SATURDAY MARCH 14TH 2015

EBCHESTER CONSETT RESERVES 2 V 1 BIRTLEY FC

Ebchester welcomed Birtley up to a surprisingly calm Consett for today’s match. Ebchester started on the front foot and were pushing for a goal from the off. A free kick on the half way line was delivered by Parkin towards the Birtley box, it was flicked on by Dan Parker and made its way to the feet of Parkin, despite having 3 men around him he wriggled his way through them and from the edge of the box managed to find the far top corner to give Ebchester a deserved lead. Birtley came back into the game strongly and started to push further forward looking for an equaliser, a good ball in from their captain and a well connected header was heading in but Ebchester's goalkeeper pulled off a top save to keep the home side in the lead. First half ends 1-0. Second half was very even with both sides showing the occasional threat, it was perhaps the Ebchester goalkeeper who was the busier of the two and pulled off some good stops to keep the home sides advantage. Birtley, however, found the equaliser with 20 minutes remaining, a corner ball into a good area and a goal mouth scramble fell to the centre forward who put the ball into the bottom corner to level it up. With two minutes remaining Birtley had a chance to steal the points, but the pacy Jonny Parkin got back in to show some real muscle to intercept a one on one chance, from there Ebchester worked the ball forward. Sanderson flying down the left wing found Richie Parkin in the middle of the goal, he showed real composure under pressure to take it around the goalkeeper and slot it into an empty goal to give the home side all three points. Debating an offside decision that lead to the goal the Birtley goalkeeper was red carded for arguing with the linesman. Ebchester's star man was Michael Hannant and the away team’s captain taking it for them. A close game that ended 2-1 to the home side.

BISHOP AUCKLAND RESERVES 13 V 0 FERRYHILL TOWN

Bishop Auckland ran out 13-0 winners in a competitive affair, with the home side in from the 1st minute through Jordan Maughan. A 20 minute hatrick from Lewis Dunn made the points safe, before a stunning Conner McEvoy volley ensured it would be a comfortable afternoon. Callum Walton, Bobby Gibson and two more both Dunn and Maughan completed an impressive victory!

MURTON AFC 3 V 2 SEDGEFIELD NETPark

Murton bounced back from a defeat last week to convincingly beat Sedgefield 3-2. Murton were comfortably the better team over the course of the game taking the lead from the spot mid way through the first half via mustard after Morris was pulled back. Murton weathered a brief storm after their goal from Sedgefield and took control of the game again before adding a second on 60 mins through Kyle Morris who had an excellent debut upfront for Murton. Danny Naylor topped off a man of the match performance with his first goal for the club on 75 minutes and Murton looked set to win convincingly as well as keep a rare clean sheet until Mustard chested through his own net from 12 yards out! Sedgefield made the score line tight by scoring a penalty a minute from time however the result was never in doubt. Final score Murton 3 Sedgefield Netpark 2.

SHILDON RESERVES 1 V 5 WHEATLEY HILL WMC FC

Wheatley hill produced a clinical performance to despatch Shildon reserves and ran out 5 1 winners. The home team never got a foothold in the game and goals from Richard Carr, Stuart softly; Shaun Bradley and two for Philip Hickman sealed the 3 points. Michael Webster got a consolation for Shildon. Man of the match for Shildon was Michael Nichol and lee smith for Wheatley hill. The game was refereed by Kieran Downey who had an easy day which he handled very well.

SHERBURN VILLAGE WMC FC 3 V 1 CHESTER-LE-STREET WHITEHILL

Whitehill’s came to Sherburn following a nine game undefeated run. It was always going to be an entertaining game and it didn't disappoint anyone. First chance landed to Sherburn’s Nicky Marley on 9 whose back flick header was cleared off the line. Whitehill’s replied straight after with a great strike from no 10 Craig Mickle which flew just wide. Both teams were well up for a battle. Whitehill’s keeper was replaced on 14mins after falling awkwardly following a goalmouth scramble. A Sherburn corner 5 mins later saw Marley’s header cleared off the line by no 8 Matty Smith .On 27mins Whitehill’s took the lead with a great bit of individual skill by Mickle saw his 20yd shot nestle into the corner of Sherburn’s net 0-1. The rest of the half saw both teams battling hard all over the pitch and great flowing football being played by both sides. The half ended 0-1 to Whitehill’s. Second half started off the same both teams not easing off. Sherburn levelled on 56 after Alex Hird was brought down just outside the box free kick given Scott Arnott stepped up to slam home bottom right from 20yds 1-1. Sherburn took the lead 4 mins later from another free kick virtually the same position which Scott Arnott curled around the wall and into the top right 2-1. Sherburn made it 3-1 on 68 when a ball over the top by man of the match Scott Arnott saw Nicky Marley run through the defence latch onto the ball and slam home. Whitehill’s tried to reply and 5 mins later a corner saw no 3 Chris Martins headers fly just over the bar. A great save by Sherburn’s keeper Craig Jackson on 78 kept Whitehill’s at bay. Sherburn should have made it 4 -1 on 82mins but a scramble in the box and Marley couldn't get the ball from under his feet but managed to slip it to Hird who put it wide from 3yds . Whitehill’s didn't give up and battled till the end. Great game by two committed teams.

CLEM SMITH BOWL SEMI FINAL

HARTLEPOOL FC RESERVES 0 V 1 COUNDON & LEEHOLME YOUTH FC (AET)
An outstanding semi final with both teams creating lots of chances. Coundon were first to show after the initial midfield stalemate with Cartwright having to head clear off the line. Readman also put a great block in the box to thwart Coundon and at the other end Lake Larkin was making progress down the left and put a great cross in for O'Sullivan who just failed to connect. Coundon wasted several chances with shots going wide and picked up a yellow card in the 22nd minute after Aaron Doyle took a kick to the head. FC was playing very positively and was coming more into the game. O'Sullivan found himself through on goal but the referee blew for a handball and moments later Sam Harrison had a shot deflected with a fingertip save from Kriss Carr in the Coundon net.  In the opening minutes FC went close with a shot and hit a tame free kick to the keeper after being awarded a free kick just outside of the box. Readman showed some great defensive skills when he chased a ball down for 30 yards before putting in a great tackle in the box. The best chance of the half saw O'Sullivan play Larkin in who chipped his shot over the bar. Coundon pressed midway through the half and put pressure on FC but couldn't break the deadlock. O'Sullivan almost put FC in from but put the ball agonisingly over the bar. Keeper Harrisskitt used his body well to shield an attack from Coundons striker and in the dying minutes FC could have nicked the match after FC had 3 great chances. Extra time saw a lot of tired legs and Coundon almost went in front as the ball skimmed off the FC post. Sam Harrison had a great shot cleared off the line but the stalemate was over when Coundon rifled in a loose ball in the box. FC tried to get back into the game but Coundon closed it down as the likely league champions grabbed the place in the final.