CHAMPAGNE TIME FOR SHERBURN, RAINTON
SHERBURN STUN BUFFS IN CUP FINAL, WHILE EAST RAINTON CELEBRATE TITLE TRIUMPH
Sherburn Village and East Rainton are celebrating major successes.
Sherburn stunned Pelton RAOB with an ultimately comfortable 3-0 win in the Ramside Hall Hotel CupWinners’ Cup Final, while Rainton have tied up the Fourth Division title.
Pelton, current Premier Division leaders and last season’s Ramside Hall Cup winners and the pre match favourites to retain the cup are well beaten in this year’s final by fellow Premier Division club Sherburn. From the start, Sherburn’s highenergy performance dominated and Scott Arnott took advantage of a defensive lapse to slot home on 10 minutes.
Pelton responded by pushing forward for an equaliser, but they were caught out by a breakaway, conceding a free-kick from which Nick Marley netted to make it 3-0.
Cameron Nichol fired over the bar in reply, but Sherburn sealed victory when James Ellis broke out from his own half and ran the length of the pitch before rounding keeper Scott Cresswell.
Man of the match keeper Tom Curry and his wellorganised defence held off Buffs in the closing stages.
East Rainton finally clinched the Fourth Division title, beating Grange Villa 3-0 in their penultimate match.
Lee Gaunt rounded the keeper to slide home the opener against the third-top visitors.
Dean Caris made two fine saves to preserve the lead before star man Oliver Hotchkiss came off the bench to seal victory. He danced round several defenders before lashing home for 2-0, then sparked wild celebrations with the killer third goal.
Craig Henniss was Rainton’s star man, while Jordan Hook shone for Villa.
Lambton Lions fought well to pick up all three points away to Gateshead Last Orders in their final match of the campaign.
Ross Mitchinson’s double did the damage, with Anthony Cowan star man.
Lions, in their first season in the league, finish as runners-up on 46 points, with 15 wins, a draw and two defeats.
Last Orders ended fourth on 30 points, four behind Grange Villa.
In midweek, East Rainton made it 17 wins in 18 games in the final league match of the season, beating Durham Buffaloes Head 3-1. Wayne Gardner netted for Buffs.
Houghton Chilton Lodge are in big trouble in secondbottom spot in Division One after blowing a 2-0 lead in a 4-2 defeat at relegation rivals Pelaw Grange Dogs.
Houghton took a two-goal lead, capitalising clinically on some sloppy defending.
But Pelaw hit back before half-time when Michael Redshaw headed home.
Chilton Lodge survived the onslaught until halftime, but the hosts levelled in the second half, when Lee Cuthbertson got onto the end of a David Jeffers pass and finished well.
Cuthbertson then turned provider, setting up Daniel Igo, who turned well in the box and shot home. Bri Allen made it 4-2, following up a Jeffers shot.
Pelaw had Darryl Bell sent off for two bookings.
Ferryhill Celtic demolished West Rainton 4-1.
Jonathan Agar (2), Kyle Wren and star man Jason White did the damage, with Matthew Kane responding. Kieran Bowes was Rainton’s top man.
Hilda Park won 2-1 at New Brancepeth WMC to make it three victories on the trot.
Jamie Gordon made the breakthrough, robbing a defender and sliding his shot past the keeper.
Mark Hughes levelled with a brilliant half-volley from 20 yards after a freekick was launched into the box.
But Hilda scored the winner from the restart, Stephen Clifford spotting the keeper off his line and blasting in, though Brancepeth claimed that the referee had not whistled for the restart.
Mason Jacques and Craig Thompson stood out for Hilda, with Ryan Burton best for the hosts.
In midweek, Ferryhill Dynamoes beat Pelaw Grange Dogs 4-1 after trailing to David Jeffers’ goal. Vinny Gash (2), Jon Mason and Chris Devine turned it around.
Sacriston Cricket Club secured all three points in their must-win Premier Division game against drop rivals Chilton WMC.
That took them to sixth place, but only two points above second-bottom Chilton.
Sacriston started the brighter and could have been three up in the first 15 minutes but for poor finishing.
Man of the match Anthony Ward hit a brilliant hat-trick to steer Sacriston home, with Curt Pickford replying. David Gibson shone for Chilton.
Leaders Pelton RAOB bounced back from their cup final agony to defeat third-top Newton Aycliffe Locomotion 3-1, staying six points clear.
Star man Kevin Dixon, Matthew Smith and Alex Peake netted, with Aaron Wright replying.
Houghton Town ran out 4-2 winners at Waldridge Park, inspired by man of the match Danial McGuire.
Jack Mitchell, Daniel Johnston, sub Anthony Chapman and Gary Thompson notched for Town.
Second-placed Sedgefield St Edmund’s demolished Sacriston WMC 6-1. Lewis Brown’s treble added to Kevin Hodgson’s penalty, John Maddison’s goal and an Andrew Beamson header.
In midweek, Sherburn Village won 2-1 at Newton Aycliffe Locomotion with a wonder strike and a penalty before Aaron Wright replied.
Loco are 10 points behind Pelton but only have two games in hand.
Durham County edged a 3-2 victory against Houghton Wild Boar All-Stars in Division Two.
Star man Stanley Ogunsuyi, Bradley Hird and Joe Jenkinson did the damage, with Liam Lusk and Robert Thompson replying.
Keeper Sean Simpson was outstanding for Boar.
Chester Bar 18Seven squeezed home 4-3 against lowly Ferryhill Community Hub.
Allen Robson (2), Aaron Walker and David Tyson notched.
Langley Park were narrow 4-3 victors in a tight duel at Bede Lodge SC.
Daniel Mann (2) and Gary Askew struck for Bede, but Steven Cummings’ hat-trick inspired Langley, with James Wright also on target. Matthew Wilkie starred. Burnside WMC moved second with a 10th win out of 10 on Tuesday, thumping Ferryhill Community Hub 14-1.
Star man Craig Ellison hit five goals, with Callum Munro and Max Stoker firing four apiece. Andrew Wallace added his first of the season.
Pelton Crown Inn have resigned from the league, forcing results to be expunged in Division Two.
Crown this month lifted the D&P Trophies Knockout Trophy, beating High Handenhold Bird Inn in the final at New Ferens Park.
Chester Garden Farm, facing a big fixture backlog in Division Three, ran out solid 6-2 winners at Bowburn.
Tom Wray and Jordan Gibson both hit braces, with star man Robbie Mawson and Ryan Johnson also on target.
Bowburn rallied with a well-taken Adam Kirk strike and a curled Ben Johnson effort.
In midweek, Garden Farm saw off Newton Hall Jovial Monk 4-0, with Michael Williamson (2), Rhys Robson and Jordan Gibson netting.