CLUB stalwart Malcolm Barkess showed age is no barrier in the COM 2000 Consett Sunday League when he donned his boots to help Stanley Central in their first division game.

Maxie, as he is known, is over 50, but was quick to step in and fill the void when last season's runaway division two champions found themselves a player short.

And the grand old master played an influential role in a 2-2 draw at the Chopwell Hotel, even though Central are still firmly rooted to the bottom of the table.

Referee Mickey Adamson was full of praise for Barkess, who has played for the Central over the last four decades. "He was outstanding," said Adamson. "He was magnificent and showed all the young lads in the team what a class act he still is."

Still in the first division, Craghead extended their lead at the top when, inspired by four Gary Messer goals, they won 7-1 at Station Ex Juniors.

Steve Bowyer got two and Richie Reynoldson, Gary Taylorson and Micky Price also scored as Blackhill Comrades beat Annfield Plain Cricket Club 5-1, while Brannigans and Fountain shared four goals.

In division two, Johnny Williams landed a double as Beamish Bird Inn won 5-2 at the Pack Horse; Peacock Inn enjoyed a 5-2 home win over the Duke of Wellington in division three, courtesy of a Tony Boyd hat-trick and Michael Dixon double.

Kevin Armin got the only goal as Hat and Feather beat high-flying Winnings, while two Mark Tilbury goals helped see Royal Oak to their first points of the season with a 6-1 home win over the Smelters Arms.

In the preliminary round of the Jack Grigg Memorial Trophy, a Phil Mullins hat-trick was vital as third division Consett Top Club beat top flight Freemasons 5-3. It was also 5-3 at Annfield Plain Coach who lost to Flint Hill Inn where Dave Newton had a hat-trick.

There was another away success when two goals from Paul Harvey produced a 4-3 win for Tantobie at Steels Club. Stephen Green had a hat-trick and Stu Nicholls got two in Dipton Bird's 6-4 Abbey Trophy quarter-final win at home to Oxhill, while Horse & Groom came out on top 3-2 at Delves Club.

Medomsley Miners Arms led 2-0-before going down 5-2 at Back Horse in the Iveson Bowl. Lintz CC beat the Cricketers 8-1 with leading scorer Micky Edmunds notching another four goals.

In the North West Durham Charity Cup, Stateside were involved in a classic ten-goal thriller at Gateshead Blue Star before holding their nerve to win a dramatic penalty shootout. Star of the show for Stateside was Simon Beckwith who fired them into contention after trailing 2-0 and Phil Dodds then equalised for extra-time.

The writing looked to be on the wall when Blue Star again took a two-goal advantage to move to 4-2 but the sharp-shooting of Beckwith pulled them level at 4-4.

In a complete turnaround Darren Bell then put Stateside in front 5-4 before Blue Star levelled with a last kick equaliser. Tony Ainley came out on top by saving two penalties, then watched as Star missed with another while Rod Butler, Ian Davison, Bell and Darren Walker all hit the target to see Stateside through 4-2 on penalties.

Leadgate Cricket Club beat Gateshead Storemont Main 2-0. In an all league affair, third division promotion contenders East Stanley WMC beat off divison two outfit Leadgate Golden Lion 6-4 with Ivan Moxon hitting a hat trick