The Northern Echo gained their first win of the year and consolidated their mid-table position in Division One with a 5-0 victory over relegation-doomed Jack Homers who defended superbly in the first-half with the Echo taking the lead just before the break through John Neilson.

Two well-taken goals by Craig Maddison and further strikes from Les Monney and Keith Duncan gave the Echo a hard-earned win. Copper Beech DCS's misery continued, beaten 8-1 against East End WMC. Gavin Bell (2) and a Steve Savage hat-trick ensured a 5-0 interval scoreline. Things got worse for Beech in the second-half when they conceded three more goals from Wayne Irving, Darren Winfield and Paul Day. Copper Beech pulled one back through Darren Johnson.

Brinkburn virtually sealed their own fate by scoring two goals at the wrong end while the same time ensuring Springfield their first division status after their 11-0 defeat. Darren Tate's prolific form continued, hitting five of the Springfield's tally. Also on target were Alan Conachy, Dominic Rich, Mark Jenkinson and Michael Bland. Coundon's chance of a first championship rests in their own hands and there was no suggestion of them faltering when they saw off rivals Newton Aycliffe Sports Club 3-1. Rob Mazur (2) and veteran Darren Wilson scored for Coundon with John Shotton hitting Aycliffe's consolation.

Smith and Allen once again pulled off a Houdini act, coming back from 4-1 down to grab a well-earned 5-5 draw against Classic World of Fitness in Division Two. Classic held a 3-1 lead at the break and increased it to 4-1 early in the second-half. Most teams might have fold but Smith and Allen's determined players had other ideas when Alan Storey had the game of his life scoring three great goals. With the scores level at 4-4 Classic scored a bizarre goal two minutes from the end but with seconds remaining man of the match Andrew Fletcher sent a fantastic through ball to the feet of hat-trick hero Storey who slotted his fourth and final goal. Paul Barber was also on target. Classic's goals came from Grant Brown, Mark Beddard and a hat-trick by James Turbitt .

Despite the competitive match not suggested by the scoreline Nestfield continued their unbeaten run against a hard-working Hogan's side coming out 9-0 victors. Their were hat-tricks from leading scorer Gary Mitchell and Chris Robinson and one for Danni Chapman, Mark Cockburn and Tony Baker. Jon Robson's fine performance earned him another man of the match award. Northern Spirit RA virtually blew their promotion chances after a 3-2 defeat by relegation candidates Newton Cap who started in a positive fashion, taking the lead through Neil Redden who was again on target after 25 minutes when he headed home from a corner to make it 2-0. RA's Mike Donnelly pulled one back for the visitors from a spot-kick on 35 minutes. In a tight second-half, Paul Burne made it 3-1 to the home side. In the last 15 minutes the RA applied pressure and despite being rewarded from a headed goal by Simon York they left empty handed.

Northern Spirit Colts are in trouble following their 4-1 defeat at Bishop Auckland Derby who fully deserved the three points. A goalkeeping error by Chris Woods allowed hosts Derby their first goal which sent Colts reeling as they went on to immediately concede a further two goals. The visitors did attempt to get a grip on the game but with some areas of pitch best-described as a bog, Colts were prevented from playing their usual passing football.

Derby's goals were scored by Wayne King (2), Michael Latcham and Robert Barnes while Steven Jardine had an outstanding day in goal for The Derby. David Collinge tucked-away Craig Stoddart's flick-on but it proved to be no more than a consolation for Colts who must now be looking towards a season in Division Three next year.

Despite the absence of midfield playmaker Paul Mulrooney, Hoppers Transport kept up their promotion chase at the expense of rivals Green Dragon with a 3-2 victory. Elliot McCabe scored both Green Dragon goals with Hoppers replying through Craig Gill, Andrew Thompson and Ian Thompson. Bishop Auckland's King Head had the distinction of being the first team to beat Division Three leaders Shuttle and Loom. Despite being 1-0 down at half-time to a hotly-disputed Stuart Curry goal, King's Head fought hard in the second-half and equalised through Kevin Hamilton. Meadows and Hunter went close, but it was Michael Barker who sealed a 2-1 victory. Darlington 21st Allstars remained in championship contention after thumping AXA Insurance 11-2. Darren Koktus (4) Antony McMaster (3) Daniel Hawafing (2) Ryan Sandwick and Stephen Stacum scored Allstars' goals. AXA's consolations came from Andy Ribson and Chris White.

Stooperdale RA who, aftrer a long and successful association with the league - they were founder members - have folded.

Darlington and District League

Cleveland Bridge had to wait until the second-half for the two goals which gave them the points and maintained their title challenge against RA Social. Ross Ainslie and substitute Lee Cloke scored. Matthew Collinson put Cricketers ahead after ten minutes of their encounter with Spraire and doubled their lead shortly before half-time when Collinson's shot was parried by keeper Mark Baldwin for Gary Wilson to tap in the loose ball.

Spraire pulled one back immediately after the restart with an unstoppable volley from Gavin Rose. Spraire pressed for the equaliser but Cricketers completed the scoring for a 3-1 win when Mark Bunker fired in his side's third in the 68th minute.

For the second week running DSRM SC had their game won by half-time. They led Old Boys 5-1 at the interval and the game finished 6-2 to Mills with Stuart Alderson and James Gallagher notching for Old Boys. David Raine and David Thompson with braces, Paul Strickland and Mark Skelton were on the mark for Mills.

Newton Aycliffe maintained their six-point lead at the top after beating Hole in the Wall 5-2, Neville Fuller and Daniel Leafe scoring for Wall. Only one goal separated Post Boy and East End WMC and it was Post Boy's Jamie Watson who headed in a long throw after 30 minutes who secured the points for the Ferryhill side. An own goal gave Rothmans the lead at home to Speedy Hire, Craig Hutchinson adding a second after the break. A Darren Gibson effort was all Speedy Hire could muster in reply. In an entertaining game at Croft, two goals from man of the match Michael Thwailes and one from Leon Russell accounted for Archdeacon's goals against visitors Shuttle and Loom who emerged 5-3 winners. In the first of the season's night matches, goals from Matthew Hanifan and Daniel Fleary secured a point for Killinghall Arms in a 2-2 draw with Cricketers Hotel.

Darlington Church and Friendly League

Wesley's put up what they believe to be their best display of the season, despite losing 6-4 when they went to Chilton to take on Wheatsheaf Wanderers. The hosts took the first half honours and led 3-0 at the break. But Wesley's fought back in the second period and although they eventually lost, were unlucky to come away empty handed. For Wheatsheaf John Daniels hit a hat-trick with one each for Paul Hannah, David Tate and Steve Ryder. Wesley's replied with goals from Paul Prince, Mike Ryan, Mark Millman and Neil Jolly.

Model T's aspirations of retaining their league title took a knock when they went down 2-1 at DGSOB. Old Boys took a first half lead when Peter Turnbull's long ball was headed in for an own goal. Richard Dodsworth struck early in the second half to level the scores. From then on Old Boys were penned back with Model T hitting the woodwork on a number of occasions, with ten minutes remaining Old Boys broke away to snatch the winner through Ben Jolly.

Playing some very good football, RA Youth dominated their game with Turbinia, coming away with a resounding 9-2 victory. Darren Kokes was again on target with four, Chris Barr and Chris Marksby both hit a brace with the odd one go ing to James Lowe. Wayne Pratt and Paul Blackett replied for Turbinia.

SCA had things very much their own way against Tap & Spile who struggled to get a side out and having to call on their injured keeper Dave Thompson to stand in. After a first half which only produced one goal, it appeared everything fired at the Tap goal in the second went in. Mike Longstaff, Michael Beilby and Neil Atkinson all hit doubles, Chris Jordan and Paul Alton rounded off their 8-0 victory. At Barnard Castle it was another draw for Deepdale, their sixth this season and the game was another end-to-end cracker. This time around Busters were their visitors. The sides were level at 1-1 at the interval, early in the second Busters went ahead, then followed three goals in the space of six minutes (62, 63, 68 ) which meant the game ended 3-3. Darren Gill (2) and John Rogers for Deepdale scored with Gavin Bell (2) and Rodney Brown replying.

The remaining fixture to be played was between Aycliffe Saints and Three Tuns. A late goal gave Tuns the points with a 4-3 victory. Simon Phillipson and a brace for Jonathan Hall were Saints' scorers.