SECOND-HALF FIGHTBACK RESCUES WILLOW POND
Willow Pond fought back from two goals down to clinch a dramatic 3-2 win in a pulsating game away at Billingham Vets.
Cup hero Dodd nearly opened the scoring early in the first half, but his shot was easily saved by Vets keeper Martin Wilson.
Pond struggled to clear a Billingham attack,and the ball fell to Simon Wright.
Wright still had plenty to do and dribbled the ball through the away defence and unleashed a low shot which beat Tilbury that went in off the post to make it 1-0 to the home side.
The second half saw the game ebb and flow, chances again falling to both sides, with Fisher for Vets setting up Billingham’s Wright, but he sent his shot high above the bar when one on one with Tilbury.
Another good passing move by Billingham ended with Davis unable to hold onto the cross shot from Fisher, with Berry tapping in the spilled ball to double the home sides lead.
Pond pulled a goal back straight from the kick off, Laws fed Dodd, who then beat the defence for pace, his hard and low shot went past Wilson to make it 2-1.
Golightly crossed the ball only for Vets keeper Wilson to make a mistake and his defence watched as Dodd squared the ball to Norman, who toe poked the ball home for a deserved equaliser.
A cross by Dodd was cleared by the Vets defence, but only to Golightly, he fired in a high ball, Dodd ran into the box and made no mistake from six yards with a powerful header to take the lead.
Washington Sky Lounge produced a fine performance to beat Middlesbrough 4-0 and move to second place in the league.
Middlesbrough started well and challenged Washington for the first 30 minutes, but the deadlock was broken just before half-time when Chip Kindon followed up to score the rebound after a Phil Sowerby header was parried by the keeper.
The second half was a similar end-to-end game for 20 minutes, but Washington took control in the latter part to score fine team goals from Anth Hall, Steve Burns and Chris Dawson.
Marden took a major step towards retaining their Premier title with a 3-1 win at second placed Penshaw Catholic Club.
The hero for Marden with a superb hat-trick was Paul Wilary.
In an excellent encounter, Marden opened the scoring after five minutes from a corner, but it was Penshaw who were on top in the first half.
Penshaw deservedly equalised with a Brett Cummings header again from a corner and only brave goalkeeping from the Marden keeper preventing Penshaw from taking a lead into the second half.
However, two defensive errors by Penshaw defenders early in the second half was finished clinically by Wilary, putting Marden in control and only fine goalkeeping by Penshaw Keeper Wes Hood prevented further goals.
Hartlepool Raby Arms travelled to Pelton Crown in Division One and got a valuable 1-0 win in their battle to avoid relegation, thanks to a Nick Lloyd goal.
In Division Two, Hartlepool Stag & Monkey made the short trip to Thornley Harry’s Bar and lost a tight game 2-1.
Hartlepool Catholic Club were in action in the Ironside Cup and their poor run continued, going out of the competition as they lost their home tie 2-0 to Washington Biddick.
Both Biddick’s goals, one in each half, came from Catholic attacks breaking down.
Forest Hall won the relegation battle with an easy 3-1 win against Houghton Cricket, who started sloppy and gave a goal away in the first minute.
Forest increased the lead shortly after to go in 2-0 up at half time.
Midway through the second half Hall sealed the win, with Allan Russell scoring a consolation goal for Houghton.