Grindon sharing top spot after third win on the trot
Grindon continued their successful start to the season with a third win on the trot to put themselves in joint top position in Division One of the Sunderland & District Over-40s League.
They comfortably won 3-1 against Milbourne Arms, having started off brilliantly, and in the first 10 minutes they should have been two goals to the good, but after 15 minutes, against the run of play, they conceded an own goal when a defender sliced into his own net.
On 37 minutes Paul Griffiths scored an equaliser when he directed the ball into the corner of the Milbourne net.
In the second half, Milbourne tired and after 54 minutes Paul Mooney made it 2-1 to Grindon, and they had many more chances but did not add to their tally until the 75th minute, when Paul Diamond completed the scoring with a powerful header.
Hartlepool Raby Arms travelled to Washington Biddick in Division Two and came away with their first win of the season by 3-0.
In the Premier, Hartlepool FC Blues gained a hardfought 2-1 home win over Easington CIU.
Rolls-Royce entertained Hartlepool Veterans, who took an early lead when Tom Hudson had a shot from 20 yards to put the away team 1-0 up.
Rolls got their act together and equalised soon after. Jonny Nichols played in striker Garry (Gingola) Johnson, who scored from a tight angle.
On the half-hour mark, Andy Laidler burst through the Hartlepool defence but was brought down in the box and a stonewall penalty was awarded.
Davy Lomax claimed penalty spot duty and, cool as you like, slotted home to put Rolls ahead to make it 2-1 and that was the half-time score.
Garry Johnson then got his hat-trick with two quickfire goals, his pace contributing to both.
Richie Mulvaney then got a nosebleed and scored Rolls’
fifth goal from an Ian Usher cross.
Slack defending allowed Hartlepool to score with a long ball forward to Nico Stanciu, claiming his customary goal against rolls.
The final score was 5-2 to Rolls in their first full game of the season after last week’s game was abandoned on the 50-minute mark following a bad injury to a Houghton player.
Washington EMS hosted league champions Ferryhill Greyhound and a thrilling game ended in a 3-1 away win.
Sherburn Village WMC’s good form in their first season in the Premier League continued with an excellent 3-0 victory at home to Penshaw Catholic Club. The visitors, despite controlling most of the game, couldn’t find a way past a well-organised Sherburn defence after conceding two first-half goals, with the third goal coming late on when Penshaw were pushing players forward trying to reduce the deficit.
Seaton Carew created early chances with their aerial threat, but Willow Pond keeper Andrew Tilbury produced excellent saves.
Carew took the lead after a cross from the left to the far post was headed past Tilbury by full-back Darren Smith as he tried to clear the danger.
Pond conjured a fine equaliser from a passing move that was scored by Martin Lee.
In the second half, Pond enjoyed more possession and their passing play saw them score when Richard Laws played a ball out of defence which beat the home side’s high line of defence and Lee ran on goal to beat the Carew keeper to take the lead.
Willow substitutes Andy Jamieson and Mark Soppitt made an instant impact against Carew. A cross from Jamieson into the box to Soppitt saw him hit a shot off the bar with Smith beaten.
Pond full-back Lee Brown hit a piledriver after Carew cleared a corner but keeper Smith held firm. Pond midfield
dynamo Steve Jamieson capped a fine display after he controlled a pass from Lee in the box, dummied his marker and fired home under Smith, who couldn’t quite keep it from going in, to take the score to 1-3.
With the clock ticking down, Carew never gave up and their persistence paid off when Dave Cooling reduced the deficit to 2-3.
Fixtures:
Premier: Hartlepool FC Blues v Marden, Hebburn Town v Pelton Crown, Middlesbrough v Blyth Masons Arms, Sherburn Village v Ferryhill Greyhound, South Shields v Penshaw Catholic Club, Times Inn v Ryhope Foresters, Wallsend Boys Club v Easington CIU, Washington EMS v Killingworth YPC
Division One: CSSC Darsley Park v Wallsend Community, Consett v N/S Pineapple, Hartlepool Jacksons v Humbledon Plains Farm, Redcar Town v Wearmouth CW Old Boys, Roseberry Hilda Park v Seaham Harbour Cricket,
Sedgefield v Dubmire, Sunderland Grindon Broadway v Stanley, The Milbourne Arms v Woodhorn Lane
Division Two: Hartlepool Cricket Club v Boldon Colliery Old Barrel, Newcastle East End v N/Aycliffe Cobblers, Peterlee Helford v Seaton Builders, S.Shields Catholic Club v Hartlepool Tech, Hall Farm v Hartlepool Raby Arms, Mill View SC v Richmond Town, Washington Biddick Inn v Durham County
Division Three: Bedlington United Sporting v Billingham Vets, Durham Bede Lodge v Pennywell Comrades, Hedworthfield Red Hackle v Walkergate, Shildon AFC v Whitburn, Ivy Legends v Trimdon Vets, Wingate Cons v Heighington Bay Horse
DivisionFour: Hartlepool Vets v West Moor, Houghton the Burn v Billingham The Lion, Seaton Carew v Catchgate, Rolls Royce v Redcar Newmarket, The Philadelphia v Houghton Cricket, Victory v Darlington Railway Athletic, Willow Pond v Sunderland Doxy Lad