The Northern Echo Darlington Sunday Invitation League

Only four games out of the scheduled 14 games were played. The two Darlington Motor Factors Second Division Cup semi-finals produced two cracking encounters.

Leaders Nestfield Club played second-placed Green Dragon who took a deserved 2-0 lead with top scorer Elliott McCabe notching both. Dragon keeper John Wright saved brilliantly from a Gary Tindle penalty, but he gained his revenge 10 minutes later to make it 2-1 at the interval. Nestfield came on strong in the second half and equalised straight after the break. Dragon had several chances to make the game safe, but couldn't finish on the heavy pitch, Nestfield scored twice in the final 25 minutes to seal a 4-2 victory. Other scorers for Nestf ield were Rod Brown, Chris Robinson and Garry Mitchell.

The other semi-final was decided by the golden-goal rule. Northern Spirit RA dominated the early stages of their game against Hoppers Transport, and took the lead on ten minutes through an Ali Johnson shot. After missing three good chances, RA scored again through Darren Warr. Peter Dowson pulled a goal back for Hoppers just before the interval. Hoppers came into the game more in the second half and eventually equalised through Andy Thompson. With three minutes remaining Hoppers took the lead, Ian Thompson stabbing the ball in from close range. RA threw everything into attack and with only 18 seconds remaining equalised when Dave Tuschick fired in a superb shot from the edge of the box. The game moved into 'golden goal' extra time. After surviving a couple of close shaves, Ian Thompson grabbed the Hoppers winnerfor a 4-3 success

In Division One, Springfield come from 3-2 down to beat Jack Horners 4-3. Dominic Rich opened the scoring for Springfield in the 20th minute and Darren Tate mode it 2-0 after 65 minutes. Jacks launched a come back with two goals from Chris Jackson to level the scores and then Dean Kay put them ahead. Mark Jenkinson equalised for Springfield. Jacks were reduced to 10 men through injury after using all their substitutes. They managed to hold on until injury time when Jenkinason grabbed his second and the Springfield winner.

Coundon Miners Arms made it four successive wins to move into third place with a 4-2 victory over Spraire who were 2-0 down at half time, levelled the game at 2-2 in the 83rd minute only for Coundon to score two more in the last seven minutes. Rob Mazur and Curt Warburton with two each were the Coundon scorers.

Spraire goals came from Richie Hindle and Martin Webster.

Middlesbrough and District Sunday League

Only one league game took place this weekend, but the league was also represented in the North Riding Sunday Cup.

Iceland Teesside took on Popeyes B, the game ending in a 2-2 draw. Popeyes took a half-time lead through Colin McMenamin when he latched on to a long ball to put his team ahead.

It took Iceland until the 70th minutes to level when Paul Muthana headed in a Steven Owens cross then they took the lead when James McGowan hit a speculative effort from the halfway line, the ball dropping in just under the bar.

Popeyes got the equaliser when Ray Woodhouse beat keeper Dave Wood with a crisp shot.

In the North Riding Sunday Cup, D and E Locksmiths took on the Vale of York and emerged 6-1 victors. Andrew Harland put the Locksmiths ahead after two minutes and on 12 minutes Lee Freer hit his first of four.

The 2-0 half-time lead quickly became 3-1 when Freer got his second and David McGowan hit a fourth before Vale of York found the net. Then Freer hit two late goals to complete a comprehensive victory for Locksmiths.

P W D L Pts

Priory SC 10 9 1 0 28

Potters Bar 8 7 1 0 22

Haverton Hill 9 7 0 2 21

D and E Locksmiths 10 6 1 3 19

Parklands 10 5 1 4 13

Stockton DG 11 3 3 5 12

Jack and Jill 6 3 - 3 9

Iceland 9 2 2 5 8

Popeyes B 7 1 3 3 6

Lingdale YCC 8 1 2 5 5

Intrepid Explorer 9 1 1 7 4

Popeye A 9 0 1 8 1