SATURDAY APRIL 18TH 2015

BIRTLEY FC 2 V 4 SHILDON RESERVES

Birtley FC entertained Shildon Reserves at the Birtley Welfare on Saturday. Both teams started bright and creating chances at both ends but Birtley FC took the lead by good closing down play by Marc Wood on Shildon's goalkeeper with the ball dropping to Thomas Illingworth to strike at an empty goal. Shildon then made it 1-1 with a well worked goal by Craig Mountain on 21'. Birtley FC then went on to press Shildon and made it 2-1 with great build up play and a clinical finish from Adam Hart on 23'. Shildon then got back in to the game creating chances and eventually made it 2-2 with Craig Mountain again scoring on 36'. Half time score 2-2. The second half started bright with both teams creating chances with Shildon hitting the woodwork and Birtley FC then missed a great opportunity to make it 3-2. The game then went flat with a draw on the cards but on the 87' Shildon capitalised on a goal keeping error for Andrew Smith to score to make it 2-3. Craig Mountain then completed his superb hat trick on the 88' to kill Birtley FC off. Final score 2-4. MOTM for Birtley FC - Marc Wood and MOTM for Shildon Craig Mountain.

WHEATLEY HILL WMC FC 4 V 2 MURTON AFC

The match kicked off with the home side fielding only nine players yet they were still able to go in at half time two goals in front . At the interval two late players turned up which some how even the match up Murton got a goal back before the home side made it three one a great penalty save from the home side keeper kept the Hills two goal advantage.  Murton did score to make it three  two only  for the Hill to seal the win with a Philip Hickman wonder goal from twenty five yards.

BISHOP AUCKLAND RESERVES 5 V 1 WALLSEND TOWN

The reserves picked up an incredible 5-1 victory against title chasing Wallsend on a sunny afternoon at Heritage Park. Shaun Pickford opened the scoring after just 2 minutes after slipping the ball under the keeper when played through on goal. In truth, the game could have been over early doors with Lewis Dunn missing two glorious chances. As it was Wallsend scored a stunning squaliser with a strike from 25 yards that was unstoppable into the top right corner. The reserves bounced back in the second half with Lewis Dunn making up for his earlier misses, before doubling his tally 10 minutes later. Liam Blighe and Shaun Pickford scored two cheeky lobs to round up the scoring, and secure 3 deserved points!

WASHINGTON AGED PEOLPES TROPHY SEMI FINAL

HARTLEPOOL FC RESERVES 3 V 0 HORSLEY HILL FC

Hartlepool FC Reserves reached their 2nd cup final of the season with an outstanding result against top of the table Horsley Hill. These teams have met twice this season with both games ending in a tie so a great game was on the cards. Hartlepool started the stronger of the two with some great midfield play and progress down the left wing through Jake Larkin. FC took the lead in the 12th minute after a great move when defender Anth Readman won the ball in defence and played in Ross Kidson who switched to Karl Hammond. Hammond put through a fantastic ball for Carl O'Sullivan to race on and slot past keeper Seb Turner. O'Sullivan could have made it 2-0 just before the break but keeper Turner pulled off a great save to deny. The start of the second half was a different matter. FC lost skipper Aaron Doyle at half time due to injury and were struggling to find their rhythm as Horsley Hill cranked up the pressure. Hill won a succession of corners to keep the pressure on and keeper Harrisskitt pulled of a brilliant save from a Levi Collins free kick. Scott Close made a last ditch tackle to deny another Horsley Hill attack but FC pulled ahead when Striker Karl Hammond scored against the run of play. FC put the game out of reach in the last minute when Carl O'Sullivan was felled in the box and he stepped up to make it 3-0 and take his team into the cup final.