Points shared with a goal apiece at a rainy Ryhope
A strong Ryhope Foresters side were held to a 1-1 draw by Penshaw Catholic Club on Saturday in an entertaining Sunderland & District Over40s League game, played in driving rain at Ryhope Park.
The home side stretched Penshaw many times early on and only good goalkeeping by Andy Naisbett and poor finishing by the Ryhope forwards kept the scores level. As the first half progressed, Penshaw came more into the game without troubling the home goal.
The start of the second half saw a debut for new Penshaw signing Michael Graver – and his intelligent play helped turn the game in his team’s favour. After many dangerous attacks, the away side took the lead with a beautiful glancing header into the top corner by Archie Archbold, from a John Spence free kick.
It didn’t last long, though. Two minutes later, Gary Shields repeated the feat with a glancing header from a free kick to level matters for Ryhope. The away team finished stronger but couldn’t find a winning goal.
Buddy Halliday, for Ryhope, and another new signing for Penshaw, Mark Swindle, both starred.
Top of the Premier League Ferryhill Greyhound played bottom side Wallsend Boys Club. It was an excellent game, played with great spirit and sportsmanship by both teams in difficult conditions.
It was a very close first half, with the best chances falling to Ferryhill but the Boys ‘keeper Hall consistently showing a safe pair of hands.
The second half saw some great moves from Wallsend Boys Club and the pressure eventually told with a great and timely strike from Steve Warwick in the 52nd minute. It remained very competitive right up until the end, when Ferryhill mounted several late attacks. But WBC held their nerve for a hard-earned and well-deserved victory. Steve Warwick was man of the match.
In Division Two, Hartlepool Stag & Monkey made the
long trip to Richmond Town and picked up a point in a hard-fought game that finished 2-2. Conditions were tough for both sides – the match kicked off with sleet and snow falling and ended with heavy rain.
The home side dominated the opening 40 minutes, going ahead with a wellworked goal after 10 minutes, and forcing ‘keeper Colin Smith into a string of excellent saves. Stag made changes at half-time and it was they who dominated the second stanza. Ian Good headed home a Brendan Deer corner just after the restart, only for the referee to rule it out for a push. But Stag did get their equaliser on the hour, as Good hit a piledriver from 25 yards that the ‘keeper could only parry and Mark Dobson mopped up the rebound. Richmond were back in front against the run of play shortly after, with an absolute screamer from 20 yards. Stag, however, were not to be denied and, with five minutes left, they levelled again. Interplay between Dobson and Deer saw the latter cross to pick out Dave Cooling and he made no mistake from 10 yards. Stag almost stole it at the death, with veterans Derek Cooper and Peter Boagey working an opening for Good, but he
smashed his close-range effort off the crossbar. Colin Smith was star man, while Cooling and Pete Smith also shone.
After two great results last week, Hartlepool Catholic Club’s bubble was burst when they lost 4-2 at Washington Biddick. In poor conditions, the home team applied themselves better and took a 2-0 lead. Catholic got a goal back before the break, with Jonny Payne following up to score after Stu Hope’s shot was beaten away by the ‘keeper. The second half was similar in that Biddick again scored twice before Catholic replied. John Dobing burst through and rounded the ‘keeper, pushing the ball into the path of
Payne as he did so, and the Club’s star man slotted home a consolation goal.
After a heavy midweek defeat, Grindon Broadway bounced back in style in a local derby against Humbledon Plains Farm. Grindon dominated the game and Carter opened the scoring for them after 20 minutes with a 25-yard rocket. This goal separated the sides at half time score. Grindon then could have scored more but for Plains Farms ‘keeper Hammond. Chris Lewis scored a second for Grindon and they wrapped it up with two brilliant goals in five minutes, from Griffiths and Diamond. Man of the match, for Grindon, was Craig Lewis.
Premier Division: Hartlepool Workies v Ferryhill Greyhound, Middlesbrough v Easington CW CIU, Wallsend Boys Club v South Shields, Washington EMS v St Mary’s College.
Division 1: Consett v Hebburn Town, Grindon Broadway v N/Shields Pineapple, Milbourne Arms v Plains Farm Project, Thornley Harry’s Bar v Pelton Crown, Wallsend Community v Stanley, Whitley Bay Seahorse v CSSC Darsley.
Division 2: Hartlepool Catholic Club v Woodhorn Lane, Peterlee Helford v Hartlepool Stag and Monkey, Redcar Town v Seaham Harbour Cricket, Richmond Town v Sedgefield, Roseberry Hilda Park v Washington Biddick Inn, Wearmouth Old Boys v Hartlepool Jacksons. Division 3: Billingham Vets v Pennywell Comrades, Hartlepool Tech v Durham County, Heighington Bay Horse v Forest Hall, Sunderland Hall Farm v Wingate Constitutional.
Division 4: Bedlington United Sporting v Shildon AFC, Durham Bede Lodge v Sunderland Willow Pond, Houghton Cricket v Houghton the Burn, Newcastle Blue Star v Catchgate, Trimdon Vets v Sunderland Doxy Lad, Walkergate v Sunderland Rolls Royce.