Junior Football

Ferryhill Athletic continued their good run with a 3-0 home victory against Barnard Castle in their top-three clash on Saturday.

Ferryhill have moved into secondplace, level on points with leaders Bishop Auckland who have the better goal difference.

Kevin Hodgson, Neil Graham and Phillip Appleby scored for theAycliffe lads with Andrew Dixon their man of the match.

All other games fell victims to the weather.

Hetton Youth League

The programme was all but decimated because of frozen pitches and only one match in the North East Durham Youth Cup went ahead with league rivals Ryhope and Herrington meeting.

Leaders Herrington, who have a 100 per cent record, maintained their impressive form, defeating Ryhope 5-2 after establishing a 3-1 interval lead.

Mark Thompson netted for Ryhope in the opening 45 minutes but goals by David Cogden, Anthony Morrison and Ryan Rowntree put the visitors firmly in command.

Although Thompson added a second goal for the Wearsiders during the second period, Herrington ran out easy victors with a further goal from Cogden and one by Stephen Copeland.

It looks certain that Herrington will win silver this season. They have a six-point lead over Springwell at the top of and have successfully progressed in number of cup competitions.

Fairs Software Tyneside Junior League

Redheugh are neck and neck with New Hartley at the top after they staged the only game at the weekend.

The Reds met bottom of the table Tow Law and ran out 5-1 winners to record their ninth success in 11 outings. They have drawn their other two matches.

The Reds were quickly in control and regular marksman Michael Huggins opened the scoring before Graham Burkes added the second goal.

Huggins made it 3-0 and Liam Bowen also netted before Huggins capped a memorable performance completing his hat-trick.

New Hartley and Redheugh have identical records and are closely followed by West Denton who have conceded two points in ten games. West Denton, a point behind the leading pair, have a match in hand on both of their rivals.

At the basement, Tow Law are still without a point having completed 12 fixtures and they are five points adrift of Swalwell who have fulfilled the same number of games.

Darlington 21st Allstars

THERE was a successful trip for the Under-nines but two teams made their exit from Durham County Cups, leaving only the Under-12s to fight on.

At seven-a-side level, in the Richmondshire League, the Under-9 travelled to Brompton and had two excellent wins, 10-1 and 7-0.

Both Dean Bland and Sam Hird got four goals, Darren Swankie grabbed a hat-trick in the first match and Jamie Kilday and Josh Phillips each got two. Jack Binks and Ben Riley were also on the scoresheet. The men of the matches were Phillips and a well-deserved first for goalkeeper Will Bolland who made three excellent saves.

The Under-9 Colts were also at Brompton and made it 33 goals in the four games played by the two teams with 7-0 and 9-0 wins.

Thomas McCabe hit six goals, Andrew Collins four, Connor Richings three, Michael Johnston two and Scan Simpson got his first for the club. Billy Kilcran and Johnston were men of the matches.

At eleven-a-side level, in the Durham County Cup, the Under-17s travelled to Seaham Parkside CC and lost 3-1 against a good footballing side. In a game which was a credit to junior football, Allstars were deservedly level 0-0 at half-time and 1-1 towards the end of the game.

In a determined all-round team effort, Jonathan Raine got the Allstars' goal and Danny O'Neill shaded the man of the match award from stand-in goalkeeper Sayam Green.

The Under-12 Colts were also in Durham County Cup action in a home tie played at Sunderland Fulwell and suffered an 8-0 defeat. Despite the scoreline, the Colts were more than a match for their illustrious opponents for much of the game and had a number of chances in the first half, 'ring-rustiness' not helping their cause.

Byers Green

Uall the club's small-sided games at Under-8, Under-9 and Under-10 level were postponed this week. The Under-9s and Under-10s are due to try again tomorrow if the weather is kind.

The Under-15s' game at Hedworthfield was postponed at the last minute due to a frozen pitch so the team now won't play until their home clash with Hylton Village on January 7.

Chester-le-Street Town

THE Under-16s returned to winning way with an 8-1 victory at Brandon Boys. The Cestrians led 4-0 at half-time and cruised to victory with a fine performance. Jimmy Kerr (3), Craig Ellison (2), Andrew Coulson, Andrew Dawson and Mark Adamson got the goals that ensured the team going into the new year as leaders of the Under-16 Premier Division in the Tyne and Wear Russell Foster Youth League.

The Under-15s and Under-17s did not have games at the weekend. The next matches take place on January 7 when the Under-15s are at home to John E. Laing (Riverside, 11am), and the Under-17s at home to South Shields in the third round of the Under-18 Durham County FA Youth Cup.