PRUDHOE Town struggled in the Wearside League last season but they are much improved this time and last night thumped Gateshead Leam Rangers 8-3.

Leam were first to score through Robert Allen on 24 minutes but from then on it was all Prudhoe who raced into a 7-1 lead with goals from Scott Ormston, with a hat-trick, Nathan Burrell (2), Jake Stafford and Christopher Winn.

Ryhope CW made it seven wins on the bounce at home to Coxhoe Athletic. There was nothing remarkable about goals by Martin Metcalfe and John Butler but there certainly was when Ryhope goakeeper Neil Atkinson scored in the 65th minute.

He kicked the ball out of his hands from his own penalty area and it sailed over substitute goalkeeper Anthony McDonald, who is normally an outfield player, and into the net.