Thrilling end to season brings joy and despair
Shildon relegated despite win in final match
THERE were contrasting fortunes for Hebburn Town and Dunston UTS as the East Division play-off race came to a thrilling climax.
In front of a season-high crowd of 619, Hebburn secured third place and a home semi-final with Long Eaton United on Tuesday night by seeing off Cleethorpes Town – but Dunston’s season ended in disappointment as they lost 2-0 at Carlton Town.
On South Tyneside, Daniel Moore’s Hebburn could not have wished for a better start as they took the lead with just three minutes on the clock.
A long ball forward from playermanager Moore skidded off the damp surface and was misjudged by Owls keeper James Mckeown, who was duly punished for his error as Amar Purewal tapped into the empty net.
If Hebburn’s opening to their game had been positive, the same could not be said for their former Northern League rivals.
Dunston got off to the worst possible start as Carlton took an early lead to leave Chris Swailes’ men an uphill battle. With just five minutes on the clock, an unfortunate clearance off the line by Jude Swailes ricocheted off the knee of Kieran Watson and rolled into an empty net.
Buoyed by their positive start, Hebburn surged forward and another defensive error allowed Olly Martin in on goal but he was unable to convert as the forward struck the post after beating the advancing Mckeown.
That miss was punished just minutes
SHILDON were condemned to automatic relegation back into the Northern League – despite ending their second season as an East Division club with a 3-2 win at Grimsby Borough.
Aidan Heywood fired the Railwaymen in front on 36 minutes and they were taken out of sight as Billy Greulichsmith and Michael Sweet found the net as the hour-mark approached.
Luke Adlard and Jack Debnam gave their hosts some hope of mounting an unlikely comeback – but Shildon held on the claim all three points.
But there was to be disappointment as news of Dunston’s 2-0 defeat at Carlton Town meant the Millers will face a place in the inter-league relegation play-offs and left Shildon to contemplate relegation back into the league.
Consett staved off any threat of
later when Cleethorpes got back on level-terms as former FA Trophy winner Sam Topliss crashed a low drive past the Hornets keeper.
That news gave some hope to Dunston and their chances of sneaking into the top seven were further increased when Bridlington Town’s Matt Broadley netted the opening goal of his side’s home clash with top five contenders Stocksbridge Park Steels.
Back on South Tyneside, Hebburn began to threaten as they looked to tighten their grip on a play-off spot.
There was a familiar feel about the opening stages of the second half as Hebburn matched their impressive start to the contest.
They restored their lead three minutes after the restart as the determined getting dragged into the play-offs as they battled to a 4-2 home win against Lincoln United. Evan Payne and Shane Clarke scored for the visitors but goals from Calvin Smith, Danny Barlow, Dan Capewell and Scott Jasper gave Tony Fawcett’s men a deserved win.
North Shields looked well on their way to causing a shock as they took a two-goal lead against already-crowned champions Worksop Town.
Dan Wilson and Callum Larmouth put the Robins in control midway through the first half – but three goals in 16 minutes from Liam Hardy, Vaughan Redford and Luke Hall helped the visitors put a remarkable end on an outstanding season.
And there was drama in the final minutes of Morpeth Town’s Premier Division clash with Warrington Rylands
forward play of Purewal and a fine cross from Jake Hackett allowed the hardworking Robbie Spence to fire home from 12 yards.
And things got even better just minutes later when a foul on Purewal handed Martin a chance to convert from the penalty spot and he kept his cool to put his side within sight of the play-offs.
At almost the same moment, Dunston wasted a golden chance to hit back and reignite their play-off hopes after Sado Djalo was brought down inside the box and was awarded a penalty.
Phil Turnbull stepped up, but his effort was saved by a strong hand from Michael Emery and Will Jenkins followed up on the rebound but as an unexpected goal-scoring hero emerged for the Highwaymen.
Craig Lynch’s men found themselves three goals down by the half-hour mark as Mo Touray, Scott Duxbury and Colin Oppong put Rylands on their way to a win. Connor Thomson gave Morpeth some hope of getting back into the game when he scored just after the hour-mark and hopes were further raised when Josh King netted in injury-time.
That set up a stunning passage of play as Highwaymen keeper Dan Lawson snatched a point when he grabbed an equaliser moments later.
And Marske United leap-frogged Morpeth in the table as their first season in step three ended with a 1-0 win at Liversedge thanks to an Eddie Church goal.
again, Emery was equal to it.
As Hebburn strolled their way through the closing stages, Dunston continued to pile men forwards, but Carlton landed a brutal blow in the final minutes of the game.
On the counter-attack, the ball fell to Nat Watson at the back post, and he fired the ball into the roof of the net to kill of Dunston’s hopes of extending their season.
The full-time whistle brought celebrations from the Hebburn faithful as they kept alive their hopes of securing promotion into the Northern Premier League Premier Division – but Dunston’s focus will now be on challenging at the right end of the East Division once again next season.