Mariners see off Cestrians to progress

SOUTH Shields progressed into the quarter-finals of the Durham Challenge Cup after they battled their way past a dogged Chesterle-Street Town side.

After a goalless opening 45 minutes, the Mariners took less than 60 seconds of the second half to break the deadlock.

Former Blyth AFC striker Ben Harmison was the man to finally break the Cestrians’ resistance as he tapped home from close-range after an Ursene Mouanda shot had struck the crossbar.

Michael Hepplewhite got the hosts back on level terms on 69 minutes, but centre-back Dillon Morse restored the Mariners’ lead on 82 minutes and helped them finally see off their Northern League Division Two opponents.

Sunderland RCA came from behind to secure a 3-1 win against West Auckland Town at Meadow Park.

Adam Mitchell put West in front on 16 minutes and they held on to their lead until the early stages of the second-half, when Colin Larkin grabbed an equaliser for RCA.

Nathan O’Neill put the hosts in front on 65 minutes and Larkin added his second goal of the night in the closing stages of the game to see Martin Swales’s side through to the quarter-final.

Ryan McKinnon and Matty Cornish were on target as their second-half goals helped Consett to a 2-0 home win against Bishop Auckland.

Shildon eased past local rivals Newton Aycliffe as a Nathan Steel brace and goals from Billy Greulich-Smith and Bradley Hird gave them a 4-2 win at Moore Lane.

Jermaine Metz and Ben Wood got on the score-sheet for Aycliffe.

Stockton Town’s hopes of reaching the last eight were ended when they fell to a comprehensive 4-0 defeat at Darlington.

Harvey Saunders led the way for the Quakers as the young striker hit a first-half hat-trick and Brandon Morrison grabbed a late goal to round off a difficult night for the Anchors.