NO PLAIN SAILING BUT WEST END BATTLE TO TROPHY WIN
WEARSIDE LEAGUE
Sunderland West End put their recent poor form behind them as they secured progress in the Durham Trophy with a hard-fought 2-1 win at Annfield Plain.
Barry Turton gave Anthony Nelson’s side the perfect start when he headed them in front on eight minutes.
The hosts were reduced to 10 men when goalkeeper Michael Allen was sentoff on 25 minutes, but they still got back on level terms thanks to a goal from Kai Hewitson six minutes before the interval.
West End dominated the second half and finally saw off the Wearside League strugglers thanks to a second-half goal from John Butler.
Match-winner Butler praised his side for bouncing back from defeats against the likes of Wolviston and Harton and Westoe CW and believes that they showed their mental strength to progress against Annfield Plain.
“It’s been a tough week for us,” admitted Butler. “We usually win more than we lose, so Saturday was a big test for us.
“It was a battle, there wasn’t much football played, but we showed what character there is in the dressing room to come through it.
“It was a big test for everyone at the club and this is the first step to getting on another winning run, because that has to be the target.”
Silksworth CW coach Michael Curtis hailed a number of their squad players after their Trophy win at Darlington RA.
Two goals from Stephen Moody and a debut strike from new signing Logan Powell put Silksworth on their way to an impressive 3-1 win at Brinkburn Road.
Silksworth took advantage of a break in Wearside League action by making seven changes and Curtis believes that his side deserved to progress into the second round of the competition.
He said “It was a good performance on a windy day.
“We are delighted that Stephen Moody got two goals on his return and Logan Powell getting a goal on his first appearance was a big boost.
“We made seven changes so we are pretty happy that the lads came in and did the business for us.”
Elsewhere in the Trophy, Hebburn Town Reserves eased to a 3-0 home win against Durham and Wearside Development Division club Durham United.
Aron Burn, Adam Sharp and Gary Crutwell were on target for the Wearside League leaders.
Trophy holders Gateshead Leam Rangers failed to make it past the first hurdle of their defence as they crashed to a 6-1 defeat at Horden CW.
Robbie Renwick led with the way with four goals for Horden and a John Bowes brace rounded off a miserable day for Anthony Huddart’s men.
Goals from Kieran Voss and Wayne Whitfield helped Darlington Town come from behind to secure a 2-1 win against in-form Harton and Westoe CW. Lee Jones and Andrew Blackburn both scored twice to put Hartlepool FC on their way to a 6-2 win at Northern Alliance club Gateshead Rutherford. Dimi Limbo scored twice as Boldon CA came out on top in a seven-goal thriller at West Auckland Tunns.
John Murray and Reece Blakey were also on the score-sheet as Sean Butler’s side secured a 4-3 win against the Wearside League’s newest club.
Butler paid tribute to his players for their attitude during what he called “a very scrappy game”.
He said “There were errors from both sides for the goals and we had to dig in to get the result.
“We are pleased to be in the hat for the next round and it was great to come through a very scrappy game against a strong side.”
Struggling Coxhoe Athletic put in a brave display before falling to a defeat at Gateshead A.
Craig Moody scored twice and Stephen Clifford grabbed the other as Athletic finally succumbed to a 4-3 defeat against a young Heed side.
There was one Wearside League fixture taking place on Saturday and Richmond Town moved into the top five of the table with a 2-0 home win against Windscale.
Kallum Holbrook and Ben Darville were on target to give Richmond all three points at Earls Orchard.
South Shields put an end to their poor away form with a 1-0 win over Whitby Town.
Backed by a strong travelling contingent, Craig Baxter’s late strike gave the Mariners all three points and ensured the away fans would return to Shields in good spirits.
Shields had lost their last four league games away from home, a run of form which had dented their promotion hopes.
Only their form at Mariners Park had kept them at the right end of the table, but they managed to grind out a win at the Turnbull Ground to move up to sixth in the Evo-Stik Premier table.
David Foley rattled the crossbar while Jon Shaw was off target with a good chance but on 81 minutes the winner came from an unlikely source, right-back Baxter drilling home.