CATHOLICS RAISE THE PRESSURE ON LEADERS
SUNDERLAND & DISTRICT MILL VIEW SOCIAL CLUB OVER-40S LEAGUE
Sunderland Redhouse WMC were unable to put a dent in leaders Marden’s Premier Division title challenge.
A very competitive first half at Blue Flames ended 1-1, with Tony Healer tapping home from five yards for Marden after unselfish work by Pail Wilary and Mark Bowley blazing home a 30-yard free-kick to level.
But Marden secured the three points in the second half with a Healer penalty, followed by goals from manof-the-match Wilary, Mark Scott and Steve McQueen.
Penshaw Catholic Club gained revenge for a narrow, early-season loss to Washington Sky Lounge with a 2-0 away victory in front of a large crowd at Glebe Park, and in the process moved second in the league, six points behind Marden.
Washington started the game strongly, gaining dangerous free-kicks and corners which the Penshaw defence coped with comfortably.
Both teams probed for the opening goal with some quality passing movements, but it was Penshaw who opened the scoring on the half hour in contentious fashion when Wes Hood sent in a bullet header off the underside of the bar, which was clawed back by the Washington Keeper only for referee Ken Short to adjudge the ball to have crossed the line.
Right on the stroke of half-time there was more drama as Penshaw forward Paul Taylor collapsed on the field but, thanks to the excellent response by the management and first aiders, made a complete recovery, though he was unable to continue.
The second half remained open with Washington looking for an equaliser, but Penshaw held firm and, always looking dangerous on the break, it was from a swift counter-attack that Luke Charlesworth sprang through on goal to score in stunning fashion and secure a great win for his hardworking Penshaw side.
Anthony Morrell for Washington and John Spence for Penshaw picked up the man-of-the-match awards.
Elsewhere in the top flight, 11th-placed Hartlepool Workies had the bare squad for their home game against Darlington Shuttle & Loom, who stand seventh, and after a battling display they were happy with a 1-1 result.
In a goalless first half, an excellent last-ditch tackle by Dave Watson kept the visitors out, whilst at the other end Scott Newbegin and Kevin Devine had shots well saved.
Workies broke the deadlock 10 minutes after the restart, Andy McKenna and Bob Smith combining to set up Lee Crosby, who shot low into the bottom corner.
Devine almost made it two, but the keeper spread himself and saved with his foot, and Darlington’s pressure told with 10 minutes left when a cross picked out the centre forward to shoot home from 12 yards out.
Crosby was man-of-thematch, supported well by Smith, Watson, Robbie Ferguson and Mark Taylor.