SATURDAY MARCH 21ST 2015

WASHINGTON AGED PEOPLES TROPHY ROUND 3

HORSLEY HILL FC 8 V 1 WALLSEND TOWN

Horsley Hill FC progressed through to the semi final with an emphatic win over title chasing Wallsend Town. The Hill soon took control of the game and scored two quick goals from Levi Collins. The 2 -0 advantage allowed the hill to play their quick attractive football and Centre forward, Adam Sharp brilliantly headed the Hills 3rd from some great build up play. The second half started much the same as the first and a brace from wide man Adam Bell sent the young Hill side into a 5-0 lead. Poor marking by the Hills midfield allowed Wallsend to pull a goal back but the just spurred the Hill on. And after 78mins on the clock Adam Sharp added another 2 goals to his tally' completing his hat trick for the afternoon. Late on, substitute Andrew Taylor scored, ending the game with the score line 8 - 1.

BISHOP AUCKLAND RES. 4 V 3 CHESTER-LE-STREET WHITEHILL (AET)

These two teams met for the first time since August in a entertaining encounter, with both teams playing an excellent level of football! The home side took an early lead as Lewis Dunn crossed for Shaun Pickford to tap home from 3 yards. The visitors pulled level with a powerful long range effort, and then took the lead after a 6 yard scramble. Both teams had more chances, a pattern that continued into the second half too. Man of the Match Conner McEvoy pulled the scores level with a stunning strike from 20 yards on his birthday 20 minutes into the second half, with the relentless pace from both teams continuing. Chester Le Street scored what should have been a controversial winner from the spot, as Lewis Fitzgerald was adjudged to have handled from a free kick. Further chances came and went and with time running out, the home side needed a miracle to save their place in the competition. That is exactly what happened! In the final corner with seconds to go, goalkeeper Mark Connell was sent forward who, somehow, knocked home a waist high volley from 10 yards to send the game to extra time! Extra time was just as entertaining, with the pace continuing throughout from both. The visitors had a number of chances from range, but the home side sealed an incredible come back after a pacy run and cross from Tyler Thompson found leading scorer Lewis Dunn’s head, to loop into the far corner!  This truly was an incredible game of football from both teams over 120 minutes, with credit to both sets of players. A real testament to the Durham Alliance League!

HARTLEPOOL FC RESERVES 3 V 0 SEDGEFIELD NETPark (AET)

Hartlepool FC Reserves secured their 3rd semi final this season with a 3-0 extra time win against Sedgefield at Grayfields.  Hartlepool were first to show when Jake Larkin put Lewi Murphy through who was just caught offside. FC were guilty of some scrappy defensive play while Sedgefield got a foothold in the match. Carl O'Sullivan had a shot deflected when the ball was headed into his path by captain Aaron Doyle and FC were making progress down the left with the impressive Dom Swinburne. Sedgefield then almost broke the deadlock with two chances, one going agonisingly wide the otter stopped by keeper Ryan Harrisskitt. Josh Ford impressed in the heart of the defence but both teams were guilty of missed chances with Sedgefield's striker going 1v1 with the FC keeper and the home side missing out with poor finishing. FC started the second half more positively with O'Sullivan first to show with a shot just wide, Cartwright had a volley saved by Joe Clayton in the Sedgefield net and at the other end Sam Dobson had to put in a great tackle to keep FC in the match. Goalkeeper and Sedgefield MOM Clayton pulled off another great save from O'Sullivan and the best chance fell to Sam Harrison who shit straight at the keeper. In the dying minutes O'Sullivan put Murphy through who was just inches wide and Sedgefield had a stone wall penalty waved away to win the match at the death. Extra time saw some tired legs but the deadlock was broken when the front pairing of O'Sullivan and Murphy linked up twice within minutes to put FC 2-0 up. FC made it 3 when MOM Ross Kidson went on a 25 yard run to slot the ball into the bottom corner.

SHILDON RESERVES 1 V 2 COUNDON & LEEHOLME YOUTH FC

The visitors edged a very competitive game at the Bobby Robson centre. The first half started with the home team on top but they couldn't capitalise on their pressure. Coundon then scored from a free kick which was headed home at the back post by Craig Robson. 1 0 to Coundon at half time and all to play for. The second half was very competitive again and when Steven Johnson put Coundon 2 up it should have been game over. Shildon wouldn't give up though and when James Huntley got one back with 11 minutes to go the game was back in the balance. Try as they might the home team couldn't get the game into extra time and Coundon progressed to the next round. A cracking game of football edged by Coundon courtesy of their finishing.

 LEAGUE MATCHES

EBCHESTER CONSETT RESERVES 5 V 2 BRANDON UNITED RESERVES

Ebchester welcomed Brandon to Belle Vue for today’s game. It was the home team who started the brightest and were on the front foot from the off, they quickly made the most of the good start and found themselves 1-0 up after 3 minutes, Parker finishing well after a good through ball from Agnew. They were 2-0 up 5 minutes later, the same combination working again. This time it was Parker the supplier, a great cross found the head of Agnew and he placed it into the bottom corner. Brandon then came back into the game and started to get a foot-hold of the match. They got a goal back after 20 minutes, Ebchester failing to clear a corner and they were punished by a good header. First half ending 2-1. The second half started very flat with neither team taking a grip of the game. Ebchester restored their two goal lead through Parker again, Brandon failing to clear a corner and Parker tucked it away from 3 yards out. Brandon got themselves back into the game though with the goal of the match, a good corner curling straight in. Ebchester quickly reacted and the 2 goal gap was back 2 minutes later, a good goal from Parkin as he went past 3 defenders and slot the ball home from 6 yards out. Ebchester finished the scoring with their 5th, Parkin looking to play a ball into the box but shinned it straight into the back post and into the net. A deserved home victory. Final score 5-2 to the home team.

WHEATLEY HILL WMC FC 10 V 0 FERRYHILL TOWN

Today's game was a one sided affair with the home team scoring ten unanswered goals. The goals were shared between four players the pick of the score's was the outstanding Ian Watson who scored four. Shaun Jackson also helped himself to a hat trick. Philip Hickman with a brace and Liam Cockerill with a single goal completed the scoring on a day for Ferryhill to forget. In a match without any major decisions to make referee Michael Heskett had a good day as did his linesmen.