THE game between Haltwhistle Jubilee and Barrasford was played in such a good spirit, referee Paul Best felt inclined to pen a letter to both Northumberland FA and the Sunday League committee.

So impressed was the official with the behaviour of both sets of players in the hard fought 2-1 win for Haltwhistle, he thought it worthy to sing their praises.

In the letter to the bodies, Mr Best said he hadn’t ever been involved in such a good-spirited game given how close it was at this level.

Goals from man of the match Mark Robson and Dan Kirkup, scoring his 14th of the campaign, maintained Haltwhistle’s 100 per cent start to the season, with Barrasford losing for the first time despite a goal from Marc Nixon and man of the match display from Owen Murtough.

Heddon St Andrew’s went top of the table as they put five without reply past bottom side Hexham Hearts , Sean Hownam and Mark Murtagh both bagging braces and Richard Harrison getting the other. Elliott Price was man of the match.

A double from Matty Fothergill and singles from James Watson and Matthew Hopkins earned Prudhoe Social Club a 4-1 win over Hexham Phoenix . Matthew MacLoughlin replied for Phoenix, best served by Kurtis Harvey, while Stefan Rainbow was named Prudhoe’s star man.

Goals from Ryan Morris, Adam Dickson and man of the match Jamie Ellwood saw Bardon Mill Bowes Lyons to a 3-1 win at Halfway House , who registered through man of the match Harry Mitchell.

Division Two leaders Haydon Bridge Anchor made it five wins from five league games as the division’s leading scorer Kieran Robley notched a hat-trick in the 5-2 victory at Ponteland Village .

Phil McDonnell and recent recruit from Hexhamshire, Phil Tipple, also scored, with Dan Alexander named man of the match. David Bambrough and Ryan Spragg got Ponteland’s goals, while Kieran Ellis was their key player.

Doubles from man of the match Michael Mason and Aidan Armstrong helped Rose and Crown Bellingham defeat Haltwhistle Railway 4-2, Railway’s goals coming from Jack Barker and Mark Banks, while Ben Moralee was man of the match.

Two goals from man of the match Glen Tweddle and one from Lewis Short saw Hexhamshire to their first point of the season as they shared six goals with Adam and Eve Prudhoe , who had Scott Turley scoring twice and Freddie Allan once. Nathan Moore was their key man.

A goal from Rik Kent was enough to earn Crawcrook Fox and Hounds , formerly known as Ryton Hotel, three points over Ponteland United Stamfordham . David Finley starred for Crawcrook, with Stu Henderson named Ponteland’s star man.

One goal was all it took for Ryton Country House , too, with David Young’s strike seeing them edge past Prudhoe Town East End . Matty Price was Ryton’s man of the match.