TOWN PILE UP PRESSURE
SWINBURNE MADDISON SOLICITORS DURHAM & DISTRICT SUNDAY LEAGUE
Houghton Town kept up the pressure on the Premier League front-runners with a 6-1 win at Ferryhill Dynamoes.
The hosts missed a penalty then led through Jonathan Mason before goals by Craig Hennis, James Wood, Joseph Calvert, Kyle Davis, Liam Butler and Ollie Hodgkiss left Town fourth, two points behind leaders Pelton RAOB WMC and second-placed Sedgefield St Edmunds.
Burnside WMC remain third - ahead of Houghton on goal difference - following a 4-0 defeat at Newton Aycliffe Iron Horse, for whom Ben Wood, John Jury, Mark Wood and Sean Johnson scored.
A Kieron Brooksbank brace after Chris Smith’s opener handed Durham County a 2-1 win at Chilton WMC, and Sherburn Village beat Houghton Wild Boar AllStars 4-0 thanks to goals by Glenn Hendrix, Nick Marley and Scott Arnott (2).
In Division One, Brandon Sports Club made heavy work of winning 2-0 at home to Chester Le Street Whitehills, Michael Fort and Scott Bryden with the goals.
A month of inaction was there for all to see as Dubmire WMC beat Chester-leStreet Garden Farm RAR 4-1 at home, Lewis Quigley with the consolation strike.
Langley Park rode their luck in the first half of their home game against Sacriston WMC, but a good second-half performance saw James Wright hand them victory.
Goals from Alan Wilson and Gary Allen sealed a 2-0 home win for Washington Westwood at home to Chester-le-Street Hilda Park.
In Division Two, Grange Villa got off to a great start at home to Lambton Lions when Joe Murray scored after only two minutes, getting on the end of a cross from Ryan Smith.
Lambton equalised on 32 minutes through Cameron Arthurs, but Fidele Doguie restored Villa’s lead four minutes later when he swept home a Murray centre.
Six minutes into the second half, Liam Mitchell flicked on a Jack McRobbie corner and the ball went in off the far post and a defender.
Lumley drew 3-3 with Framwellgate Moor WMC, who had led 3-0 through James Smith, Sam Plant and Simon West long before Lumley levelled with the last kick of the game.
Belmont Club and Bede Lodge Social Club shared a goalless draw, while Lumley Snooker Club won 13-0 against Sedgefield Corner House.
In Division Three, Durham Rangers drew 4-4 with Spennymoor Volitgier, Charlie Salacki with a hat-trick and Kenny Wilks also scoring for Rangers, and Michael Donohue (2), Andrew Dolphin and Henry Davies on target for the Volitgier.
A poor performance by Peases West saw five errors cost them as many goals in their 5-1 defeat at Hetton New Inn.
Pelton Crown Inn beat Bishop Middleham 5-2, storming to a 3-0 lead inside 25 minutes before David Redfern and Philip Appleby gave Bishops a lifeline they could not cling to.
Rajveer Singh’s double and a Tom McDermott effort handed Waldridge a 3-0 win at home to Witton Gilbert WMC.
And in the North West Durham Charity Cup Third Round, Premier League leaders Pelton overcame Coxhoe Red Lion, who stand seventh in Division One, 4-1.
Despite a solid start aided by their 5-3-2 formation and Lowe, Cairns and Knox making light of being a man down in midfield, Coxhoe simply could not make their chances count.
And though the backline of Lavery, Owens, Best, Hudson and Appleby were solid throughout the first half, and never looked like conceding, the second half was a different matter.
Three avoidable mistakes gifted Pelton as many goals, and though every Coxhoe player gave their all and did themselves and their club proud, there was no way back.