Wanderers are tops

Keith Aldridge was a key figure in Billingham Wanderers 2-1 home win over Penshaw Catholic Club. He scored both the goals and was so close to a hat-trick.

The victory enabled Billingham to take over at the top of the Premier Division.

The home side were playing their first game in a month and had an early chance through Keith Corner which went over the bar.

The visitors had plenty of the ball, but found Harry Davies and Tommy Connor in the Billingham defence in good form. After 20 minutes the home side took the lead with a good individual goal from man of the match Aldridge.

After the interval Billingham had several chances before a through ball let in Aldridge to make it two. With two minutes remaining Jimmy Thompson headed home for Penshaw from a free-kick and in the final minutes only a good save prevented Aldridge netting a hat-trick in a fine win.

Billingham Wanderers play local rivals Sedgefield United in the Robson Pattinson Cup, round one tomorrow at Norton and Stockton Ancients' ground.

The Teessiders hope to have Bobby Scaife and ex-Billingham Synthonia player Andy Harbron back for the tie. The winners will be at home to Sunderland Railway.

In Division One, Masons Arms came back to form to defeat promotion-seeking Sunderland Catholic Club 5-3 at home. The Masons Arms opened in fine style and took an early lead through Alan Gates. Charlie Tyres put them 2-0 up before the Catholic Club pulled one back. Tyres and then Kevin Hodgson both scored to give the Masons Arms a 4-1 lead at half time.

After the restart the Pirates became complacent and the Catholic Club scored three to come back into the game at 3-4 but a further goal from sub Josh Richardson settled the issue 5-3. Gordon Bennett had a very good game.

Cleveland Bridge lost 5-4 away to Roker Queen Vic in a very lively Division Three game. Roker opened the scoring through Bob Lyle but Robinson quickly levelled for the Darlington side and Leife put them ahead.

Lyle headed home a cross from Lawrence to make it 2-2 and goals from Willis and Lyle gave Roker an interval lead.

After the restart John Dee scored to make it 3-4 and Martin Nicholson finally scored to make it 4-4. In the closing minutes Bob Lyle scored his hat-trick and gave Roker a 5-4 victory.

In Division Four, Wynyard Veterans won 3-2 at Darlington Railway and are one point behind the leaders South Shields Lake but have three games in hand so promotion is well on the cards.

The first half was very even, ending 1-1 but after the restart the Veterans gained the ascendancy and scored twice to lead 3-1 before the Railway pulled one back in the closing stages.

Railway scorers were Chris Oxley and Chris McMasters and for the Veterans, Billy Rogers and a brace from Mo Najah.

County CIU Cup

First round results: Coundon lost to Tindale Crescent, Glendale Social beat Neon Social, Murton Victoria lost to Stockton Blytholme, Newton Aycliffe beat Fishburn, Ferryhill lost to Elmfield, Winlaton New West End beat East Stanley, Eldon Lane lost to Chilton and Windlestone. Shotton Comrades v New Brancepeth still to play.

Second round: Chilton and Windlestone v Newton Aycliffe, Tindale Crescent v Shotton Comrades or New Brancepeth, Stockton Blytholme v Glendale Social, Elmfield v Winlaton West End.

l Results to be into the branch office by February 7.

Hambleton Ales Combination

Royal Oak extended their lead at the top of Division One to eight points with a 2-1 home victory over Rountons on Sunday.

With Northallerton Police and Great Ayton Hibs not in league action, North Yorks Unison moved into second place with their fourth successive victory, a 3-1 away win against Robert Thompsons.

With Division Two leaders Topcliffe involved in cup action, Brompton-on-Swale recaptured top spot after a 5-0 home victory over Catterick Village and Durham Ox ended a run of three successive defeats with a 4-2 home win over Blue Star.

With the leading teams in Division Three without league games, Ingleby Greenhow missed a chance to make up ground when they were beaten 2-1 at Thirsk Town who gained their first win in four games.

Sinderby extended their unbeaten run to five matches with a 3-0 away win over Elders SC and Hutton Rudby hit the highest score of the day in a 10-3 away victory at Buck Inn, Northallerton.

In the second round of the Hambleton Ales League Cup, Topcliffe, Osmotherley Rangers and Thirsk Albion won through against opposition from lower divisions. In the all-Division Three ties, Streetlam Farmers had a 7-4 away victory against Cowtons and Romanby Park won 3-2 at home to Vale of York.

In the North Riding Sunday County Cup, Northallerton Police were beaten 3-1 at home by North Ormesby Institute.

Results - Division One: Robert Thompsons 1, North Yorks Unison 3; Royal Oak 2, Kneeton Park 1.

Division Two: Catterick Village 1, Kildale 5; Appleton Wiske v Robert Thompsons Reserves postponed; Brompton on Swale 5, Oak Leaf 0; Durham Ox 4, Blue Star 2.

Division Three: Buck Inn Northallerton 3, Hutton Rudby 10; Elders SC 0, Sinderby 3; Thirsk Town 2, Ingleby Greenhow 1; Knayton v Nag's Head Utd postponed.

Hambleton Ales League Cup, Second round: Northallerton WMC 2, Topcliffe 3; Cowtons 4, Streetlam Farmers 7; Thirsk Albion 2, Stokesley SC 0; Romanby Park 3, Vale of York 2; Osmotherley Rangers 3, Marne Dragons 2.

North Riding Sunday County Cup: Northallerton Police 1, North Ormesby Institute 3.

Crook and District League

All matches involving Crook League sides were postponed at the weekend following the sudden death of league secretary, Dave Goodwin.

A former secretary of his local Coundon side, Dave took over as league secretary in 1993. He was a well-known figure in local football and will be sadly missed by all.

Hathaway Auckland and District League

With Shildon Railway and Cockfield games postponed due to frozen pitches, Darlington RA increased their lead at the top with an 11-1 win over Glaxo, goals coming from Paul Adamson (3), Gary Hornsby (3), Graham Dodsworth (2), Mark Radmore, Stephen Walker and Dave Woodcock.

Coxhoe Athletic moved up the table following a 4-0 win over Witton Park. They led 1-0 at half-time with a goal from Phil Lawson. In the second-half the same player took his total to four, converting three penalties.

Brewer and Firkin also climbed after a 3-2 win over Quinns Inn. They led 2-0 at half-time with two goals from Lester Corbett. Quinns Inn pulled two back in the second half from John Nicholson and Martin Longthorne with Stephen Cook scoring the winner for Brewer and Firkin.

Black and Decker were another team to move up the table after a 4-0 win over Middleton Wanderers. Lee Thistlewaite scored all their goals, three in the first half and one in the second.

The games between DSRM and Cockfield and Roddymoor and Shildon Railway were postponed due to frozen pitches.

Darlington Church and Friendly League

The league got back to some form of normality this week, getting in four fixtures. It was a strange feeling for most teams as they haven't played a league game since mid-November.

Darlington Model T's last match was as far back as October 21 but at the weekend they went to Chilton and found themselves 2-1 down to Wheatsheaf Wanderers at the interval.

In the second half they found their feet and from midway through the period they dominated play to run out 5-2 victors. Chris Chapman and Paul McClearn gave the home side the first half lead. In the second Richard Dodsworth completed his hat-trick with the other two coming from James Applegarth, the second being an excellent 25-yard strike.

Stillington The Royal had the upper hand over neighbours Sedgefield Athletic for most of the game running out comfortable 7-2 winners. Simon Hares and Paul Cleary both hit a double, one apiece went to Wayne Muldowney, Paul Weir and Martin Corney. Brassell brothers David and Scott were on target for Sedgefield.

Dave Challies and Chris Brockbank gave Darlington GSOB a 2-0 half time lead over Shildon Three Tuns. In the second half they gave away a penalty and from then on threw away the points as they went down by three goals to two. Paul Gibson converted the penalty with Lee Bonas adding the other two.

At Barnard Castle, Aycliffe Saints - playing their first game since the beginning of November - found the boys of Deepdale too fit and fast for them although they never stopped trying.

They went down 8-2 after conceding four before the break. Trenton Hewitt was again on target with a hat-trick, a brace went to Phil Kirby with one each for Andrew Harrison, Edward Kenny and Ian Graystone, who, on his first appearance this season headed in the eighth, Richard Cave and Simon Phillipson scored Saints' second half goals