A REFEREE who presided over a match which saw a junior team break a goalscoring record is being investigated by football authorities.

Durham Football Association (FA) launched the investigation following a Teesside Junior Football Alliance league match between Barnard Castle Under 15s and Newton Aycliffe Juniors.

The match was the last of the season and Newton Aycliffe needed nine goals to beat their previous record of 126 league goals scored.

The game, which took place in Newton Aycliffe, finished 9-2 in favour of the home side with two goals for the winning team coming from the penalty spot.

After the match, Barnard Castle Under 15s manager Andrew Hall wrote a match report to Durham FA in which he complained about the performance of the referee during the match.

Mr Hall, said: "We are not questioning the result at all and we accept that we lost.

"We have lodged a complaint and it wouldn't be right to comment any further about it. We will see what the committee have to say when they have considered everything."

As a result of the heavy loss, Barnard Castle Under 15s slipped to fifth position because their goal difference was inferior to Northallerton Juniors, who they were level on points with.

Meanwhile Newton Aycliffe Juniors finished in second place.

John Topping, the Durham Football Association's company secretary, said: "Barnard Castle made a complaint about the referee.

"Having spoken to the club and received a report from the referee, we have decided to call him in and appear before the committee meeting.

"This is standard practice."

The referee's committee meeting will be held in the coming weeks.