SATURDAY FEBRUARY 28TH 2015

COUNDON & LEEHOLME YOUTH FC 1 V 1 CHESTER-LE-STREET WHITEHILL

The game kicked off with end to end football. Both teams were playing well when Coundon were given a corner. Ian Madison headed the ball and gave Coundon a1-0 lead. The second half was similar to the first when Whitehill’s were awarded a free kick on the edge of the Coundon box. Matty Smith took the free kick and put the ball in the top corner of the Coundon goal with the match finishing 1-1.

SHERBURN VILLAGE WMC FC 1 V 1 WHEATLEY HILL WMC FC

A hard battling first half by both teams with chances falling for both teams ended 0-0. Second half started with Wheatley Hill on top and should have taken the lead but for a good save by Sherburn’s keeper Lee Abbott. On 68 mins Wheatley Hill broke the deadlock with a fine Finish by Richy Carr 0-1. Both teams were fighting hard with small battles been fought all round the pitch. Chances fell for both teams. On 78mins Wheatley hill went down to 10 men whence fender Lewis Edwards was sent off for second yellow. Sherburn piled the pressure on and on 86 were rewarded when a corner from the left was headed home by Dan Chester 1-1. Sherburn nearly stole all 3 points in the last min when a header by veteran Billy Harker skimmed the bar (the home side all sighed with relief as he would have never shut up about it) the game ended 1-1

HORSLEY HILL FC 3 V 1 SEDGEFIELD NETPark FC

Horsley Hill entertained Sedgefield today and climbed back to top of the league courtesy of 3. 1 at Temple Park. The first half saw both teams playing attractive end to end football. Sedgefield took the lead mid way through the first half when Madison struck a thunderbolt of a free kick which nestled into the top corner. The Hill tried desperately to get back into the game but spurned some glorious changes. The second half saw Horsley Hill come out of the traps quickly and Levi Collins equalised after some great build up play. From that moment the Hill took control of the game and added two more goals through Adam sharp and Adam Bell.

MARK BLAKE MEMORIAL TROPHY ROUND 1

BIRTLEY FC 3 V 6 MURTON AFC
Birtley FC welcomed Murton AFC for the first round of the Mark Blake Memorial trophy. Birtley FC started the brighter and took the lead on 10' after some good play and a cool calm finish from Thomas Illingworth. Both teams then created chances at either end but it was Birtley FC that scored again on the 27' through Jonathan Swift. Murton AFC then went straight down the other on 28' to make 2-1 to Birtley FC. Murton AFC then equalized on 37' with a good finish. Murton AFC then took the lead on the 40' to go in at halftime lead the game 3-2. Halftime score 2-3. Second half started slow but on the 60' Murton AFC broke down Birtley FC's defence again to make it 2-4. Both sides went on to create chances with both teams hitting the wood work but Murton AFC went on to make it 2-5 on the 83'. Birtley FC then pulled one back on the 84' with a well taken free kick from Thomas Illingworth making it 3-5. Murton AFC made it 6 on the 88' with another well worked goal. Match result 3-6 to Murton AFC.

EBCHESTER CONSETT RESERVES 4 V 6 BISHOP AUCKLAND RESERVES

Ebchester hosted Bishop Auckland in the Mark Blake Memorial Trophy, with the score line level after 90 minutes and the away side progressing through to the next round with an extra time victory. The score line in normal time was 4-4, with the scoring opened by Bishop Auckland Lewis Dunn. Ebchester quickly levelled through the head of Christopher Parkin, flicking on a teasing cross beyond the Bishop goalkeeper. It was Bishop Auckland who again took the lead through Dunn, beating the offside trap and slipping the ball in at the back post. Ebchester again levelled through Stephen Agnew from the penalty spot after the Bishop goalkeeper brought down Ebchester winger Daniel Reed when bearing down on goal. The teams went in level at half time, with the score line reflecting the even nature of the game up until that point. In the second half Bishop Auckland scored two quick goals through Thompson and Maughan, however Ebchester were soon back in the game with Parkinson and Agnew levelling the score line. The momentum was with Ebchester for the last twenty minutes, with the home side pushing on and looking to win the game in normal time. Despite coming close there was no winner and the game went to extra time. The momentum of the game shifted in extra time with Bishop Auckland taking the victory, with Dunn sealing his hat trick and a goal for Liam Bain. Man of the match for Ebchester was Richard Parkin, with Clifford Kirkbridge taking the award for Bishop Auckland

HARTLEPOOL FC RESERVES 3 V 2 SHILDON RESERVES

This was set up as a potentially great cup match as you could not separate the teams in the league having drawn 1-1 both home and away. Hartlepool made a good start with some solid passing and had the first chance when Lewi Murphy crossed for Carl O'Sullivan who headed just wide. The deadlock was broken when Hartlepool's defence was slow to react from a Harrisskitt save and the Shildon number 6 Ian Race found the bottom corner. Hartlepool hit back though when Aaron Doyle’s long throw was deflected into the net and went 2-1 up just before half time when Lewi Murphy rifled home from an acute angle. Hartlepool were told to keep it tight in the second half but conceded 4 minutes after the restart when a long ball caused confusion between the defence and keeper which allowed Shildons No9 Stephen Clifford slotted home. Shildon were in the driving seat but in the 80th minute good link up play between Jake Larking and Lewi Murphy saw Murphy cross perfectly for Dom Swinburne to smash home a volley into the bottom corner. Hartlepool then played the game out for a place in the semi final.

BRANDON UNITED RESERVES 7 V 0 FERRYHILL TOWN

On a heavy pitch Brandon soon got their passing game going and in the 10th minute Man of the Match Ben Pearson made a 35 yard run and shot high into the top corner. Brandon continued to press but found Ferryhill's Man of the Match goalkeeper Luke Brown in good form. On 25 mins a corner into the Ferryhill box was partially cleared and Brandon's Dan McDonough swivelled and shot into the net. McDonough picked up his second five minutes later when he hit a low left footed volley into the bottom corner of the Ferryhill goal. 3-0 at Half time. In the second half Brandon continued to press and Dan McDonough completed his hatrick after good work by Ben Pearson. This goal was quickly followed by a debut goal for young Jack Bromley. A lovely passing move by Brandon was finished with style by Ben Pearson for his second of the match. In the 80th minute another 17 year old, Jeremy Allen, scored his debut goal with a cool chip over the advancing keeper. Final score Brandon reserves 7, Ferryhill Town 0.