18 at Chester Moor (kick off 7.30pm).

Birtley Town Reserves were 7-1 winners at home to Ebchester. In the first half Birtley were two goals up from Paul Freeman and John Curry. Ebchester pulled one back when Peter Cockburn scored from the penalty spot, making it 2-1 to Birtley at the break.

John Curry scored another two goals in the second half to make it his hat-trick, Chris Hayles scored another two goals for Birtley and David Southern rounded it off.

Springwell Village beat Sunderland Flying Boat's ten men 5-2 with goals from David Murray, Lee Clark (2), Andrew Elliott and Alan Mustard. Stephen Forster and Ian Usher scored for Sunderland Flying Boat.

Seaham The Duke missed their opportunity to go top when they travelled to Durham Victoria Bridge and lost 1-0 which left them two points behind leaders Hartlepool Boys Welfare.

Victoria Bridge won the game in the 30th minute when Lee Pratt headed a cross to Francis Ward who with a diving header gave them the winning goal.

l The league are seeking another two teams to bring the league up to full strength for next season.

Interested clubs should write to chairman, Alan Charlton, 2 Thornton Close, Penshaw, Houghton-le-Spring, DH4 7RA or phone on (0191) 5843442

Classic Trophy UK Middlesbrough Sunday League

Haverton Hill beat Parklands 2-1 and are enjoying their best season for a long time. James Stewart put Haverton Hill ahead direct from a 20-yards free-kick after 15 minutes and 20 minutes Paul McCulloch notched number two to put Haverton in the driving seat. Parklands manage a consolation goal through Colin Smith.

Intrepid Explorer took an eight-goal hammering from Jack and Jill. Darren Stoker claimed a hat-trick, Gary Byutheway a brace and singles from David O'Donnell, Ashley McGregor and Ian Nettleton making up the eight.

Lingdale YCC conceded three first- half goals from Popeyes B in the first 30 minutes, Ray Woodhouse, Stephen Beattie and John Ryan causing the damage. Then came a fightback with Martin Marsh pulled one back. Marsh got a second after the break for Lingdale but a late onslaught could not break Popeyes' defence.

Popeyes A went down 4-0 at home to Iceland who scored through James McGowan (2), Craig Owens and a debut effort by John Paul Rowe.

Priory SC kept their unbeaten tag but were stretched all the way by Stockton Double Glazing. Priory scored a goal in each half through Andrew Bowman, number 16 for the season, and prolific scorer Anthony Roberts with number 40.

Hathaway Auckland and District League

Shildon Railway remain in pole position after a 5-1 win over Brewer and Firkin. The game was won in the first period with the Railwaymen scoring four times through Stuart Blackett, Michael Boddy, Will Swinburn and John Shotton. Stuart Blackett was their second-half scorer.

Second-placed Darlington RA had a 9-0 win over Middleton Wanderers who struggled to raise a team. The RA scorers were Graham Dodsworth (3), Daryl Hill (2), Gary Hornsby (2), Mark Radmore and Mark Keenan.

Cockfield moved into third place after a 10-1 win over Glaxo with goals from Andrew Bowes (4), Stuart Hardaker (3), Steven Rogers, Peter Sedgwick and Stephen Hall with Antony Bayles reply for Glaxo.

Roddymoor started their backlog of games in midweek with a 2-0 success over Witton Park. On Saturday they beat Brandon Station 5-1. They led 3-0 at half-time with goals from Andrew Burgess, Barry Thompson and David Snow with Andrew Burgess and Andrew Singlewood scoring in the second half.

In the Darlington Charity Cup, the all- league affair between DSRM and Witton Park ended 2-0 in Witton Park's favour with goals from Paul Buckle and Anthony Weir.

Quinn's Inn beat Cleveland Social 4-1 with goals from John Nicholson (2), Michael Jackson and Michael Kyle.

Black and Decker went out, beaten 3-2 by Billingham Telstar. Michael Hodgson and James Hedley were their scorers.

l The Auckland Charity Cup is an all-league affair between DSRM and Darlington RA at Bishop Auckland's Kingsway ground on Monday (kick-off 7 pm).

l The Auckland League is seeking new clubs for next season. Anyone interested should ring secretary Barrie Pickering on Darlington 256392.

North East Christian Fellowship League

Airport Church Newcastle played local rivals Bethshan Christian Centre in a match where the weather and the pitch were not going to help either team who finished even at 1-1. The first half finished 0-0 with Airport goalkeeper Nick Moran and man of the match John Cole, Bethshan's keeper, pulling off some tremendous saves. The deadlock was broken by Airport's right-back Kevin Parish two minutes later in a goal-mouth scramble. Martin Kay planted the ball into the net to square the match and that was the end of the scoring. The draw was well-earned by both teams and takes Airport to joint top spot.

Stranton Saints Hartlepool completed a deserved 1-0 win over Consett Methodist Church. The goal came on the half hour with Stranton's captain, Aiden Trimble putting his foot firmly to the ball from a corner and directing it into the net.

Martin Harvey put City Church Sunderland into the lead and on their way to a 2-1 win at Whitley Bay Churches. Rob Lewis equalised for Whitley Bay in the second half but Noel Harrison popped up to give City Church all three points.

Jesmond Parish Church got back to winning ways over at Ryton Churches with an 8-1 win. Leading 2-0 at half time, the goals flowed in the second half with Jesmond's Ben Chambers started the ball rolling with a hat-trick while Andy Widdrington (2), Tom Digby, Keiron McGrane and Matthew Flenely all notched. Brian Gilmour scored Ryton's consolation.

Athenians, who had not won for five matches, took a two goal lead into half time at Paddy Freemans against Heaton Hearts with Jason Alexander and Angus Patterson netting the goals. They stretched their lead to 3-0 through Andy Dawson before Paul Richardson scored Heaton's only goal in a 3-1 win for Athenians.

In Division Two, Monkwearmouth Christians FC, who have lost only once this season, keep producing the goods. This week saw them at home to Saint Peter's Low Fell and they opened the scoring through Ben Johnson before an own goal gave Wearside a 2-0 win.

Jesmond Parish Church B met Middlesbrough Baptists and a hat-trick from Matthew Dawson put Jesmond on the way to 4-1 win. Sam Cunningham scored Jesmond's other goal with John Illey netting in the first half for Middlesbrough Baptist's.

Lanchester Chapel, trying to save themselves from the wooden spoon, collapsed to another defeat, this time at the hands of Bethany Christian Centre, 2-1. Andrew Sword gave Lanchester hope by scoring their goal but a goal each from Chris Frame and Ian Martin gave Bethany a win.

Division One

P W D L F A Pts

Airport Church Newcastle 13 8 3 2 28 24 27

Consett Methodist. Church. 13 9 0 4 39 22 27

City Church Sunderland 13 8 2 3 37 19 26

Bethshan Christ. Centre 13 7 4 2 31 16 25

Jesmond Parish Church. 13 7 2 4 30 18 23

Stranton Saints Hartlepool 14 6 2 6 30 27 20

Whitley Bay Churches. 16 4 3 9 22 38 15

Heaton Hearts 15 4 1 10 23 34 13

Athenians Christ. FC 14 3 2 9 25 43 11

Ryton Churches 14 2 3 9 18 42 9

Division Two

M'mouth Christians FC 16 12 3 1 69 32 39

Wearside Comm. Ch. A 16 11 1 4 56 23 34

Westgate Rd. Bap. Ch. 18 8 3 7 51 46 27

Saint Peter's Low Fell 17 8 2 7 38 36 26

Heworth Christ. Fellowship 16 6 4 6 48 49 22

Middlesbrough Bap. 17 6 4 7 35 43 22

Yarm Emmanuel 17 5 6 6 54 57 21

Bethany Christ. Centre 15 4 5 6 27 40 17

Jesmond Parish Ch. B 12 5 1 6 23 30 16

Lanchester Chapel 17 3 4 10 33 56 13

Wearside Comm. Ch. B 18 3 1 14 27 72 10