The weekend saw the first cup competitions of the season with the first division cup, sponsored by the Darlington and Stockton Times, mirroring the teams' league form and therefore there were no shocks.

Holders Busters beat Brinkburn 5-0 with Weller, Cottam and Shoulder giving them a 3-0 half time lead. In the second half Brinkburn could have hit back but were denied by some superb saves by keeper Darren Peacock. Wake and Winter went on to complete the rout.

After an even first twenty minutes in the game between the Northern Echo and East End, Paul Mansfield scored direct from a corner to give Echo the lead before East End then took control of the game and went on to score eight with one from Wayne Irving, a hat trick from Gavin Bell and four from a Man of the Match Steve Johnson.

Two goals each for Darren Walker and Mike Carter and a Mark Finn strike ensured Team Scania a safe passage through to the quarter-finals. Their opponents, first division Spraire, held the lead in the first half through goals from Chris Faulkner and Dave Turnbull but Scania's strength and precise finishing showed in the second half ensuring a 5- 2 victory.

Stooperdale RA's misery continued when, despite fielding their strongest side so far this season, they went down 7-3 to Coundon Miners Arms. Darren Wilson opened Coundon's account and went on to complete a hat-trick as did Curt Warburton before Steve Butler scored the seventh but not before Green, McAllister and Kell gave Stooperdale some hope.

The second division cup, sponsored by Darlington Motor Factors, didn't produce any shocks with Hoppers Transport defeating Sadberge 2-0. Michael Smith opened the scoring after twenty minutes following good work by Paul Mulrooney and Ian Thompson doubled the lead before half time. In the second half Sadberge pushed forward but were denied by Hoppers' keeper John Fenwick.

After losing in the league last week Bishop Auckland Derby bounced back with a 7-1 thrashing of The Greyhound. Goals came from Mark Furman (2), Darren Dye (2), Kevin Stewart, Michael Latcham and Dean Calcutt. Simon Broughton scored The Greyhounds' consolation.

Northern Spirit RA booked their place in the last eight with a 4-1 win over BA Newton Cap. Matt Waistell proved to be the undoing of the Cappers when he shot Northern Spirit into an early two goal lead. He then turned provider when his cross was converted by David Caygill to give Spirit a 3-0 half-time lead. In the second half Anth Bateman sealed the win beating the keeper from the half way line. The Cappers pressed late on and deserved their consolation goal courtesy of Lee Petch.

In the other second division cup game, Green Dragon beat Smith and Allan 3-2 with goals from Lamont and Hodgson (2). Steven Atkinson and Graham Storey scored Allan's consolations.

In the third division cup Shuttle & Loom steamrollered their way through to the next round with a convincing 9-3 victory against the Oaktree with goals from Stuart Curry (4) Barry Raper (2) Jamie Smith, John Wray and Michael Dutton. Arron Robson, Stu Fawcett and Wayne Gill were on target for the Oaktree.

A penalty and an own goal were enough to put Hopetown WMC into the hat when they defeated AXA Insurance 2-0. Hopetown took the lead on half time when a corner was deflected by an AXA defender into his own net. The luck seemed to tilt the other way when Hopetown were reduced to ten men but the pendulum swung back when the referee awarded a spot kick which Vinny Fryas converted to give Hopetown a 2-0 win.

The match between Hurworth Albion and Orange produced six goals . Orange took an early lead through Kevin Kokes before Hurworth equalised with a penalty converted by Richard Hill. Another penalty early in the second half enabled Richard Hill to put Hurworth in front and goals from Kelvin Russell, Saul CharIton and a third for Hill made the final score 5-1 to Hurworth.

Bishop Auckland Kings Head thumped The Royal British Legion 6-0.

Darlington Church &

Friendly League

Sedgefield Athletic threw away a three goal advantage in the last fifteen minutes on their visit to Hydro. Joe Honeyman got them off the mark from the penalty spot in the first half and this was followed by goals from Arron Robson and a well struck Lee Staines free kick before a David Muir hat-trick to earn the home side a share of the points.

Another game to end at 3-3 was at Hurworth where Otter & Fish entertained The Royal in a very competitive encounter. Chris Liddle and Simon Middlemiss put Otter in front 2-1 with Barry Gudgeon replying for Royal, then goals from Simon Hares and Charlie Sedgewick made it 3-2 in favour of the Royal but Middlemiss cracked in the equaliser in the last minute.

Royal Mail only fielded nine players for the visit of Turbinia and after putting up a good first half performance, tiredness told in the second as Turbinia ran out comfortable 14-2 winners. Lee Robinson (4) and Mark Sylvestre (5) were the main marksmen with Wayne Pratt (3), Tony Hewison and Gary Fawcett also on target. Dave Hubble scored both of Royal Mail's goals.

SCA recorded their first win when they came from 2-0 down to defeat Wheatsheaf Wanderers 3-2 with goals from Peter Walton and a brace by Stuart Ord. David Tait and Craig Chapman gave Wheatsheaf the early lead.

Model T took a two goal interval lead on their visit to Aycliffe Saints in an even first half with goals from Richard Dodsworth and Calum Reilly but in the second period they upped the pace. An individual run from the halfway line by Paul O'Hagan added a third and Dodsworth crowned a great display with four more to make it a 7-0 victory.

Peter Turbull converted two penalties for DGSOB but this time it was not enough to save them a 5-2 defeat by Tap & Spile. Both Fitz Lynch and Neil Scarth scored twice and one for James Pickard scord for the winners.

Three goals for Trenton Hewitt helped Deepdale to a 6-0 victory over RA Youth while Wesley's were first off the mark against Busters and kept them to a 3-1 interval lead thanks to their keeper who saved two penalties. In the second half Busters took control and added another eight, Gavin Bell (4) and Steven Stephenson (3) topped their scoring with one each for Danny Ofuso, Ryan Ward Joe Kemp and Rodney Bell

Aidans took an early three goal lead at Shildon but by half time home side Three Tuns had fought their way back to level the scores but two strikes in the final ten minutes gave Aidans all the points. Their goals coming via Chris Barr, Simon Hullah, Matthew, Sewell, Chris Clack and Kevin Naisbitt.

Brian Adams Transport Emergency Services League

Following Holme House Prison's decision to resign from the league, a play-off was required to decide who took the top division's eighth spot. Washington, relegated as the seventh team, met local rivals Sunderland, who finished third in the second division. Washington dominated to win 5-0 and retain their top division status.

In the first week of fixtures there were plenty of surprises in the first division.

Newcastle City took the plaudits with a 4-2 win at Durham CLS with Ronnie Lowes grabbing a hat-trick and Nick Gay getting the other goal. Ellis Hall and John Newstead struck for the Durham side.

Stockton beat last season's runners-up, Frankland 6-3 to give themselves a flying start. The goals were shared out with one apiece for Noel Young, Mick Higgin, Paul Ruder, Chris Downes, Liam Denny and Andy Blackett. Last year's leading scorer, Ian Gibson got two for Frankland and Gavin Wigham for the other.

Derwentside and Darlington shared the points after a 1-1 draw after Darlington had led at the interval with a Fred Wood goal. Kevin Maddick equalised in the first minute after the restart.

In Division Two, Easington beat ten-man Durham HQ 7-1 with goals by McArdle (2), Jubb (2), Hawkes and Carmen. Steve Rooney got HQ'a goal and was Man of the Match too.

Saints should have beaten Langbaurgh more comfortably than the 2-1 scoreline suggests. Mulhearn and Wray scored the goals.

Hetton Youth League

SPRINGWELL and Herrington are neck and neck at the top after both maintained their 100 per cent records.

Springwell reached double figures in defeating bottom side Springboard as goals flowed from Dan Clark (4) Ali Lamb (3), Neil Houghton (2) and John Twomay in a 10-0 win and Herrington saw off Witton Gilbert's challenge by an eight-goals margin.

Gavin Cogden rifled a hat-trick, Neil Maddison bagged a brace and others on target were Ben Gawthorpe, Michael Hopwood and Paul Douglass.

Ryhope moved into third place, winning for the second time at Lumley. Paul Watson and Ross Brown gave Ryhope the cushion of a two-goals lead before Steven Jenkins reduced Lumley's deficit before the interval.

In the second half, Watson scored again and Andrew Brewster made the game safe for Ryhope who ended 4-1 ahead