Third-bottom Cleadon SC produced the shock result of the season defeating championship challengers North Shields in the Sunderland Shipowners' Cup, writes MALCOLM PRATT.

It was the Robins' first reverse in 15 outings.

The under-dogs had the incentive of a 10th-minute goal by David Nevin who was ideally placed to fire in a right-wing cross but within 11 minutes, the Shieldsmen were level through David Burt.

Eight minutes into the second half, Cleadon went 2-1 ahead when Ian Kinelato found the net following a corner kick and worse was to follow for the Robins when Roy Gordon struck a post with a penalty on the hour.

It looked as if North Shields would make their numerical advantage count in the final 25 minutes after Cleadon had a player sent off but despite territorial advantage they failed to convert chances.

Stanley United recovered after conceding two early goals and reached the next round with a 3-2 victory over New Marske at Hill Top.

The Clevelanders made the best possible start with two goals inside the first 20 minutes by Craig Mendum and Paul Harrison. Stanley were on level terms by the hour, courtesy of strikes by Brian Rees and Paul Wilary but they then missed a penalty when Shaun Little's spot kick was saved. Just as it appeared as if the tie might go into extra time Patrick McArdle produced something special, rifling the ball into the net from fully 25 yards.

The tie between Boldon CA and Harton and Westoe was expected to produce a close result but in the event, the visitors ran out 4-1 winners although the home side were forced to play the second 45 minutes with Paul Wilkinson, an outfield player, taking over in goal from the injured Neil Pearce.

Kevin Hardy, Andy Tate, Joe Taylor and Paul Jary all scored for Harton with Jason Jones was the scorer of Boldon's only goal.

A hat-trick by Adam Johnson was the highlight of Nissan's 5-1 victory at home to Jarrow for whom David Kilford scored. Others on target for Nissan, who effectively settled the result by scoring three goals in a five-minutes blast midway through the first period, were Mark Head and Ian Evans.

Ferryhill Athletic put up a brave performance before losing 2-0 at Windscale who scored after just two minutes through Russell Meighan. There were only five minutes remaining when Paul Barwise added the second. After building up a two-goals advantage through Craig Rolfe and Peter Taggart, Simonside went down 3-2 to visitors Thornaby on Tees while Birtley Town progressed, winning on penalties after finishing 3-3 at Redcar Town.

Wolviston also went through winning 3-1 at Stokesley whose only goal was netted by Craig Johnson.

Two games were played in the League. Annfield Plain improved their position defeating Whitburn with goals by Gareth Slaven and Brian Cater. Mark Williams responded from the penalty spot.

Ryhope CW lost at home to Whitehaven who scored twice in seven minutes through Craig Robson and Gary Holmes.

French Le Championnat: Lille 1 Guingamp 1, Metz 2 Troyes 2, Rennes 1 Lens 0, Sedan 2 St Etienne 1, Strasbourg 0 Nantes 5. French Deuxieme Division: AC Ajaccio 0 Nimes 2, Angers 1 Creteil 1, Cannes 1 Lorient 2, Chateauroux 0 Laval 0, Le Havre 1 Wasquehal 1, Le Mans 1 Nice 0, Martigues 0 Beauvais 0, Niort 2 Caen 0, Sochaux 3 Gueugnon 0. German Bundesliga: Ahlen 1 Arminia Bielefeld 1, Mainz 1 Saarbrucken 0, 1860 Munich 0 Kaiserslautern 4, Cologne 2 Bochum 0, Cottbus 1 Bayern Munich 0, Schalke 4 Eintracht Frankfurt 0, VfB Stuttgart 3 Hamburg 3, Werder Bremen 3 Bayer Leverkusen 3 Italian Serie A: Inter Milan 3 Napoli 1, Lazio 3 Perugia 0. Spanish Primera Liga: Espanyol 0 Rayo Vallecano 0, Las Palmas 2 Malaga 1, Real Madrid 3 D Coruna 0, Real Sociedad 0 Barcelona 6, Villarreal 1 Valencia 1. Spanish Segunda Division: Badajoz 0 Atletico Madrid 0, Real Betis 2 Universidad 0. Swedish Allsvenskanliga: BK Hacken 3 Helsingborgs 1. Finnish Veikkausliga: FC Haka 2 HJK 0. Portuguese Campeonato Nacional: Aves 3 Sporting 4, Braga 3 Gil Vicente 1, Uniao Leiria 1 Maritimo 0. Norwegian Eliteserien: Molde 2 Stabaek 4