WILLOW WIN HOPES GO WEST IN THRILLER
MISTAKES AND MISSED CHANCES SO COSTLY AS POND MEN ARE HELD 3-3 BY VETERANS
Willow Pond were left to rue their missed chances and mistakes as Hartlepool Vets rallied for a 3-3 draw in Division Three.
Willow looked to be cruising after James Briant set up two early goals for Kit Tipling to tap home past Terry Stephenson.
More chances followed for Briant , Gary Golightly and David Kelly, but Stephenson stood firm and also tipped a Dean Cassidy free-kick wide
Mick Angus roused Vets with a free-kick which just beat keeper John Davis, then the hosts levelled through Dave Bellwood.
Willow regained the lead when Tipling volleyed home after his initial effort was blocked, having been set up by sub Gary Barker, but Dave West smashed a set-piece leveller past substitute keeper Andy Tilbury to complete the scoring.
Ivy Legends slipped to fourth place following a 4-2 home loss to lowly Wingate Constitutional, while RollsRoyce went down 4-1 to visitors Washington JFC Biddick Inn.
Houghton Cricket Club are bottom after a 3-2 defeat at Hartlepool Stag & Monkey. Leaders Roseberry Grange beat Billingham Vets 5-2
Penshaw Catholic Club squeezed home 3-2 against Wallsend Community, making hard work of a Premier Division game they dominated until the closing stages.
They led 3-0, thanks to strikes from Mooney (2) and Mark Liddle, but the scoreline should have been approaching double figures as chance after chance was spurned.
Penshaw nearly paid the price as two late Wallsend goals tightened the game up before the visitors had a strong penalty appeal rejected. Darren Maw was star man.
Hylton CW grabbed only their second win, 2-0 at Hartlepool Raby Arms.
Hylton capitalised on a mistake to go ahead, scoring at the second attempt, and, after the hosts had a penalty appeal rejected, a clinical finish clinched the decisive second goal.
Wearmouth CW shared the spoils by coming from behind to secure a 2-2 draw with Washington Victoria Inn. Victoria were aead after just five minutes, courtesy of Steve Jones and went 2-0 up early in the second half with a great chip from Chris Dawson. Victoria were hit hard by three injuries, though, and Wearmouth capitalised to level before being denied a late win by a superb double save from goalie Andy Maddocks. Easington Colliery CIU were walloped 6-0 by Heaton Stannington.
Hartlepool Workies handed a first defeat to champions Marden, with Paul Rowntree firing a penalty winner. Marden had a man sent off late on but finished strongly and were close to equalising.
Dubmire Club are up to sixth place in Division Two, following a convincing 5-1 defeat of Woodhorn Lane, who dropped to bottom spot.
Plains Farm Alldec climbed off the foot of the table after an impressive second win of the campaign, 4-1 at Stanley.
Peterlee Helford United succumbed 4-3 in a thriller to North Shields Pineapple, while Mill View drew 0-0 at Darsley Park.
Grindon Broadway slipped five points behind leaders Whitley Bay Seahorse after going down 3-1 at Hebburn Town.
Seahorse won an epic 6-4 at Sherburn Village WMC for their seventh victory out of seven.
Pennywell Comrades rose to seventh place after their biggest win of the Fourth Division season, thrashing Doxy Lad 8-0 in a one-sided city derby.
Wearmouth CW Old Boys are sixth after a 4-1 win at Pennywell Vets, while Trimdon Vets lost 2-1 at leaders Hartlepool Jacksons Arms.