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