Penshaw pay the penalty as Sunderland over-40s kick off new season

Ferryhill Greyhound kicked off the new Sunderland & District Mill View Social Club Over-40s season by beating Penshaw Catholic club in the traditional campaign curtainraiser, the Austin Elliott Charity Cup at Wearmouth CW on Saturday.

The game finished 1-1 at the end of normal time, before last season's runaway Premier Division winners overcame the top-flight cup winners in a penalty shootout.

Penshaw were dealt a double blow inside the first 20 minutes, losing both strikers Simon Holland and Paul Donnelly to injury, and during the following period, with Penshaw reorganising, Ferryhill struck.

After having a shot blocked by keeper Tony Mustard, Ferryhill captain Carl Beasley followed up to drill a low shot into the far corner to put his side ahead.

Penshaw struck back on the half-hour mark, a great ball through from substitute Steve Handy finding Mark Liddle in space.

He was too quick for the Ferryhill keeper and stroked the ball home to level.

The second half saw Penshaw continue to valiantly resist Ferryhill's attacking intent.

But right at the death, Hall had another chance to win the game for Penshaw and only desperate defending prevented a winning goal, with the game ending level and moving straight to penalties.

Penshaw won the toss and Ferryhill took the first penalty, which was converted, as were the first two for each side.

However, the third Ferryhill

penalty was woefully wide by man-of-the-match Daniel Richmond, giving Penshaw the advantage, only for their goalscorer Liddle to see his spot-kick hit the inside of the post and roll agonisingly along the goalline to safety.

Each team converted their next penalty to take it to sudden death, with the unfortunate Penshaw captain Mark Swindle firing his kick straight at the keeper, meaning Ferryhill won the trophy.

But Penshaw can count themselves unlucky on the day to have held the strong Ferryhill team to a normal time draw, and should take great credit for their performance.

League fixtures start on Saturday morning, with 74 teams playing across five divisions.