Football: Masons thank late leveler

The visitors had taken the lead shortly after half-time when Justin Fox put Quinns 1-0 up against a side with the only 100 per cent record in the league so far this season.

But Tom Fothergill equalised for Masons with 20 minutes left, and it was their first points dropped this season after Quinns pushed them all the way.

Their secretary Keith Brain said: "It was tight throughout the game. The first half was a bit scrappy but that was probably down to the frosty pitch. Once it softened the game opened up but it was fairly even. Either side might argue they just edged it but I think a draw was probably a fair result."

Masons' Stuart Savage said: "We knew it was going to be tight and was going to be a battle. We haven't matched them in the past but we did this time. They're in your face and you've got to work hard. It was a tight game and could have gone either way. There wasn't a lot of chances, both goalkeepers didn't really have a lot to do, but it was a good result for us, as long as we didn't get beat."

Elsewhere in Division One last week, Dan Fox and Paul Leadbitter were on target for Tudhoe United as they drew 2-2 at home to Thorns, who had Mark Nicholson and Anthony Stewart on the scoresheet.

Hunwick Joiners won 3-2 at home to Binchester Social Club with goals by Ashley Coveney (2) and Andrew Howard. Jeff Morrow scored both goals for Binchester.

In the Kelvin McIntosh Division Three Cup, Belvedere gave Division Two leaders Browney a run for their money as they clawed their way back in to this divisional cup game, and could have won it.

In week three of this group A fixture, Browney raced into a two-goal lead when goals by Andrew Nicholson and John Kidd put them firmly in the driving seat.

Alan Lamb pulled one back for Belvedere and then Lee Nixon drew them level before Jonathan Millward put Belvedere in front with a penalty.

Millward added another, again from the spot, to swing the game in Belvedere's favour.

But it was Browney's turn to claw it back - and they did with another goal by Nicholson and one from Stuart Kitching to make it 4-4.

Belvedere's Karl Thompson said: "They were all over us in the first half, we couldn't get out of our own box. But we changed our formation for the second half and we got a few breaks, along with the two penalties, but we did well, it was pleasing to get a draw in the end."

Gerard Crooks added: "We were coasting but then we went to pieces and in the end we were almost beaten, I'd say we were lucky to get the draw."

In group B, New Brancepeth won 4-3 at Half Moon with goals by Philip Wilkinson, Craig Hindmarch, Eddie Watson and Anthony Holiday. Michael Fearman, Tony Craddock and Ben Davis were on target for Half Moon.

Shildon Athletic won 3-2 at Green Tree with goals by Kevin Kavanagh (2) and Richard Thompson.

In the Division Three Cup, Navy Club claimed a valuable win in their group A match with Bishop Masons.

Wayne Pratt scored twice and there was one each from Kevin O'Neil and David Bush as the Division Three strugglers bounced back from going behind.

"The lads were pleased with the win," said Navy centre-back Rob Johnson. "It was a good game. We were losing so to come back and win showed good character."

Scott Walton and Karl Lee scored Masons' goals.

In group B, Masons United frightened Aycliffe Village with a battling performance.

Striker Chris Larkman put Masons 1-0 up after half-time before Marc Addy equalised for Aycliffe, only for Larkman to add another before the break.

David Hannon pulled Aycliffe back again, and then Phil Judge nudged Aycliffe ahead for the first time before Morgan Fielding scored from the spot to make it 4-2.

Martin Walker made it 5-2 before Larkman completed his hat-trick, and Garry Donald completed the scoring with a well-taken header.

Aycliffe manager Steve Moran said: "It's nice to start the competition off with a win, but respect must go to the Masons who gave us a very good game.

"It was very tight until the final half hour, when we introduced fresh legs that went on to win the game for us."

Midfield wizard Steve Woodward was given a rare starting place in the Aycliffe side. If Carlsberg could do rank bad performances...

* www.spenny-league.co.uk

RESULTS: Sunday: February 4: Division One: Masons Arms 1, Quinns 1; Hunwick 3, Binchester SC 2; Tudhoe 2, Thorns 2.

Kelvin McIntosh Division Two Cup, Week Three: Group A: Browney 4, Belvedere 4. Group B: Green Tree 2, Shildon Athletic 3; Half Moon 3, New Brancepeth 4.

Division Three Cup: Week Three; Group A: Bishop Masons 2, Navy Club 4. Group B: Masons United 3, Aycliffe Village 6.

All other games postponed

Sunday's fixtures: Division One: Masons Arms v Bay Horse, Thorns v Hunwick, Quinns v Binchester SC, Old Shildon v Croxdale, North Briton v Voltigeur.

Division Two: Belvedere v Green Tree, Eldon Arms v Browney, New Brancepeth v Half Moon, Shildon Athletic v Penny Gill, Victoria v Hogans.

Division Three: Horndale Celtic v Castle, EBAC v Shildon Fox, Bishop Masons v Fox and Hounds, Southerne Club v Masons Utd, Navy Club v Aycliffe Village.

Division One

P W D L F A Pt

Masons Arms 11 10 1 0 57 9 31

*Old Shildon 14 9 2 3 39 31 26

Quinns 11 8 1 2 37 8 25

Tudhoe 15 5 4 6 27 34 19

Thorns 14 4 6 4 26 25 18

Croxdale 14 4 5 5 34 37 17

North Briton 10 5 0 5 31 34 15

Hunwick 11 4 2 4 24 22 14

*Bay Horse 11 5 1 5 26 31 13

Binchester SC 16 1 2 13 18 50 5

*Voltigeur 15 2 2 11 21 59 5

Division Two

Browney 12 11 1 0 56 25 34

New Brancepeth 13 10 1 2 53 17 31

Belvedere 16 8 1 7 39 40 25

Green Tree 13 6 3 4 21 19 21

Shildon Athletic 13 6 1 6 33 31 19

Victoria 15 5 1 9 20 37 16

Half Moon 14 4 2 8 33 40 14

Penny Gill 11 3 1 7 18 27 10

**Hogans 13 4 1 8 26 45 7

*Eldon Arms 12 2 2 8 15 33 5

Division Three

Shildon Fox 13 11 1 1 59 26 34

Aycliffe Village 13 12 0 1 85 24 33*

Fox & Hounds 14 8 4 2 53 29 28

EBAC 14 7 1 6 59 45 22

Castle 11 5 2 4 56 27 17

Bishop Masons 11 5 2 4 29 29 17

Navy Club 16 4 2 10 36 69 14

Southerne Club 13 3 0 10 17 61 9

Horndale Celtic 13 2 0 11 41 83 6

Masons Utd 12 1 2 9 30 72 5

*Denotes three points deducted

Hathaway and Cope Stokesley League

P W D L F A GD Pt

South Bank St. Peters* 13 12 1 0 48 11 37 31

Coulby Newham 16 10 0 6 64 31 33 30

Rudds Arms 12 9 0 3 53 13 40 27

St. Marys College 15 8 1 6 47 28 19 25

Grangetown YCC 2004 14 8 1 5 42 33 9 25

Ennis Square 13 7 3 3 85 32 53 24

Acklam Steel Works 15 6 2 7 32 42 -10 20

The Smithy 9 6 2 1 30 13 17 20

Great Ayton United 14 4 0 10 29 39 -10 12

Stokesley 15 3 2 10 20 52 -32 11

ASDA Teesport 16 3 0 13 23 118 -95 9

Bulls Head 16 2 0 14 24 85 -61 6