Broadway Grind out victory over Crown Inn
Sunderland Grindon Broadway edged an entertaining game against Pelton Crown Inn in Division One of the Sunderland & District Mill View Social Club Over-40s League.
Grindon led after seven minutes through Alan Ridley, but Thomas equalised three minutes later before Pelton took the lead and were then pegged back by Paul Griffiths.
Bell scored for Pelton after 62 minutes, but Griffiths levelled again before Ridley won it for Grindon.
Seaham Marlborough entertained fellow strugglers Hartlepool Raby Arms, winning 3-0 despite the best efforts of Simon Blackett, Kenny Weighill, Chrissy Francis and Les Hammill.
Hartlepool derby day in Division Two saw the Catholic Club beat strugglers Stag and Monkey 2-1 at home.
Though unscathed through considerable Catholic Club pressure in the first half, the Stag succumbed early in the second 45 as Dixie Campbell fired into the roof of the net before John Webster headed in Nipper McNeany’s corner.
With the hosts seemingly in control at last, Stag were awarded a penalty when Copeman was brought down, and Michael Angus put away the spot kick.
Catholic Club could not do likewise from 12 yards at the other end, but hung on to claim the victory.
Easson and Cooling were the respective star men.
And in Division Three, 13th-placed Sunderland Willow Pond sprung a surprise with a 4-2 win over fifthplaced Sedgefield.
Anth Wigham crossed for Mick Grieves to send a bullet header past Sedgefield keeper Darren Fox, before Gary Golightly doubled the lead.
Andy Norman’s unfortunate own goal then handed Sedgefield a lifeline.
But after the break, Dodd restored his side’s two-goal advantage following some tenacious tackling by Grieves.
Brian Platts closed the gap again for Sedgefield, who by then were down to 10 men following a sending off for foul and abusive language.
But after Golightly and Grieves were denied by Fox and Gary Barker fired over the bar, Fox inadvertently punched a curling Golightly corner into his own net to seal victory for the Willow Pond.