Birtley St Joseph's faced local rivals Whitehill in the Washington Aged People's Trophy semi final with Whitehill progressing to the final after a hard fought 3-2 win.  Birtley had a chance after 25 mins when awarded a penalty but Dan Irvings spot kick was well saved by Phil Roughly to keep the score level . 5 mins later Niki Langston fired Birtley in front with a rasping drive. HT 1-0. The second Half saw Whitehill pressing and they were rewarded when Paul Freemans hopefully shot  deceived the Birtley keeper to drop in over his head . Birtley regained the lead on 70 mins when James Bowman controlled the ball and unleashed an unstoppable shot from just outside the area . Whitehill kept pressing though and deservedly levels on 87 mins when Graeham Emblton hit the goal of the game when lashing in a free kick from 30 yards. With the game heading for extra time Luke Kerry broke free only to be dragged down in the box by the Birtley keeper . The Whitehill striker  got up to calmly slot home the resulting penalty to give Whitehill a 3-2 win and book their place in the final

Hartlepool Town progressed to the Washington Aged final with a 3.2 home win against Brandon British Legion, Legion took an early lead through Lee Blades, Town equalized when Christopher Taylor turned his man to score. In the second half Legion again took the lead when Andrew Nicholson scored only for David Wilson to level from the spot after Sam Cook was felled in the box, Peter Twidale put Town into the final scoring the winner.

Swalwell Amatuers v Durham Garden House
Saturday saw an end to end game with six goals seeing dgh win 4-2 and progressing in the cup. A Swalwell team unrecognisable to that which played earlier in the season missed a penaly after two minutes which may have altered the outcome of the game, Michael Henderson seeing his weak effort palmed over.  Durham then took the lead after 25 mins with a great header from a corner. Swalwell equalised after 31 mins when Bagnell punished a defensive error. Durham again took the lead with an offside looking goal even though the finishing header was worthy of winning a game alone. Swalwell again equalised with Fallon firing a low right foot effort into the bottom corner 2-2 half time.the second half saw Durham step up the pace and a 55 yd free kick from the no 5 and a gine goal from mom Richard Ellis won it for Durham despite lots of huff and puff from Swalwell.4-2 final score 

Washington started the brighter of the two teams and used the wind advantage in the first half going 3 goals up with Ebchester getting 1 back before the break. The second half saw Ebchester dragging themselves back into the game and pulling it back to 3-3 and unlucky not to win it in normal time due to some good last ditch Washington defending. Extra time was played in extreme blizzard conditions at times with Washington showing more character and 4 goals to progress to the next round. Overall an entertaining game in arctic conditions well officiated. Goalscorers for Ebchester were Stuart McKenna, Shaun Dodds and Jonathan Yip with Washington's goals coming from Adam Burnice (3), Ryan Moor (3) and Chris Stephenson. Ebchester mom Jonathan Yip, with Kelvin Briggs getting Washingtons.

Coxhoe United v Brandon United Reserves
An end to end game that, at 2-1 to Coxhoe, looked like it might head
into extra time. However some good work on the right from Liam Lawson
and Leon Greenwell resulted in a diagonal ball out to the left where
Sean Johnson beat two defenders to square the ball for Ian Brabon to
drive home from six yards. Coxhoe's extra quality in the the box
settling the tie and setting up a semi-final appearance for the second
year running.

Shildon Railway v Coundon & Leeholme
Coundon & Leeholme are through to the final of the Durham County Trophy after 4-3 penalty win at Shildon Railway F.C. Both teams had to deal with terrible winds which spoilt much of the match, Coundon went ahead when a mix-up in the Shildon defence on 15 minutes allowed Michael Gibson to nip in and slot home from close range. Shildon came out and gave a real go of it in the second half and were rewarded with an Adam Pinkney goal direct from a corner on 70 minutes. Coundon went down to 10 men with Martin Houlahan seeing red for a clumsy, and by no means intentionally dirty challenge, on 80 minutes. Shildon continued to press for the final ten minutes but could not make their extra man count and the game ended 1-1 after 90 minutes. The game went into extra time and the 30minutes that proceeded were a cagey affair with neither team wanting to give away much with such a big prize at stake.

Sunderland Hylton CW v Wheatley WMC
The game was played in windy condition but Hylton soon got the balll down and played some excellent football leading to there first goal a great interchange between curry and gill leading to crew scoring , Hylton were then on top and a easy goal from liam gill hyltons new signing from Ryhope c.w, Gill made it 3 in the second half and to round it all off a brilliant free kick from ross kennedy from 30 yards all due respect to wheatly hill they never give in to the end .

BIRTLEY ST.JOSEPHS V GATESHEAD LEAM RANGERS
 In a match played in horrendous conditions at Gateshead Stadium both teams put in gutsy performances with Birtley taking the points courtesy of a 3-2 win. Birtley took the lead when Niki Langston fired in from just inside the area. It was deservedly 2-0 10 mins later as James Bowman rose highest to head home an inch perfect cross from man of the Match Dan Irving. Leam though have a never give up attitude and were rewarded when James Fenwick stabbed home to make it 2-1 at the break. The second half saw Birtley  again pressing at every opportunity with James Bowman eventually restoring the advantage to 2 goals when slotting home his second of the game. There was still time for Leam to grab a late consolation when Jaimie Butler took advantage of a hesitant Birtley defence. Special mention to match officials Peter Conner, Michael Pearson and Chris Armstrong for allowing the game to go ahead.

Coundon edged into the Final of the League Challenge Cup in a game played in poor conditions, stranton started the stronger going 2 nil up with goals from larkin and ward , counden got back in the game through bad defending . in the second half counden levelled straight from the kick off this gave them a big lift and played some good football scoring three more goals taking it 5 -2 . stranton never gave up and got back into the game through steve wheatley, and the goal of the game came from matty gardener to make it 4 - 5 to counden.  the game was well refereed by adam williamson and his assistants.

Despite freezing conditions and snow for most of the game Garden House and Swallwell played out a very entertaining 3 - 3 draw at the Bobby Robson Centre. Garden House went ahead early on with a great finish from Jack Carr. Swallwell came back straight away and equalised with a great free kick from Michael Henderson. The away team then went in front with a great shot from Sam Mcenry and went in at half time in front. Garden House came out very determined in the second half and were level through John Guthrie but not for long as Swalwell went back in front following a goal from David Mcdermott, Garden House kept going and scored a third through substitute Dan Beaney. Overall a fair result for two teams who were determined to play football on a horrible day and got their rewards with a good game.

A switch of venue due to a waterlogged pitch saw Coxhoe United host Gateshead Leam Rangers at the home of last year's league champions Cornforth United. In an end to end first half, full of chances to both teams, Coxhoe debutant Jonathan Colling grabbed two goals and Ian Brabon one to take a half time lead 3-1. The visitors came out flying in the second and quickly drew level with two early goals. This set the tone for the rest of the game, Leam Rangers applying costant pressure and Coxhoe struggly to break on the counter attack. The breakthrough that the visitors deserved finally came with five minutes remaining taking a 4-3 which they were to hang onto despite a late sramble in their area.
Final result - Coxhoe United 3 Gateshead Leam Rangers 4.  Coxhoe United - Jonathan Colling 2, Ian Brabon 1
Gateshead Leam Rangers - Jamie Butler, Rob Grey, Louis Meach & James Fenwick.

After a fairly equal and uneventful first half it was 0-0 at half time.Brandon upped their game in the second half and took a deserved lead when Michael Fort's deflected cross looped in the air, and Scott Bryden rose like a salmon to head over and beyond the Birtley keeper to break the deadlock. Brandon went 2 up through Michael Fort when he was first to react to a loose ball after the keeper and defender collided in the 6 yard box. Michael Fort scored again to put Brandon further ahead with a simple tap-in after some good work down the right from Lee Blades. Brandon then rounded off a good second half performance with a fourth when David Fort slipped a through for Jay Balfour and the youngster finished well.

Whitehill completed a comfortable 4 0 home win a against Brandon Utd Res. On 13 mins good build up play by Luke Kerry and Ryan Drummond saw the latter cross from the left for Brinsley Sheridan to fire in for 1-0. It was 2-0 on 20 mins after Luke Kerry forced the ball in following a goal mouth scramble. Richard Oliver in the Brandon goal then made three excellent saves in as many minutes from Ryan Drummond, Anthony Davison and David Middlemas. Credit to Brandon who never gave up the chase, and the second half saw them create a few half chances but it was Whitehill who extended the lead on 68 mins when Ryan Drummond finished off a good move.
Luke Kerry rounded off the scoring when he fired into the top corner for 4-0 two minutes from time.

The game was played in good conditions and Coundon took an early lead through Martin Houlahan. Coundon continued to create chances and several good chances were missed. However Hylton were counter attacking on the break and carved out several chances themselves. It remained 1 0 at half time but just after the break Hylton broke away down the left and Gavin collins struck a good left foot shot into the net to make the score 1- 1. Coundon were still creating chances but were unable to score the second goal hitting the bar and missing several more good openings.Hylton however were still very much inthe game until the final two minutes when Michael Gibson who had come on as a substitute turned in a cross from the right in at the near post to make it 2-1 to Coundon.

Shildon Railway took all three points in a one-sided 4-2 win against Hartlepool Stranton. Shildon came out of the blocks firing and deservedly went ahead when Paul Dawes netted his 20th of the season inside 10 minutes. Credit must go to Dawes who could have gone to ground and claimed a penalty but choose to stay on his feet and tuck the ball away instead. Shildon were on top throughout the game and missed key chances in the first half but still went in at the break with a fully deserved lead. On the hour Dawes was on target again to put Shildon 2-0 up and minutes later converted a penalty for his hat trick and man of the match performance. Terry Gillan broke through from midfield and sent a fine right footed curling effort past the keeper from just inside the 18-yard box to put Shildon 4-0 up and in cruise control with 15 minutes remaining. Hartlepool scored two late consolation goals.

Durham garden house came out 4-2 winners against Washington Town at the Bobby Robson Centre. Garden house took the lead through joe kerry but washington were soon level through adam burnicle. Kerry put garden house 2-1 just before the break. Garden house then went 3-1 up with a cool finish by Jack Carr and were 4-1 up with a great free kick from Philip Hayes. Washington never gave up and got a second through Philip Marriott. In a very competitive match Garden House came away winners and continue to improve following a tough first half of the season.