First division leaders The Sheraton entertained premiership Hardwick Social Club in the third round of the Ian Gorman Memorial Trophy and started brightly by taking the game to their opponents. Both defences held firm until the 35th minute when Jamie Dawson was fouled just inside his own half but referee Peter Cassidy allowed advantage and play carried on and was finally finished off by Kallam Hannah. Right on half time Neil Preston stunned The Sheraton when his shot from at least 30 yards found the roof of the net with the home keeper rooted to the spot. The second half became a midfield battle but The Sheraton worked their way back into the game on the hour mark when a Steven Lonsdale free kick was fumbled by the keeper and Mark Parry stabbed home to bring The Sheraton back into the game. However this was short lived as five minutes later Jamie Owens struck from the edge of the box for 3-1. The Sheraton kept plugging away and on 70 minutes the Hardwick Social Club failed to deal with a Steven Lonsdale free kick from deep in his own half and Ashley Hauxwell was in hand to score for 3-2. However the Hardwick Social Club hit back straight away with the best move of the game two minutes later when Andrew Westwood fed Owens who passed to Steve Roberts who volleyed home for 4-2 and secure a place in round four.

Joining them in the next round is Billingham Cons who travelled to play Telstar and came away with a 3-1 win thanks to goals from Anthony Abel, Paul Harvey and Jonathan French, James McLeoad replied for the Telstar. There was an all premiership clash between George & Dragon (Yarm) and Elm Tree Social Club which saw Elm Tree Social Club shade the tie by the odd goal in five. Elm Tree Social Club goal scorers were In Thompson, James Middleton and Paul Cleary whilst Rob Edemenson scored both goals for the George. The surprising results of the day saw premiership side the Dolphin lose 6-2 at home to first division Merlin. Goal scorers for the Merlin were Jack Dobson, Kirk Parton, Phil King, Colin Chesworth, Shaun Fields and Stuart Gardiner, Craig Simpson and Paul Kirby replied for the Dolphin. First division Mandale proved to be too strong for second division Port Clarence and came away with a 7-1 victory thanks to goals from Gary Bowe 3, Anthony Simcox 2, Nigel Wilks and Lee O’Toole.

The Eagle were back to winning ways this weekend with a 2 - 1 victory against a battling Malleable side in the first stages of the John Jackson Trophy (Group A).  The away team broke the deadlock through Ian Carberry midway through the second half only for Darren Newlove to reply minutes later scoring with a header from a corner ball.  Substitute Steve Cherrett grabbed the winner for The Eagle 15 minutes from time.  MOTM for The Eagle went to Daniel Ward whilst Ian Carberry was MOTM for Malleable.

South Bank entertained Saltburn Town in the North Riding Sunday County Cup and things looked ominous just before the game when midfielder Matty McKenna dropped out, keeper Danny Watson failed to turn up, Phillip King failed a fitness test. The squad was stretched to the limit due to and work commitments. Fortunately for the Bank Chris Watson smacked home after minutes following good work by Steven Aithwaite 1-0.  A smartly worked corner by Harrison Davies and Jamie May finished off in style by May after ten minutes 2-0. Bank squandered several chances becoming complacent they took their foot off the pedal and were caught out by Saltburn 2-1 after thirty minutes. Anthony Reed was credited with the third goal in a scrambled melee on the goal line 3-1 half time. Following some stern words from manager Dean Livingstone the team were fired up for the second half. Anthony Reed playing with an upset stomach was replaced by Martin Laing at half time and Adam Livingstone playing with a slight injury was replaced after 55 minutes by Sam Greenfield. With skipper Jamie Clarke dominating in defence and man of the match Gary Owens orchestrating things with nonstop Paul Barker they prompted Harrison Davies with the service for two awesome strikes and an audacious nutmeg of the advancing Town keeper for his hat trick three goals in eight minutes to make it 6-1. Jamie May added the seventh to complete the scoring 7-1. Elsewhere Mandale had a convincing 15-0 win against Thornaby F.C Seniors whilst Thornaby Dubliners enjoyed a 6-2 home win over Scruffys. The only side to lose was Stainsby who went down 5-0 away to Normanby Hall C.C.

Rosegale N&SA started the brighter of the two sides with man of the match, Danny Earl scoring a hat-trick within the first half hour and a Mark Lilley strike made it four. The Grenadier pulled one back from a free kick from just outside the box.  Earl was then on hand to rattle in his fourth by volleying home a superb Stewart Bath cross.  Rosegale began to get a bit complacent and were caught out at the back and the visitors netted again just before the break. In the second half Stewart Bath made it six when he latched on to a Dave Baker through ball.  Billy Gatenby, just back from injury, made it seven with a fierce strike.  The Grenadier, who never gave up the battle throughout, were then rewarded with two more goals before Dean Bell completed the scoring when he helped himself to a brace just before the final whistle. The shock result of the day came in division two where The Eagle fell to their first League defeat of the season losing 3 - 6 to a lively Stockton Arms side who have not had the best of starts to the season.  The home team were clearly not at their best on Sunday, goals from Marc Johnson, Richard Mills and Martin Rogan proved fruitless as a somewhat unusual leaky defence let in 6 with Sam Garvie scoring four times, the other goals came from Christopher Thompson and Stuart Lockey. This meant that The Eagle lost the chance to go top of the table.

The Sheraton were looking to win their game in hand over the Mandale and go top of the first division but first needed to beat the Sun Inn who are still unbeaten this season so far and who had beaten the Sheraton twice last season. The Sheraton were up for this one with a point to prove and started well giving the Sun Inn no time on the ball making it hard for them to settle into the game, The Sheraton were trying to get the ball over the top but with the pitch being tight there wasn't much room in behind Lee Helliwell and Johnny Cooper were working very hard in the centre of the park dictating the pace of the game, the Sheraton were in control of the game but couldn't get a clear sight of goal. With the size of the Sheraton's team, set plays were going to be very important, so when a long throw into the box by the dangerous Marc Parry caused havoc Liam Connor reacted fast and keeping his head coolly slotted the ball past Steven Gill in the Sun Inn goal. That got the Sheraton started and they started to get more and more chances a long cross field ball from Marc Parry found Ash Hauxwell on the edge of the box who chested it forward and volleyed past Ste Gill giving the Sun Inn keeper no chance again. The Sun Inn had a chance when the ball fell to the right winger Marlon Baleci who's shot was easy for the inform Danny Phillips. The Sheraton were on top all over the pitch left back Phil Purcifer hit a long ball up the line Ash Hauxwell got there, first keeping the ball in before a great ball through to Brian Cole who slid in at the back post to make it 3-0 and give the Sheraton the lead their hard work deserved with half time very close the Sheraton took their foot on the gas a little which let the Sun Inn have a bit more of the ball without hurting the Sheraton. Half time and for only the second time the Sheraton were ahead the manager asked for more of the same and not to let them in to the game at all, the Sun Inn made a change to try and get into the game.

The Sheraton started at a good tempo again and within five minutes could have had two more both from corners the first was a Marc Parry corner which Lee Helliwell headed cleanly but just over and the second from the other side was a Craig Allan corner which Marc Parry won and putting his free header just over. After giving away a needless free kick the Sheraton paid for their missed chances as the ball was chipped into the Sheraton box the ball bounced up off the ground and hit Marc Parry's hand giving the ref no choice but to award the penalty, Dave Edmonds stepped up and sent Danny Phillips the wrong way making it 3-1 and the next goal very important now but there was only going to be one team who got it after five minutes of Sun Inn pressure without making a clear chance Marc Parry worked the right wing well before putting a great cross into the back post were Ash Hauxwell head back across goal leaving Ste Gill rooted to the spot. The Sheraton then added another from a Marc Parry corner Martin Slater’s shot deflected off Liam Connor who was in the right place in front on the keeper to make it 1-5 to the Sheraton and with only 30 minutes ending any real hope of a come back the Sheraton then started to make changes first bringing David Charnock and then bringing Carl Thompson on to the left wing and he set up Martin Slater who found the bottom corner from distance to get his goal before making way for Mark Robinson, Carl then picked out Ash Hauxwell who turned his man and put his shot away in the bottom corner giving the man of the match his first league hat-trick this season. With ten minutes to go Carl Thompson got his name on the score sheet after a one, two with Ash Hauxwell. The Sheraton switched off the last ten minutes and let the Sun Inn play football and they worked it well to get two late goals both scored by Chris Whaley but there was only ever one team in the game and it takes the Sheraton to the top on the league. The Sheraton would like to say well done to referee Darren Walker who had a great game

Last week saw the second round of the Ian Gorman Memorial Trophy and the holder’s first division Mandale travelled to premier division South Bank for what looked a tricky tie but came out on top 4-2 thanks to goals from Mark Todd (2), Paul Roddam and Anthony Simcox with Harrison Davies and Jamie May replying for the Bank. Last season’s runners up Hardwick Social were made to work hard for their victory over second division Malleable who after conceding an early goal then held out for some 70 minutes before finally collapsing as Hardwick added another five but they did manage a consolation from Jeffrey Illingworth.. Hardwick’s scorers were Andy Westwood (2), Roberts, Hannah, Wilson, and Preston). There were two outstanding first round ties these saw home wins for the Dubliners against Perrys by three goals to two and premier league SMCOB The Grenadier defeated Billingham The Kings 4-3 but were taken to extra time by the second division side.
In the Stephen Wells Memorial Trophy first round last season’s beaten finalist’s Stainsby shared eight goals with league rivals Norton Unicorn but eventually went down 4-3 in a penalty shoot out. The goals came from Deangibb 2, Chris Hurrell and Philip Dalby for Norton Unicorn and Anthony Frater, David Banks, Karl Suckling and Shaun Scott were the Stainsby scorers. Also Penny Black defeated Wolviston Wellington by the odd goal in nine, Penny Black goals from Neil Brette with a hat trick and Jon Schofield with a brace, whilst Daniel Tolputt 2, Craig Sparrow and Barry Garner replied for the Wellington. Premier league side Rosegale easily beat third division The Swan 12-0, Bill Gatenby 4, Dean Bell 3, Stewart Bath 2, Danny Earl, David Baker and Steven Purcifer were the goal scorers.
Elsewhere in the league in the Premier Division George & Dragon (Yarm) maintained there unbeaten start to the season with a convincing 4-1 win away to the Dolphin thanks to goals from Michael Gee 2, Dave Barkley and Rob Edemenson whilst Paul Kirby grabbed a late consolation for the Dolphin. The only other fixture saw Thornaby Dubliners go down 3-0 at home to Elm Tree Social Club.
In division one Londonderry Arms defeated the Merlin 3-1 in the only other league fixture their scorers were Stuart Waller, Joe Jenkinson and Michael Harper with Jason Hurst scoring for the Merlin.
Sun Inn Athletic continued their fine start to the season with a 6-1 win away to Stockton Arms thanks to goals from Darren Hakami 2, Billy Thomas, Andrew Brown, Andrew Pitt and Stewart Taylor. Stockton West End maintained their 100% record with a narrow 2-1 win against Lord Nelson thanks to goals from Carl Carson and Matthew Martin with Barry Syed replying for the Nelson, this win lifted them into second place. Port Clarence had a fine 8-0 win against Fairfield Athletic but Athletic suffered with an ill disciplined display which saw two players sent off in the first half. Port Clarence goals coming from Wayne Cummings 4, Chris Fleming 2, Jamie Cook and Jonathan Casson.
Only two league games were played in division three in the Billingham derby Rangers came out on top against Greenholme by the odd goal in five, scorers for Rangers were Andy Jennings, David Maude and Woodall whilst Alan Ferguson and Dan Ward replied for Greenholme. Stockton Traders enjoyed a 5-1 win away to Georgia Browns thanks to goals from Norman Fowler 2, Darren Hawkes 2 and Christian Booth, this latest defeat leaves Georgia Browns at the foot of the table.

In division three unbeaten leaders the Dubliners entertained third place Norton George & Dragon in this top of the table clash. Dubliners started brightly and took the lead after seven minutes when Chris Wrathmall’s shot from the edge of the box found its way into the corner of the net. This seemed to rock Norton George & Dragon and they were on the back foot for a while however they gradually worked their way into the game but squandered a number of goal scoring opportunities as the Dubliners went into the break with their lead still intact. The second half saw Norton George & Dragon pile on the pressure but some poor finishing plus some inspired goalkeeping from Shane Hine coupled with John Gittings stout defending meant Dubliners held out. The deadlock was finally broken on the hour mark when a left wing George attack saw the ball crossed into the area for Gavin Simcox to tap home. The George were now on top but again squandered chances until on 75 minutes a ball over the top was latched onto by Chris Burton who outstripped the defence and although Shane Hine got a hand to the shot he could not prevent the goal. Two further goals in the last ten minutes from substitute Craig Summerson on 80 minutes and on 86 minutes Scott Meehan speculative lob which Hine got hiss hand too again but could not prevent the goal. The scoreline did not do justice to the Dubliners as both sides produced some good football but this win allowed Norton George & Dragon to leapfrog over the Dubliners in the table.

Billingham Rangers took over at the top only on goal difference following their emphatic 9-0 win over Georgia Browns thanks to hat tricks from Darren Woodhall and Andy Jennings plus goals from Marc Brocklesby, Craig Nicholson and Chris Butler.

In the Durham Sunday Cup first round proper only three teams from the league progressed to round two, one was guaranteed as Billingham The Merlin from division one entertained Sun Inn of division one and went down by the odd goal in seven. Hardwick Social Club who were beaten finalist two seasons ago progressed thanks to a 4-0 home win against Horden C.W Under 21’s. The only other side to progress was Rosegale N & S.A who received a bye as Horden Comrades had folded. Billingham Cons, Billingham Telstar, George & Dragon (Yarm) were the other sides to go down at this stage of the competition.

In the premier division South Bank travelled to SMCOB Grenadier with both sides depleted by injuries and work commitments. Bank went a goal down when a defensive mistake left stand in Keeper Martin Laing with no chance from close range 1-0. Within a minute it was level terms with a smart finish by Anthony Reed 1-1. The St Marys made it 2-1 after 15 minutes again Anthony Reed equalised within a minute 2-2, half time 2-2. In the 55th minute the eventual man of the match Chris Watson finished a great pass by Kevin McDermott to put the Bank ahead 2-3 then within a minute it was 3-3 the Bank lost possession in midfield and a snap shot made it level. In the 60th minute Harrison Davies replaced McDermott he came on to the left wing with Steven Aithwaite moving to the right. Within ten minutes Davies scored twice making it 3-4 then 3-5 and then assisted Anthony Reed to complete his hat-trick with a superb through ball to give Matthew Perry no chance 3-6.  In the 80th stand in centre half Jamie May on a forward run combined one twos with Gary Owens, Paul Barker then played the ball to Harrison Davies who put Anthony Reed in to notch his fourth 3-7. Then St Mary's got a fourth in the 90th minute. FT 4-7. 

The Eagle maintain their unbeaten record in league two with an entertaining game against Penny Black which ended 3 - 3.  Some good pressure from the Eagle saw them go 1 up thanks to Jonathan Shaw's bullet header early on, Penny Black battled back and found themselves 2 -1 in front at half time.  Martin Rogan fired home from an acute angle in the second half to level things up before Penny Black added a third.  An equaliser didn’t seem likely as The Eagle squandered too many chances and later had to rely on an own goal to leave the scores even at full time.

This North Riding County Football Association Sunday Challenge Cup second round tie was played under dreadful gale force winds and rainy weather conditions. Fortunately the pitch held up well, despite a number of pools developing. With both teams committed to attacking football. It was South Bank who opened the scoring after 15 minutes with a twenty five yard screamer from Anthony Reed. The Bank wasted a number of chances restricting Vale to a few half chances just before half time Phillip King was injured and Jamie May went to centre back halftime 1-0. Early in the second half Vale of York hit the bar, then were awarded a penalty fortunately for the Bank this was hit high and wide, Danny Watson then made a fine save to keep Banks narrow lead intact all in the space of the first ten minutes of the restart. It was a worrying time when the influential Martin Laing had to leave the field. Matty Morgan coming on helped to settle things he was involved in a build up with Gary Owens to set up Kevin McDermott to hit home from close range. 2-0. Man of the Match Gary Owens combined with Jamie May putting McDermott clear to chip the advancing keeper to make it 3-0. Praise to the Vale of York (Kirk Hammerton) team for their sportsmanship and to referee Stephen Foster of Northallerton for his handling of the game in atrocious conditions. Stainsby also progressed in the same competition with a 3-0 win at home to Marton Taxis

The Eagle remain top of Division two after a 4 - 1 victory against early pacesetters Stockton West End.  Both sides went into this fixture with unbeaten records having won six and drawn one of their opening games and neither side wanted to lose. It was the visitors who took the lead early in the game through Matthew Martin, then came a brace from man of the match Daniel Ward and then Martin Rogan either side of half time which gave The Eagle all three points.  A special mention goes to referee Dennis Attey for keeping control of the game in atrocious conditions.

Sun Inn Athletic moved into second place with a 7-2 win away at Fairfield Athletic thanks to goals from Richie Peacock 2, Darren Hakami 2, Scott Lambe, Andrew Brown and David Butterfield, Stephen Timmins and Aaron Flory replied for Fairfield Athletic.

Thornaby Cricket Club enjoyed a convincing 6-1 win away to Perrys thanks to a hat trick from Darren Fixter, a brace from Charlie Eeles plus one for Chris Levick, Carl Black replied for Perrys.

Port Clarence are fifth after a narrow 4-3 win at home to Billingham The Kings with their goals being spread out amongst Jamie Cook, man of the match Chris Fleming, Lee Twizell and substitute Steven Pickard) Billingham The Kings replied through David Robson, Peter Conway and James O’Brien.

The other fixture in division two saw Lord Nelson have a narrow 2-1 win at home to Malleable thanks to goals from Lee Carberry and Richard Read, Mark Aithwaite replied for the Malleable. This victory lifted Lord Nelson off the bottom of the table.

In division one leaders The Sheraton slipped to a 4-3 defeat against bottom of the table Charltons Hotel to dent their promotion hopes and open up the promotion race. Charltons Hotel scored through two goals from Tony Johnson, and one apiece for David Thomas and new signing Darren Willans. Ashley Hauxwell, Jonathan Cooper and Steven Lonsdale were on target for The Sheraton.

This allowed other teams to close in on them, Mandale had a narrow 4-3 win over Billingham The Merlin, the Merlin scored first before Mandale built up a 4-1 lead only for Merlin to hit back with two further goals and had Mandale hanging on with their keeper Gary Poole earning a man of the match award. Scorers for Merlin were Kirk Parton, Stuart Hawsby and Sean Wem whilst Marc Todd with two and one for Jamie Poole and Lee O’Toole scored for Mandale.

Londonderry Arms moved into second place with a 4-2 win against Billingham Telstar for whom Craig Brown and James McLeod were the scorers.

Sun Inn moved up the table with a 7-2 win over Norton Unicorn the goals coming from Tony Robinson, Chris Whaley and Ray Ayre who each netted twice and Johnny Richards, Chris Hurrell and Andy Thomas scored for the Unicorn.