Football News

Once again waterlogged pitches reduced Saturday's programme to two matches.

In the league, Brandon Station's good run continued with a 3-1 win over Coxhoe Athletic. They led 2-1 at half-time with goals from John Bell and Jimmy Slater with Philip Best replying for Coxhoe Athletic.

In the second half John Bell made sure of the points for Brandon with his second goal.

The other game was in the Auckland Charity Cup where Cockfield moved into the semi-finals after a 2-0 win over Black and Decker with a goal in each half from Anthony White and David Kemp Ambler.

P W L D F A Pts

Darlington RA 13 11 1 1 51 12 34

Shildon Rail 14 9 3 2 39 18 29

Cockfield 11 9 2 0 30 8 27

Brandon St 15 7 7 1 32 33 22

Quinns Inn 11 6 5 0 19 21 18

DSRM 10 5 4 1 17 24 16

Brewer and Firkin 13 4 6 3 28 41 15

Witton Park 10 4 4 2 31 23 14

Black and Decker 11 3 5 3 20 19 12

Roddymoor 8 4 4 0 10 17 12

Coxhoe Ath 12 3 8 1 15 28 10

Glaxo 10 1 7 2 17 32 5

Middleton Wndrs 12 1 11 0 15 48 3

North-East Christian Fellowship League

Stranton Saints Hartlepool climbed to fourth place with a 4-0 win over Whitley Bay Churches. All the goals coming in the first half from Mark Boagy (2) and strikes from the prolific David Appleton and David French.

Monkwearmouth Christians climbed to the top of the Second Division with an away at Lanchester Chapel, Steve Dix scored a hat-trick with Ben Hodgeson and Barry Ward also getting on the score sheet in a 5-0 win.

There were goals galore in Ashington as Stakeford Methodist Church's Paul Air hit a hat-trick and a strike from Chris Reed for a 4-1 lead at the break, Steve Walls netting for Wearside Community Church B. Stakeford continued the scoring as Reed got his second Phil Baxter hit two, Mark Coxon, Matthew Hayton, Mark Munley and Air got his fourth to make the final score 11-1.

John Fowler scored straight from the kick off to put Westgate Road Baptist Church 1-0 ahead with Yarm Emmanuel but a few minutes later Tim Boyes equalised for Yarm. Fowler went on to collect his hat-trick with a goal from Gary Beresford as Westgate took a 4-2 lead at half time, Craig Barnard getting Yarm's second. Dillion Umpleby and Craig Wilkenson each scored in the second half as Yarm fought out a 4-4 draw.

Brian Adams Transport Emergency Services League

Othree games beat the weather, but thankfully two of them were the cup semi finals and in both matches the winners had to come from behind.

Derwentside made it to their first final when they won 2-1 at Stockton. Stockton lead through an Andy Blackett goal, but Derwentside quickly equalised through Kevin Maddick. Derwentside got on top and scored just before the interval when Maddick fired in his second goal, following an indirect free kick.

The second half remained goalless despite the worsening pitch conditions allowing Derwentside to reach the final, Graeme Whitfield and Simon Shaw took their teams respective man of the match awards.

Frankland entertained Darlington in the other semi-final and found themselves trailing to a Jim Honeyman goal at the interval. Fred put Darlington two up shortly after the interval.

Mick Hammond made two inspired substitutions and one of them Paul Bruce scored to reduce the deficit. Then Ian Gibson converted a penalty after he had been pulled down to level. Frankland then took command and Ian Gibson scored twice more to secure the win.

The only league game saw Durham HQ play Easington. HQ were soundly beaten first game of the season by Easington. But they've turned things around recently with two wins. Keeper Matty Mimms kept Easington at bay with a string of saves before Steve Ramsey scored for HQ. This proved to be the only goal of the game as HQ hung on to win all three points.

Durham Alliance

As another league programme was once again decimated by the weather, Belford House took full advantage as their powerful performance condemned Seaham The Duke to only their second defeat of the season. A double from Cameron Marshall, alongside goals from Ian Wardropper and Kenny Taylor, completed a resounding 4-0 victory, helping move Belford into fifth place.

In The Clem Smith Bowl, Whitehill ran our worthy winners following a first half scare in their tie versus Sunderland Flying Boat. Keith Peverley's 16th minute goal send Flying Boast into a half time lead. The cup of tea worked wonders for the hosts, however, levelling it within a minute of the restart through Jamie Routledge. Two goals inside five minutes, from Micky McAdam and Peter Morton sealed the semi-final place.

Crook and District League

Crook Wanderers entertained Howden Australian in a close Colin Waites Trophy tie. Wanderers, 1-0 winners, had the better chances but had to wait till the 65th minute for Stephen Emery to score. Stanhope Town lost 6-4 at home to Hartlepool Touchdown in the Durham Minor Cup. Rob O'Dell cancelled out Touchdown's sixth minute opener but the visitors were back in front on the half hour. Touchdown took a 3-1 lead but two more from O'Dell completed his hat trick and made the score 3-3. Goals in the 55th and 70th minutes gave Touchdown a 5-3 lead, which William Noble pulled back to 5-4. The visitors added number six with two minutes left. Nicky Lloyd scored five for the winners whose other goal came courtesy of Graham Neal.

Ashley Air Products

Over-40s League

Oagain the weather devastated the fixtures, only 11 games played.

In the Villa Real Cup semi-final, Premier League side Steels Social, favourites to win the championship, defeated Division One side Ferryhill Greyhound 2-1. Ferryhill started off in style and showed they were no pushover and more than held their own. The first half was goalless but after the restart a slip-shod back pass was intercepted by Peter Stronach who went clear and beat keeper Owers to put Steels 1-0 up. Shortly afterwards Stronach beat two defenders and set up Hartley Maddison for a second. Ferryhill refused to give in and Kevin Simpson scored from a 25-yard free- kick and in the remaining period Ferryhill tried desperately to score an equaliser. Stars for Ferryhill were centre back Malcolm Stewart and David Topp and for Steels Stronach, Corrie and Les Logan.

In Division Two, Langley Park Rams Head won 1-0 at Red House WMC and move into third position. It was a very tight game on a very heavy pitch and a draw was on the cards when, five minutes from the end, Brian Sara scored the vital goal.

In Division Four, Darlington Railway, after a poor start to the season, have got together a workmanlike side and now are away from the bottom. They won 3-0 against Winstons at home. After a goalless first-half Railway quickly took the lead when Chris Oxley scored. Minutes later Tony Wicke added a second with a solo effort and finally Cliff McMaster settled the issue when he rammed home a loose ball in a goalmouth melee. Two Darlington players who had an outstanding game were Hope and Brennan.

l Billingham Wanderers entertain Sedgefield the Premier Division Cup first round at Norton and Stockton Ancients' ground tomorrow at 10.30am. Wanderers hope to include former Hartlepool midfielder Bobby Scaife and Tom Connor, the former East Fife and Billingham Synthonia defender.

Classic Trophies UK Middlesbrough Sunday League

Othree games beat the weather but a total of 21 goals were scored. Popeyes B and Haverton Hill shared eight but it was two points thrown away by Haverton Hill as they led by 4-1 with five minutes left. Goals from Paul McCulloch (20 for the season), Spencer Carter, Peter Manton and Karl Fishburn should have been enough to take the points but John Ryan hit all four for Popeyes, including a hat-trick.

Iceland Teesside beat D&E Locksmiths 4-3 with Iceland getting their winner two minutes from time. Steven Owens put Iceland ahead, Lee Freer levelling. Steven Gordon then got D&E's second only for James McGowan to restore parity. Craig Owens put Iceland ahead before Freer got his second. In the dying minutes Paul Muthana hit the winner.

Stockton Double Glazing went down 4-2 at home to Jack and Jill. Gary Bytheway convered a Glen Oxley cross to put Jack and Jill ahead, then they went two up when David Forste scored. DG pulled a goal back through Steven Parks before the interval. Two goals from Christopher Dean and Ashley McGregor put Jack and Jill in the driving seat but Stockton reduced the arrears with a late goals from Leigh Stephens