SATURDAY AUGUST 23RD 2014

WHEATLEY HILL WMC FC 2 V 3 HORSLEY HILL FC

 Well fought and even 1st half which ended 1:1.The second half started much the same with Horsley Hill managing to eventually take the lead. And with the game coming to an end and Horsley 3:2 up, Wheatley Hill pushed but couldn't find an equalizer and Horsley took the 3 points.

BRANDON UNITED RESERVES 0 V 11 COUNDON & LEEHOLME YOUTH FC

This was always going to be a hard game for Brandon having lost key players to injuries last week and with several players working and three called up for first team duty and so it proved. Coundon scored at regular intervals in the first half to lead 6-0 and despite stubborn resistance for most of the second half the Brandon defence ran out of bodies to put on the pitch and shipped another 5 goals in the second half. Scorers for Coundon were Mark Wood with 5, Carl Raine with 3 and one goal each for Liam Bowes, Scott Hastie and Ben Collinson. Man of the match for Coundon for the quality of his delivery into the danger area was Stephen Houlahan and for Brandon was new keeper Joe Hammond for his double penalty save.

MURTON AFC 3 V 1 CHESTER-LE=STREET TOWN WHITEHILL

Murton bounced back from defeat against Ferryhill with a deserved victory over Whitehill. Murton took the lead within the first minute following a deflected Winspear shot leaving the Whitehill keeper with no chance. Whitehill played some good football during the first half however Murtons keeper Swinburne made a couple of good saves to keep them in front and then shortly before half time they doubled their advantage following excellent work by Ruddock out wide and decisive finishing from Grayson. Whitehill started the second half quicker and quickly pulled the score back to 2-1; both teams had chances in the second half with Swinburne again saving to keep the score at 2-1 and some sloppy Murton finishing at the other end. Murton restored their 2 goal lead mid way through with Grayson converting a spilled free kick from close range.

EBCHESTER CONSETT RESERVES 3 V 4 BISHOP AUCKLNAD RESERVES

Bishop Auckland started the game brightly and within 15 minutes found themselves 2 up. The forward broke the offside trap and bided his time before slotting into the bottom corner. Ebchester then came back into the game with a fabulous 20 yard curler from Hannant, he bent the ball straight into the top corner leaving the goalkeeper no chance. That man was also in the right place to score the equaliser. Agnew's dancing feet down the left hand side opened up defence, he squared it to Hannant who was in the right place at the right down to put it into the back of the net. Bishop Auckland found themselves ahead again just before half time, a foul in the box allowed the forward to strike home a good penalty into the top corner. Half time 2-3. Ebchester started the second half well and were pushing for an equaliser, they made it 3-3 after 65 minutes, the goalkeeper came out his box to clear it but the ball fell to Agnew who lobbed it over the keeper and defender. Both teams were pushing for a winner and with 7 minutes to go Bishop Auckland got it, a good through ball from the right opened up for the left winger to dink it over the on rushing goalkeeper. Final score 3-4.

 HYLTON SC 1 V 1 SEDGEFIELD NETPARK

Hylton entertain a Sedgefield Netpark who are yet to drop points so a very entertaining game was expected and it didn’t disappoint. Sedgefield started the brightest with sharp passing and with a lot of confidence but Hylton found their feet and it turned out a very competitive game. Hylton had 2 bad injuries to key players but Hylton pressed on but Sedgefield broke and scored but the linesman flagged for offside, various chances from both sides but a bad error from a Hylton full back played Sedgefield in 1 on 1 goal! 0-1 Hylton pressed well and with various chances missed Wooton final levelled 1-1. A good competitive game in bad condition which both teams adapted well.

FERRYHILL TOWN 5 V 1 BIRTLEY FC

Ferryhill town 5 - 1 Birtley. Ferryhill took the lead through a fast attacking movement which lead to a penalty which Billy Snaith coolly slotted in. Richard brown then scored an unbelievable hat trick to clinch the game but Birtley got a consolation goal until majestic Shane Todd finished Birtleys hopes of getting back in the game

HARTLEPOOL RESERVES FC 1 V 2 SHERBURN VILLAGE WMC FC

Another tough result to take for the young Hartlepool side. In a game which they once again played some good football, a mixture of poor finishing and good goalkeeping kept them from taking a lead in the first half. Karl Hammond had 20 yarder tipped over before Jake Larkin went through and saw his placed effort tipped on to the post, with Hammond unable to connect with the follow up. Sherburn looked dangerous on the break with one speculative effort leaving Hartlepool goalkeeper Ryan Harriss Kitt a spectator only to be helped out by the crossbar. HT 0-0 in the second period it was more of the same, chances went begging for both sides Hammond forced another good save and Harriss Kitt came to the rescue, deflecting wide as Sherburn raced clear. The opening goal came with a hint of controversy, a ball played out to the Sherburn right winger and everyone stopped as he seemed 3 yards offside, the Referee looked to his assistant, no signal came so the man in the middle played on leaving Harris Kit facing 3 Sherburn players, the ball was pulled back across the 6 yard box for an easy finish and 1-0 after an hour. Less than 10 minutes later it was 2-0, a 20 yard free kick was dispatched into the top corner of the Hartlepool net. Luckily heads didn't drop and the Sherburn keeper was put under pressure following a succession of corners and crosses in to his box, he dealt with near enough everything until Karl Hammond fired high into the net from 18 yards following a strong run from his strike partner O'Sullivan. Hartlepool pressed for the equaliser but it wouldn't come. Another narrow defeat for the young Hartlepool Reserves side, best for the home side was debutant Charlie Grant who was a rock in central defence, with the Sherburn 'keeper excelling.