Wensleydale Creamery League

Leyburn maintained their one point lead when they visited Reeth and won 3-0. James Wilkinson put them in front from the penalty spot after nine minutes and the same player made it 2-0 five minutes from the interval with a 20-yard free-kick.

Midway through the second half Martin Allinson settled the issue with a third goal for the leaders.

Hawes United extended their unbeaten run to nine games when they travelled to Richmond Buck and won 4-2. Mark Alderson and Nick Prince gave them a 2-0 advantage in the opening 20 minutes before Adam Emson pulled a goal back for Buck. A minute from half-time the visitors made it 3-1 as Wayne Winspear fired in a 30-yard free-kick. Ten minutes into the second half Stuart Dinsdale added a fourth for Hawes and they ended comfortable victors despite a second late goal for the home side by Emson.

Richmond Mavericks notched their fourth successive league win by two clear goals at Catterick Village. Matthew Pollock put them ahead after 20 minutes but it was not until midway through the second half that Craig Vincent made it 2-0 to end the home side's hope of a point.

A late goal by Bishopdale brought them the points in a 5-4 victory at Bowes. The home side got off to a flying start with a goal in 12 seconds headed in by Justin Hesp and Trevor Guy quickly added a second. Andy Rakes replied for the visitors but Scott Walker promptly made it 3-1 for Bowes. Bishopdale scored a second through Noel Butterworth but the home side responded with a fourth goal from Walker to lead 4-2 at the break. The second half, however, proved a different story as goals by Bobbie Fotheringham and Mark Ridley saw the sides level at 4-4 after 73 minutes. In the final minute the visitors snatched the winner with a goal by Peter Westwood.

Carperby entertained bottom of the table Redmire in a game switched to their ground and ran out 14-0 winners. John Pickard (2), Nick Oliver (2), Tim Peacock, Paul Stephenson, Darren Percival and David Moore found the net in the first half to make it 8-0 at the interval and in the second half Pickard scored another two goals to bring his personal tally to four. Simon Muir, Steve Harrison, Steve Thompson and Richard Wetherall from the penalty spot scored the remainder.

Middleham Town moved up into seventh place in the table after they recorded their third successive victory, 5-2 at Hawes B. Stuart Haygarth put the home side into the lead after five minutes but the visitors levelled through Dave Wheeler and two goals from Richard Weedall gave them a 3-1 interval advantage. Five minutes into the second half Robbie Bright added a fourth for Middleham and Glyn Barnard made it 5-1 before David Allen scored a second for Hawes from a free-kick five minutes from time.

Askrigg continued their recent improved form and extended their unbeaten run to five games when they visited Swale Travaux and reversed a 2-0 interval deficit to win 3-2. The home side looked on course for victory when Andy Kelly and Derek Welland gave them a 2-0 lead but after 38 minutes they suffered a blow when centre forward Simon Walsh was sent off for retaliation.

After 65 minutes Martin Alderson reduced the deficit for Askrigg and ten minutes later Gary Cockerill levelled the scores. Travaux twice hit the visitors woodwork but with two minutes to go Cockerill hit the winner for Askrigg.

The Catterick Garrison against Spennithorne match was postponed.

Darlington Church and

Friendly League

The Three Tuns and Newton Aycliffe Hydro game at Sunnydale was abandoned on the hour when one of the Tuns' players sustained a leg injury. It was at first feared there was a break but examination later revealed this was not the case.

But by the time things were sorted out and the player taken to hospital it was too dark to carry on.

Hydro led 5-2 when the game was halted and it will now have to be replayed.

RA Youth and Chilton Wheatsheaf Wanderers fought out a 3-3 draw in a very entertaining encounter at Brinkburn Road. Darren Kokes put RA ahead with Dave Allen equalising and Mark Hopper gave Wheatsheaf the lead with Ryan Sandick levelling. Chris Marksby restored the lead for Youth only for Wheatsheaf to draw level again in the 88th minute through Paul McClearn.

Barnard Castle Deepdale defeated Sedgefield Athletic 3-1 in a not-so-friendly encounter after leading 2-1 at the interval. Deepdale goals came from Trenton Hewitt, Phillip Kirby and Jonathan McWilliams, the Sedgefield scorer Jonathan Craig.

Hambleton Ales

Combination League

At the half-way stage of the season Royal Oak, promoted from Division Two last season, head the Division One table by five points from last season's champions, Northallerton Police who have games in hand of the leaders. Police, beaten only once in seven matches, have the best defensive record in the league, conceding only nine goals.

Great Ayton Hibs, unbeaten in their last four league outings, are third, and North Yorks Unison, after three successive victories, are fourth.

At the lower end of the table Thirsk Albion, Robert Thompsons, Three Coopers Bedale and Osmotherley Rangers have each only won two games, but have fared better than bottom club Masham who have failed to gain a single point in the first half of the season, losing all their seven matches.

In Division Two Topcliffe, relegated last season, are making a quick bid to return to the top division after six successive victories, and head the table by two points from Brompton-on-Swale who are also bidding for promotion for the second successive season after losing only one of their opening eight games. Northallerton Elders who are third, and Stokesley SC who have lost only one of their last eight league outings, also look promotion contenders, together with Blue Star unbeaten in four matches. At the opposite end of the table Skipton BS, Appleton Wiske, and Robert Thompsons Reserves have struggled and will need to improve in the second half of the season to avoid a relegation fight.

Cowtons lead the Division Three table by two points after an opening run of eight successive victories before they were held to a draw at Marne Dragons. Streetlam Farmers, unbeaten in seven games, are second, and Northallerton WMC who have won their last four matches are third. Together with Marne Dragons,, still unbeaten after eight outings, these sides appear to be the main promotion contenders. At the bottom Knayton, Buck Inn Northallerton and Elders SC have disappointed and will be looking to improve their results in the second half of the season.

Division One

P W D L Pts

Royal Oak 11 7 2 2 23

Northallerton Police 7 6 0 1 18

Great Ayton Hibs 8 5 2 1 17

North Yorks Unison 10 5 1 4 16

Rountons 7 5 0 2 15

Kneeton Park 9 3 1 5 10

Thirsk Albion 8 2 2 4 8

Robert Thompsons 9 2 2 5 8

Three Coopers Bedale 7 2 1 4 7

Osmotherley Rangers 7 2 1 4 7

Masham 7 0 0 7 0

Division Two

Topcliffe 11 7 2 2 23

Brompton on Swale 8 7 0 1 21

Northallerton Elders 11 6 1 4 19

Stokesley SC 9 5 2 2 17

Blue Star 11 4 4 3 16

Kildale 10 4 3 3 15

Catterick Village 11 4 0 7 12

Oak Leaf 6 3 2 1 11

Durham Ox 9 3 1 5 10

White Swan 8 2 3 3 9

Skipton BS 9 2 1 6 7

Appleton Wiske 7 2 0 5 6

Robert Thomp. Res. 10 1 1 8 4

Division Three

Cowtons 9 8 1 0 25

Streetlam Farmers 11 7 2 2 23

Northallerton WMC 8 7 0 1 21

Marne Dragons 8 6 2 0 20

Ingleby Greenhow 10 5 3 2 18

Nags Head United 10 4 2 4 14

Romanby Park 10 4 2 4 14

Thirsk Town 11 3 2 6 11

Sinderby 9 3 2 4 11

Hutton Rudby 9 3 1 5 10

Vale of York 10 2 2 6 8

Knayton 10 2 1 7 7

Buck Inn Northallerton 10 1 2 7 5

Elders SC 9 1 0 8 3

Leading scorers - Division One: A Bramley (Police) 14, M Raw (Unison) 10, C Johnson (Royal Oak) 9, T Hololob (Royal Oak) 8, I Redpath (Royal Oak) 8, P Tate (Rountons) 7.

Division Two: P Goodall (Blue Star) 16, D Binks (Topcliffe) 12, M Proud (N/A Elders) 11, A Reaks (Skipton BS) 11, R Hore (Kildale) 9, J Joyce (Topcliffe) 9.

Division Three: M Craggs (Streetlam) 12, M Keller (Dragons) 10, C Chandler (Romanby Park) 9, D Preston (Cowtons) 9, T Haw (Knayton) 8.

Darlington and District League

THERE was little between Archdeacon and DGSOB in the opening half hour, but the breakthrough proved vital and, leading 2-0 at half-time, Old Boys ran out comfortable 4-0 winners with goals from Jimmy Morris (2), Stuart Alderson and an own goal.

Killinghall Arms were another team to notch four, but Rothmans did manage one in reply. Martin Gayles (2), David Watson and debut-making Stewart Bouchen were Killies' marksmen.

Newton Aycliffe remain top despite a surprise defeat by the odd goal in three to Speedy Hire, who fought a magnificent rearguard action and broke away minutes before the end to secure the points.

There were 11 goals at Haughton School where Shuttle and Loom defeated DRSM SC 7-4 in their first round league cup tie.

There were plenty of goals in the four Durham Minor Cup ties and the league clubs had a very successful afternoon. East End WMC, playing their first game since November 18 found themselves two down at Billy Row, but they rallied and with goals from Steven Johnson (2) and cracking 35-yard free kick from Jimmy Francis, won through 3-2.

In the all-league tie Kristian Dinsley gave Chilton Seniors the lead against Post Boy who bounced back to lead 2-1. Dinsley's second took the game into extra time and he completed a hat-trick to give his side a 3-2 win.

Cricketers Hotel switched their tie to their opponents' ground at Washington and were rueing the decision as they twice fell behind to previously unbeaten Sunderland City Church, but David Abdale equalised on both occasions and David Wilson gave his side the lead at the interval. Jeff Besford increased the lead but City Church once again reduced the arrears. Abdale completed his hat-trick but City Church again reduced the deficit to one with ten minutes remaining. Cricketers clung on to their lead with some stout defending to end an excellent win.

In the remaining game RA Social defeated Billingham Telstar 6-4.

The successful clubs now join Cleveland Bridge, Killinghall Arms and Speedy Hire in the first round proper to be played on January 6.