THE Ebac Northern League will have five sides in the last 32 of the FA Carlsberg Vase after Spennymoor Town and Shildon won their delayed third round ties at the weekend.
Spennymoor were gifted a first-minute chance by Billingham Synthonia which ace marksman Gavin Codgon gleefully accepted, but his second goal was all down to his determination and skill.
With 17 minutes remaining and the outcome in doubt, he intercepted the ball and ran at the defence, twisting and turning before unleashing a tremendous 20-yard drive into the top corner of the net.
Shildon needed to come from behind to book their place in round four.
Martyn Lee was an eighth-minute scorer for visitors Parkgate but Shildon went on to dominate the tie.
Three goals by Jamie Owens (2) and Chris McCabe in a 14-minute second half spell swept them to victory. Durham City have shown improvement recently but they couldn’t halt Darlington 1883’s promotion drive in the Ebac Northern League First Division.
A Gary Galbraith penatly was all that separated the sides at the half-way stage but the Quakers, who included five former City players in their starting line-up, ended comfortable winners with further strikes from Amar Purewal (2) and David Dowson.
Darlington have a seven-point lead over Spennymoor Town with West Auckland Town in third place.
The latter maintained their championship challenge at Celtic Nation where Stuart Banks (2) and Mattie Moffat struck, with Craig Wilson the Cumbrians’ only marksman.
Bishop Auckland again impressed when they went nap at Sunderland RCA, whose only reply was credited to Aristote Guerin Lokonga. Andrew Johnson rifled a hat-trick with Kieron Megran and Dale Jardine also on target for Bishops, up to fourth. Whitley Bay are fifth. The Seahorses made a slow start to the season but have hit form, as relegation-threatened Norton and Stockton Ancients found to their cost.
Ash Davis (2) and Paul Chow eased Ian Chandler’s men to victory with Dale Mulligan replying for the hosts.
Bedlington Terriers slipped back to sixth after going down at Marske United where they led thanks to a Michael Morris own goal.
