Spennymoor Sunday League

CHAMPIONSHIP favourites Newton Aycliffe were pushed to the limit by a strong Browney performance on Sunday.

Browney raced into a 2-0 lead thanks to goals from strikers Ian Ambrosini and Shay Richardson. Jason Wing pulled a goal back but Richardson added a third for the home side to make it 3-1 before the break.

An upset was on the cards until David Muir grabbed a brace to level the scores. Man of the match Mark Armstrong put the visitors ahead then defender Darren Griffiths added a fifth to complete the fightback and bag all three points.

Aycliffe boss Brian Scaiffe said: "They really butchered us in the first half and probably should have been further ahead at half-time. But we pulled ourselves together after the restart and I think it evened itself out. It was probably a fair result."

Browney assistant manager Kevin Williams said: "I thought we were very unlucky. Aycliffe have been playing extremely well lately so I thought we were doing very well, but their fitness showed and they just out-ran us in the last 20 minutes."

Stephen Newbury inspired Old Shildon to a home win over struggling Aycliffe side De Soto. The defender won the man of the match award as his side won 3-1. Phillip Appleby put the home side ahead before half-time and Darren Cliff netted a well-taken goal after the break to put Shildon 2-0 up.

Rob Chambers hit back for the visitors, but substitute Paul Shaw grabbed a third just five minutes from time to seal the win.

Old Shildon winger Martin Hedley said: "We controlled much of the game in the first-half and, although they came back into it in the second-half."

De Soto boss Grant Cockerill said: "They were all over us in the first-half and we didn't really get into the game until after half-time, when I think we evened them."

Meanwhile, struggling Witton Royal pushed title-chasers Eldon Lane in a tightly-fought game, Eldon running out 2-1 winners.

Second Division side Europa skipped into the semi-finals of the BA Trophy after a close encounter with First Division Belvedere.

Title-chasers Europa were slow off the mark as the home side took a two-goal lead in the first-half, striker Carl Cameron grabbing both goals.

But Europa's spirited fightback came soon after the restart when Mark Cairns pulled a goal back for the visitors. Anthony Campbell drew level for Europa before the tricky Mark Lunn netted a second-half brace to book his side in a place in the last four.

"We were lucky," admitted Europa secretary Garry Preston. "We were down to the bare bones in terms of players and I think it showed. We were completely out of it in the first half and I thought we threw it away, but we somehow managed to claw it back in the second-half."

Belvedere secretary Michael Hill said: "I thought we were the better team, especially in the first-half, when I was surprised with how quiet they were."

Europa man of the match was Paul Baird while Belvedere's was goakeeper Gary Overend.

The strike partnership of Chris Pennal and Alan Barrett powered Black Horse to a 6-2 win at Masons United.

The Tudhoe side hit United for six as the home side seemed to have this week's Division Two Cup semi-final clash with Royal George firmly on their minds.

The visitors took an early lead through Pennal, but David Maughen equalised for the hosts. However, Horse quicly rattled in another two on either side of half-time through winger Aaron McGarr and Pennal to make it 3-1 before Maughen again made amends.

But Horse extended their lead comprehensively when Pennal completed his hat-trick and fellow striker Barrett added two before the end.

Horse secretary James Curley said: "We didn't play all that well and I think it was closer than the scoreline actually suggested."

United secretary Peter Smith said: "The conditions weren't very good and the game was riddled with mistakes. But it was a bad game for us - I think our lads were too focussed on this week's cup semi-final match with the George. We can make excuses all day long, but we will have to play significantly better than that if we are to progress into the final on Sunday."

Elsewhere in the Second Division, Victoria have began what secretary Craig Armstrong described a "very promising revival" with a shock 3-1 win over Henknowle Manor. Two goals from Wayne Thompson and one from Adam Cunningham ensured victory. Meanwhile, Brawns Den bounced back from their 8-2 defeat at Huntsman recently to beat Pit Laddie with a similar scoreline.

Camerons Teesside League

ACKLAM Steelworks remain the only unbeaten team in the league following a 1-0 home victory, giving them a double over Thornaby.

They lost to Thornaby in the MacMillan Bowl but Acklam then won the league meeting 1-0.

In the first half Acklam were on top but unable to score. In the second period the visitors were well on top and it was against the run of play when Robert Donnelley scored on the hour. Thornaby introduced a number of substitutes and going into the final minute a good save from Paul Jennison in the Acklam goal helped his side to claim all three points and keep their charge for the title well on course.

Carlin How took a two-goal lead at BEADS and went on to gain a 3-1 victory.

All the action came in the first-half and in the fourth minute Jason Draper put the visitors ahead following a free-kick which left him with a simple tap-in. Draper then added a second of the match and 26th of the season in the 26th minute when he ran through the BEADS defence.

The home side pulled a goal back in the 30th minute when Mark Hyndman scored from the penalty spot after Lee Bowes was pulled down. But on the stroke of half-time a corner ball was cleared and fell to Graham Solomon whose shot trickled through all the players and keeper for a third Carlin How goal.

In the second-half the home side went close only in the last ten minutes when Michael Walker and man of the match Justin Godfrey could have salvaged something.

Basement club Mackinlay Park rocked home side Bedale Athletic with two goals in the first 12 minutes. But gradually Bedale got their act together for a 5-2 win.

Mark Gibson found Bedale's net in eighth minute and added a second four minutes later.

Bedale looked far from the side that pulled off a shock result the previous week against Nunthorpe in the Raine Trophy. But a minute before half-time Paul Taite gave his side the boost they needed when he scored. A minute later Adam Bramley made it an unlikely 2-2 at the half time.

In the second-half the home side hit form and in the 58th minute Bramley gave the home side the lead for the first time. Five minutes later he completed a hat-trick with his 24th strike of the season before Taite struck with his second of the match.

New Marske Sports Club matched their higher-placed opponents Cargo Fleet for the majority of their match. But the game turned in the 65th minute when an assistant referee flagged for an infringement in the New Marske penalty area and much to the astonishment of the home side a penalty was awarded and keeper Steve Boddy was sent off. From the spot-kick, Ray Teasdale kept his nerve and slotted home his 17th of the season. This knocked the stuffing out of New Marske and it came as no surprise when Michael Crowe scored in the 78th minute to secure a 2-0 win.

Nunthorpe Athletic are still tracking the leaders but had a stern test when entertaining Hollybush United. Nunthorpe, 2-1 winners, pressed from the start but were unable to make the breakthrough. A minute before half-time, and against the run of play, Nunthorpe were struck a bitter blow when David Burton gave away a penalty and Mark Thompson gave Hollybush an interval lead. In the second-half the home side pushed forward and in the 50th minute Glyn Swinnerton's free-kick gave the keeper no chance. On the hour an inspired substitution saw Peter Boldison replaced by Gary Hyde and in the 65th minute he rose to a right-wing cross and beat Chris Tyreman in the Hollybush goal with a glancing header.

Richmond Town secured their second consecutive 3-0 win, following their win over Whitby Town last week, beating Stokesley SC.

Champions Grangetown BC were held to a 1-1 draw at Thornaby YC 1. The game between Whitby Town Reserves and Guisborough Town Reserves was postponed.

Wolviston Reserves reached the semi-finals of the R T Raine Trophy following a 2-1 win over Fishburn Park and are now away to Thornaby Youth Club. Dominic Gamble put Fishburn Park ahead but the lead only lasted a few minutes when a corner that was cleared was knocked back in for Paul Haigh to fire across the Fishburn keeper and into the net. With ten minutes remaining Andrew Clark clinched a place in the semis with his fifth goal of the season.

Nunthorpe shone under the Whitby lights with a midweek 5-0 win over the home team's reserves, all goals scored in the second-half.

Five minutes into the second half Phil Pinkney gave Nunthorpe the lead. And seven minutes later Glyn Swinnerton added a second and produced his second in the 75th minute. Four minutes later Pinkney got a fourth and with four minutes remaining Nunthorpe added a fifth, an own goal from Graham Brewer.