Ryhope Foresters edged out by EMS in thriller
Ryh o p e Fo re s te r s h o s te d Washington EMS and lost out 4-3 in a tight Sunderland and District Sunderland Mill View Social Club Over-40s Premier Division game.
Washington went 3-0 up in 15 minutes, as James Thompson scored a beauty from the edge of the box and then followed it up with a penalty after Chip Kindon was fouled.
Kindon then got a third for Washington when he tucked in a great cross from Dave Graham.
Ryh o p e p u l l e d a go a l back with a penalty from Kev Devine then Thompson missed a great chance for his hat-trick by firing over the bar.
Washington started the second half as brightly and went 4-1 up when Dave Graham fired home from the edge of the box.
Ryhope piled on the pressure at that stage and brought the game to 4-3 with firstly a great header from.Paul Moss and then a terrific free-kick from outside the box by Richie Hodgson, but Washington
held on for three points to go top of the table.
"Buddy" Halliday was star man for Ryhope while Kindon got the award for Washington.
Houghton CC earned a 3-1 win at Willow Pond in Division Four.
Houghton took an early lead after a deflected shot from Chris Rogerson wrong footed Willow keeper Andy
Tilbury.
Midway through the first half, midfielder Gary Barker’s shot mustered the hosts’ first shot but was kept out by Houghton keeper Mick Potter, then Tilbury made a onehanded save from Houghton striker Alan Jones.
Pond cranked up the pressure in the second half, David Laws' shot hit his own
player when goalbound and David Kelly's shot was headed clear by Cricket star man Paul Beanie.
Pond equalised from a Kelly penalty after his shot from inside the box hit Cricket centre-half Phil Brown on the line.
Pond had a goal disallowed for offside after centre-half, and man of the match, Andy Norman was adjudged offside.
Rogersonthenbundledthe ball over the line to restore the lead for Cricket.
Houghton made it 3-1 from a counter-attack on the left wing, Jones pulled the ball down and cut inside the box to fire a shot home over Tilbury from a tight angle.
Jackson beat Stag & Monkey 5-4 in a thrilling Division Two clash.