SATURDAY FEBRUARY 21ST 2015

SHERBURN VILLAGE WMC FC 1 V 1 HARTLEPOOL TOWN RESERVES

2mins into the game Hartlepool’s Ross Kidson was brought down in the box by Sherburn’s Scott Arnott penalty given. It was converted by no9 Carl O'Sullivan 1-0 Hartlepool. Hartlepool took the game to Sherburn and was on top for the first 25mins. Sherburn started to settle and on 33 a ball from Joe Simpson to Gaz Dodds put Danny Rooney through to slam home from 7yds to make it 1-1. The next chance fell to Sherburn on 40mins when a free kick from Joe Simpson found Scott Arnotts whose header was tipped over the bar by the keeper. The resulting corner was swung in and cleared off the line. Hartlepool then broke away and a great strike by Jake Larkin skimmed the post .1-1 ht. Second half started with Hartlepool the brighter team with smart flowing football. Sherburn slow to start had a great chance to take the lead with a great strike from Joe Simpson that flew just wide. Hartlepool replied on 62 with a chance landing to no 8 Russ Kidman whose 18yd strike skimmed the post .the game flowed end to end with chances landing to both sides. The game ended 1-1 which was a fair result.

COUNDON & LEEHOLME YOUTH FC 3 V 0 WALLSEND TOWN

The game kicked off with Wallsend quickly putting Coundon under pressure and missed an early header. Coundon quickly responded and Neil Jackson scored after 9 minutes. Half time came with Coundon having a 1-0 lead but having missed several very good chances. The second half kicked off with Wallsend putting Coundon under pressure and Coundon maybe rueing the chances they had not taken. Coundon made substitutions bring on Darren Simpson to score with his second touch of the ball. Daniel Kent scored on 80 minutes giving Coundon a 3-0 victory.

SHILDON RESERVES 2 V 0 BISHOP AUCKLAND RESERVES

Shildon ran out winners 2 0 in a good game at the Bobby Robson centre. In a tight first half the home team were always on top but bishop looked dangerous on the break and it was a surprise that it was goalless at the break. After the break bishop had the wind behind them and had spells of pressure on the Shildon goal without creating any clear cut chances. The home team then stepped up a gear and a glancing header from jay Balfour put Shildon in front. The home defence were in a mean mood and Huntley, mountain, Thompson and mom Hayes kept things tight throughout. A fine goal from Michael Nichol sealed the 3 points for Shildon following a good move involving Carr, Kerry and the goal scorer. Overall a good game from 2 good teams, Bishop Auckland has been a welcome addition to the league and deserves their current league position.

HORSLEY HILL FC 6 V 1 BRANDON UNITED RESERVES

Horsley Hill FC climbed to the top of the league with an emphatic 6 - 1 win over a very plucky Brandon team. The game was won in the first half with hat tricks from a very good Phil Gray and MoM Adam Sharp. Brandon made a game of it in the second half with a bullet header from star man Jay Smith

BIRTLEY FC 1 V 5 MURTON AFC

On a bright but cold Saturday afternoon Birtley FC came up against Murton AFC in the League which is one of two fixtures over the next couple of weeks as both teams have been drawn against each other in a repeat tie in the Mark Blake Memorial Trophy next Saturday. The game started brightly by both teams but Birtley FC took the lead on 7' with a long range shot from Jack Kelly from 40 yds but Murton AFC scored a sweet equalizer on the volley by their No.15 on the 18'. Both sides went on to create chances but Birtley FC was denied what looked to be a blatant penalty just before half time and the first half ended 1-1. Second half Murton AFC started the brighter team from the off and took the lead after 48', and then scored again on the 58' to make it 1-3 to Murton AFC. Murton AFC made it 1-4 on the 64'. Birtley FC then went down to 10 men due to injuries and lack of substitutes but the match was already decided and although Birtley FC battled with the players they had on the pitch Murton AFC added a fifth goal on the 70'. The last 20 minutes was all Murton AFC and the 10 Birtley FC players left on the pitch battled their hearts out. Murton AFC truly deserved the victory. MOTM Birtley FC Michael Sanderson (GK) and Murton AFC MOTM No.15 (TM) but their captain was a close second.

WASHINGTON AGED PEOPLES TROPHY ROUND 2

CHESTER-LE-STREET WHITEHILL 7 V 0 EBCHESTER CONSETT RESERVES
Whitehill progressed to the next round of the Washington Aged Peoples Trophy with a comfortable win over Ebchester Con Res, after a slow start to the game Whitehill went 1-0 on 17 mins after good work from Dan Addison and David Henderson who set up Craig Mickle to score. Three mins later Whitehill were lucky when they doubled their lead when Chris Travena sent in a cross that went over the keepers head and dropped just inside the far post for 2-0. Whitehill were on top now and on 28 mins a quick throw from Scott Hope led to Craig Mickle going on to score his second of the game and 3-0. Whitehill missed chance after chance but on 44 mins Jack Taylor was on hand in the Whitehill goal to save well to keep his goal intact and a minute later Michael Graver scored from 18 yards for a half time score of 4-0. The second half started the same as the first but it was Matty Smith who made it 5-0 on 67 mins. Scott Hope rifled in from the edge of the box on 81 mins for 6-0. And the seventh goal was scored following good build up play from Matty Smith and Stephen Wood and Mark Peck made no mistake for a final score line of 7-0 and put Whitehill through to the next round and a visit to Bishop Auckland in the Quarter Final.

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 14TH 2015

COUNDON & LEEHOLME YOUTH FC 4 V 1 SEDGEFIELD NETPark

The game kicked off with the Coundon goalkeeper miss kicking the ball allowing Sedgefield to take an early lead. Both teams fought hard in the first half with Coundon not taking their chances. The second half kicked off with Coundon coming out strong and quickly equalising with a goal from Christopher Howe. Coundon were awarded a penalty on 49 minutes but the Sedgefield keeper made another good save. Mark Wood quickly gave Coundon the lead after 50 minutes. Kurt Mathews scored after 74 minutes and Stevie Johnson scored after 86 minutes to give Coundon a 4-1 victory.

HYLTON SC 0 V 3 CHESTER-LE-STREET WHITEHILL

Short on numbers Hylton knew this would be a tricky game and Chester Le Street showed no mercy on a club with lost confidence.  Hylton didn't really get started and a Chester le Street team took advantage with a goal 18 mins from half time, Hylton played some good football but couldn't find that crucial goal and the visitors ran out 3-0 in the end. Chester le Street number 9 and number 5 stood out as did Hylton’s keeper.

EBCHESTER CONSETT RESERVES 2 V 1 WHEATLEY HILL WMC FC

After 3 months of no home games, Ebchester finally welcomed a team to Belle Vue, Wheatley Hill were the visitors. The match started with both teams equalling each other out. It was the home team who upped the pace after 15 minutes and started putting Wheatley Hill on the back foot, but the last ball was lacking from their game. In the 30th minute however, Hannant picked the ball up and opened the defence up with his precision, Agnew latched onto the splendid pass and was one on one with the keeper. Agnew stayed calm and waited for the keeper to make his move; he chipped the ball delicately over the top of the diving keeper and into the bottom corner, clipping the post on the way in for good effect. The rest of the half was very even and the half time score 1-0 the home side. The second half Wheatley Hill came out the better side, much of the play being in the Ebchester half. Ebchester stayed strong through this period and were looking dangerous on the counter attack. A direct ball down the middle caused a bit of confusion in the defence and it fell kindly to Parker, he showed great composure to guide the ball into the bottom corner to put Ebchester 2 up. Wheatley Hill came back and were pushing to get themselves back in the game, they had a strong penalty call denied by the referee, however, from the resulting corner the centre back picked up a loose ball and rifled it into the top corner to make it a nervy last 10 minutes. Wheatley Hill was searching for the equaliser and got the perfect opportunity, a penalty. Scott in goal stood big and dived down low to save it. An equal game ended 2-1 to the visitors.

MURTON AFC 2 V 1 HARTLEPOOL FC RESERVES
Murton were 2-1 winners in a hard fought game deservedly taking all three points. A goal within the first minute from Hayden pace and in the stroke of half time was sandwiched between Murton squandering chances to put the game to bed. After the break Hartlepool came back hard and pulled a goal back and continued to ask questions until the end. Murton also continued to squander good chances- eventually the game finished Murton 2 Hartlepool 1

WALLSEND TOWN 2 V 3 SHERBURN VILLAGE WMC FC

Well Sherburn started off well with two long balls which caught out Wallsend town defence and scored to make it 2-0 to Sherburn. . But from there on in it was all Wallsend town knocking and knocking on Sherburn doors looking for a reply but it wasn't for the heroics of Sherburn stand in goalkeeper with possibly the performance of the season to date and he kept Wallsend town at bay 1st half.. The 2nd half started as the first half finished with Sherburn camped in there half for half an hour with some more fine saves from Sherburn keeper but as Wallsend town pushed for goals it left it open at the back for Sherburn to take their lead to 3-0 it wasn't until the final 10 minutes Wallsend broke deadlock to make it 1-3 then again 5 minutes later a 2nd to make it 2-3 but unfortunately for Wallsend town the Sherburn keeper was keeping his mom award and kept out a final chance from Wallsend town for Sherburn to take the spoils and win the match 2-3.

BISHOP AUCKLAND RESERVES 2 V 2 SHILDON RESERVES

In a competitive affair, the spoils were shared between the two local rivals with similar league records. In a sloppy start from the home side, Shildon played a lot of decent football with the end product being well cleared by Bishops defenders. But it was the home side that took the lead following a great piece of interplay between Walton, Maughan and a final flick from Dunn, allowing Tom Knight to advance and strike into the far corner. Sheldon equalised 6 minutes later however after a good quality free kick was headed home. The visitors could have been in front at the break had it not been from a superb stop from man of the match Craig Foster, low to his right. Jordan Maughan could have given the Bishop's a lead also but saw his chip shot go wide. The second half saw and improvement in quality with both teams trying to win the game. Shildon took the lead from a well taken swivel shot, and could have been home from a stunning effort that was just as impressively matched again by Foster. A Scott Connell effort from range was well tipped onto the cross bar to deny an equaliser. But a deserved equaliser came 10 minutes from time with a Lewis Dun shot parried into the path of Bobby Gibson from 2 yards! Deserved result for both teams, who go again next week in the return fixture!

HORSLEY HILL FC 8 V 2 BIRTLEY FC

Horsley Hill continued their push for the title with an emphatic 8 -2 win over Birtley FC. It took 20 mins before the Hill got their game together and scored through Frankie Hucks. Although the Hill had control of the game Birtley never stopped trying and created a few opportunities. The Hill doubled their lead just before half time' when centre half Williams rose at the back post to head home. Second half saw the Hill come out of the blocks fast and scored three goals in the space of 15mins, through Phil Great 2 and one from MoM Danny Symington. At this point the Hill rung the changes which allowed Birtley to score twice through Illingworth and substitute Marc Wood. However, the Hill gained back control and sealed the win with 2 further goals from Luke Pattison

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 11TH 2015

BIRTLEY FC 2 V 7 CHESTER-LE-STREET WHITEHILL

The match started bright this evening by both teams creating early chances at either end. C-L-S Whitehill’s took the lead on 17' with a well worked set of play down the right wing. Birtley FC responded on the 17' with the equaliser coming from Jason McCartney after Michael Kelly set him up from the right wing. C-L-S Whitehill’s then pounced on the 21' and again from the spot on the 29' to make it 1-3 to C-L-S Whitehill’s. C-L-S Whitehill’s added two better worked goals on the 35' and 42'. Birtley FC did create a couple of more chances in the first half but failed to take them. Half time 1-5 to C-L-S Whitehill’s. Second half Birtley started the brighter but as the game went on both sides created good goal scoring opportunities but again neither side took them until C-L-S Whitehill’s scored their sixth on 71'. Birtley FC pulled one back on the 88' to make it 2-6 via a good strike from Mark Jordan, only for C-L-S Whitehill’s to go straight up the other end to score on the 90' to make it 2-7 to C-L-S Whitehill’s. It was a really good game of football by both sides on a very cold evening and it was a credit to both sets of player. MOTM Birtley FC was Michael Kelly and C-L-S Whitehill’s MOTM was Stephen Wood.

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 7TH 2015

BISHOP AUCKLAND RESERVES 3 V 1 SEDGEFIELD NETPark

BA Reserves secured a great win against a talented Sedgefield side, running out 3-1 winners with a very good performance. The home side took the lead in the opening 5 minutes as Jordan Maughan broke into the box, passing to Lewis Dunn who fired into the far corner. The lead could have been doubled as Bobby Gibson rattled the bar from a free kick, and Jordan Maughan himself chipped over after being played through 1-on-1. As it was Sedgefield equalised from the penalty spot, after Thomas Iley was adjudged to have fouled in the area. Both teams played some great football in a brilliant advert for the Durham Alliance, but it was the home side again who equalised with the same combination, with a square ball from Maughan for Dunn to tap home, despite calls of offside from the visitors. They could have had a second penalty as Iley lunged for a tackle with minutes to go, but the appeals were waved away. The second half was a high affair with both teams having chances. The visitors hit over from yards out, with Mark Connell having to withstand a number of crossed and longer balls. The home defence held strong, lead by man of the match Michael Owens, constantly blocking and heading away the more direct balls. Bishop themselves could have wrapped it up after the keeper made a stunning save from Liam Bain, and Bain again fired an effort from 20 yards that clipped the post on the way out. Lewis Dunn did however wrap up the points after being played through, rounding the keeper and tapping home again! A great advert between two competitive yet talented groups of players!

WHITEHILL FC 13 V 0 FERRYHILL TOWN

Whitehill had a very comfortable 13-0 home win against Ferryhill Town. The first goal came on 8 mins through Dan Addison. It was 2-0 when Cameron Nichol struck from 20 yards. A minute later after good work from Stephen Wood then a Scott Hope cross saw Dan Addison make it 3-0. Matty Smith made it 4-0 on 28 mins when he shot into the far corner from the edge of the box. Ten Mins later Michael Graver curled one in for 5-0. Just before half time Cameron Nichol scored his second of the game with a great finish and a half time score of 6-0. Two mins into the second half Dan Addison completed his hat trick for 7-0 and Matty Smith scored a free kick from the edge of the box to make it 8-0. Cameron Nichol then completed his hat trick on 54 mins for 9-0. Ferryhill brought out a great save from Whitehill keeper Jack Taylor but were unlucky not to score when the rebound hit the post.  Stephen Wood then chipped in with a couple of goals on 58 and 74 mins to make it 11-0 Michael Graver scored ten mins from the end and Dan Addison scored his fourth of the game to complete the scoring at 13-0

COUNDON & LEEHOLME YOUTH FC 10 V 0 BRANDON UNITED RESERVES

The game started with Coundon putting Brandon under pressure with the Brandon goalkeeper making two good saves in the first five minutes. Coundon took the lead with a goal from Christopher Howe after 13 minutes. Steven Johnson then scored on 18 minutes. Darren Griffiths then scored 2 goals on 29 and 34 minutes. Brandon saved a penalty just before half time but Ian Madison quickly scored to give Coundon a 5-0 lead at half time. Mark Wood scored on 63 minutes. Steven Johnson then scored 2 goals to give him his hat-trick. Mark Wood scored on 73 minutes and another goal for Coundon gave them a 10-0 victory.

SHILDON RESERVES 0 V 4 HORSLEY HILL FC

Looking at the score line you would think that Shildon had took a good hiding but the score didn't reflect the game. The home team started slowly and gifted the visitors 2 goals. This stirred them into life and for the rest of the first half they dominated the game. The same pattern emerged in the second half but some good defending by the visitors kept them out. A disallowed goal from Philip Hayes summed up Shildon day and two goals in the last 3 minutes shattered the home team. Jack Carr starred for the home team.

CLEM SMITH BOWL ROUND 3

SHERBURN VILLAGE WMC FC 0 V 3 WALLSEND TOWN
Wallsend unbeaten in the league it was always going to be a tough match for Sherburn. The game started brightly with both teams in attacking mind. On10 mins Wallsend opened the score line with a looping header by there no 5 Chris Gail 1-0 Wallsend. The game ebbed and flowed with tackles flying in by both teams. Sherburn were playing the better football but we're failing in front of goal as chance after chance went by. A great free kick on 41mins saw Wallsends no8 Conner Browns strike sail just past the post. Sherburn replied with a great bit of individual play by Scott Arnott whose cross found Nicky Marley but with the ball under his feet managed to shoot which brought off a fine save by keeper Ray Beckham h/t1-0. Second half started the same with chances at both ends. A Wallsend corner on 63 deflected off striker Graham into Sherburn’s net 2-0. 2mins later a great strike from Sherburn’s Peter Ryder flew over the bar. Wallsend finished the game on 72 with a great bit of play through the middle for striker Graham again to slot past the keeper. Sherburn didn't throw the towel in and kept trying to get back into it but Wallsend saw it out to win 3-0. Well done Wallsend and good luck next round.