CATHOLICS WIN THE MIND GAME AT BORO
Penshaw Catholic Club got back to winning ways with a resounding 4-1 victory at Middlesbrough.
Second to Marden in the Premier Division, the Catholics produced a controlled performance against a side who, as in the reverse fixture four weeks previous, persisted in trying to play mind games.
Penshaw refused to allow this to unsettle them, however, with first-half goals from Jamesie Maccoy, Archie Archbold and Mark Liddle.
The Teessiders did draw level at one stage, but a sending-off ended all hope of a fightback once behind again, and Penshaw completed victory through Luke Charlesworth.
Elsewhere in the top flight, Hartlepool Workies made it back-to-back wins, both against top-four sides, after beating Heaton Stannington 2-1 at home.
They got off to a remarkable start, going ahead after only six seconds!
Heaton played the ball backwards from their kickoff and the loose ball was latched onto by Scott Newbegin, who planted the ball past the bemused keeper.
Workies doubled their advantage 15 minutes into the second period through Finley, and held on when the Stan halved the deficit.
In Division Two, Hartlepool Stag & Monkey ran out comfortable 3-0 winners against South Shields Catholic Club, Dave Cooling (2) and Brendan Deer with the goals.
Hartlepool Catholic Club squandered a two-goal lead courtesy of John Webster and an own goal to lose 5-2 to Stanley.
In Division Three, Sunderland Mill View beat Sunderland Willow Pond 2-0.
The Mill View attacked from the kick-off and were rewarded for their efforts when Willow defender Darren Smith gave a foul away inside the box, Kit Tipling stepping up to slot the ball beyond Willow keeper Andy Tilbury.
Willow had chances to equalise, Ralph Dodd having a shot tipped over by Daryl Groves, who also saved a Gary Golightly header, and Dodd firing just over.
With Willow committed forward, a Mill View attack on their left flank saw substitute David Hutchinson pass to Gary Hodgson inside the box, and he swivelled to turn a low shot past Tilbury’s outstretched dive.
Chances continued to come at both ends, but Mill View held firm and the Pond - second bottom - now look likely to go down.
In the Alan Spedding Cup, Hartlepool Raby Arms bowed out to Wallsend Boys Club, losing 2-1 after extratime.
Raby began the better team, and created a couple of half-chances, but fell behind on 30 minutes when a deflection took the ball over the home keeper.
Raby dominated the second half, Les Hammill twice going close and Aiden Corney heading just over. The equaliser they deserved finally came with 10 minutes left, Derek Draper’s corner being headed home by Nicky Lloyd.
But in extra-time, Wallsend scored from the edge of the box to win the tie. Simon Blackett starred, alongside Jackson, Parker and Draper.