Rolls-Royce forced to shift up a gear to overtake rivals Redcar
Rolls-Royce took an early lead in their Sunderland and District Over-40s League game against Redcar when Micky Leach headed home an Ian Usher corner.
Red car equalised with John Carless heading home a cross from the right on the 15-minute mark.
Rolls took the lead again after 22 minutes with a 40-yard free-kick from Leach.
Again Rolls let their guard drop and Redcar equalised in similar fashion with a Paul Gettingshe ad er, again from across from the right.
Rolls stepped up a gear in the second half and quickly went 4-2 up with a brace from Garry Johnson.
Rolls-Royce then put themselves under unnecessary pressure in the final 10 minutes of the game with an unnecessary handball from Gavin Evans. John Carless made sure from the spot kick.
Rolls comfortably held on, though, for a 4-3 win.
Penshaw Catholic Club included new signings Craig Marron and Dave Sanderson in their side and enjoyed a fine 4-1 win at South Shields.
Also back in the line-up after injury was captain Archie Arch bold, who scored in a devastating first-half hour that saw his team race into a 4-0 lead with other goals from excellent strikers Paul Hodgson twice and Chris Moody, aided by great work from fellow forward Paul Donnelly.
South Shields dug in and, to their credit, made Penshaw work to maintain their lead and were rewarded with a goal direct from a free-kick.
However, had it not been for the woodwork and very good goalkeeping from the Shields keeper, the winning margin could have been much greater.
Washington EMS hosted Killingworth YPC and ran out 4-3 winners.
Killingworth got off to a great start and put Washington under massive pressure.
They went ahead after eight minutes when striker Mark Brittain fired home from the edge of the box.
They then doubled their lead after 15 minutes when midfielder Mark Walton curled into the top corner from 30 yards.
In a frenetic five-minute spell, three goals were scored when initially ‘Chip’ Kindon pulled ago al back for Washington.Wing er Aubrey Rutherford then ran through from his own half to score, making the score 3-1. Washington scored from the kick-off when Phil Sowerby fired in at the back post to make the score 3-2 at half-time.
The second half was almost all Washington as Killing worth tired.
Striker Steve Burns scored immediately after kick-off to level the score at 3-3. Burns then doubled his tally after 10 minutes with a fine solo goal.
Washington had great opportunities to increase the score but both Kindon and Burns failed with one-on-ones and the game finished at 4-3.
Striker Kindon was man of the match for Washington, with Aubrey Rutherford picking up the honours for Killingworth.
Hartlepool FC Blues had a 4-1 Premier League win at home to North Tyneside side Marden.
In Division Two, Hartlepool Cricket Club drew 2-2 with early league leaders Boldon Colliery Old Barrel.
The first half was fairly even, but Cricket got themselves in front after 25 minutes. Scott Newbegin picked out Craig Win stanley’ s run into the box. He was driven wide as he tried to get his shot away, but he squared the ball back across goal for Stuart Hope to tap in.
Boldon started the second half well and caught Cricket asleep, pulling a goal back inside the first two minutes and going in front 10 minutes later.
The last 20 minutes, though, were all Cricket. They should have levelled in normal time but hit a penalty against the post. As it was, the equaliser came in added-on time, New begin slipping the ball through to Hope to lash the ball home.
Sunderland Willow Pond Over-40s hosted Sunderland the Doxy Lad. Pond were slow to get started and the Doxy Lad took advantage and scored early from a corner, Derek Collinson firing home through the legs of the home defence.
Pond got back in the game and equalised from a cross by Martin Lee from the right wing to his strike partner Gary Golightly, who headed the ball down at far post and through Doxykee per Dean Broad ben t' s hands.
The Doxy Lad were a constant threat on the counterattack with the pace of Andy Wilson and his shots from distance and the passing play of their man of the match, Nathan Pardoe.
Doxy again nudged ahead in the game from a deflected shot by Sarubjit Randhawa that bounced over the diving Andy Tilbury.
Pond substitute wing er Andrew Jamie son used hi space to run at goal and with a onetwo pass with midfielder Davis Laws, he shot at Broadbent, who could only parry the ball to Pond striker Lee to equalise from close range.
The away side couldn' t cope with Pond star man Shahab Makvandi on the left wing and he hit a spectacular wonder goal from 30 yards that bulged the net as Broadbent grasped thin air.
Pond made it four goals to the good before half-time when a ball over the top by Jamieson in midfield made it to Lee, and with the offside trap beaten, Lee rounded the stranded Broadbent to shoot past him.
Makvandi scored the fifth goal. After he collected a pass from substitute Jason Snowdon, he calmly slotted the ball past Broadbent.
Makvandi turned provider with quality left wing play to Lee in the box, who selflessly played in substitute striker Robert Henderson and he hammered the ball home under the diving Broadbent's arms for Pond's sixth.
Henderson then hit a shot off the crossbar and Lee couldn't get his shot on target from a tight angle to make his hat-trick.
Broadbent and the Doxy Lad defence were kept busy trying to keep the scoreline down but kept going with attacks from the wings, but the home side’ s defence stood firm to take a 6-2 win.
Hartlepool Ra by Arms travelledto Sunderland and lost 3-1 to Hall Farm.
They lost a player after five minutes and went behind soon after, getting caught trying to play a high line. Ste Jewson saved a one-on-one before it was 2-0, Raby getting caught by another ball over the top.
Nicky Lloyd and Les Hammill went close, and Glen Parker’s effort from range was fumbled by the keeper but no one was following up.
Raby started with a good tempo after the break and Lloyd headed in a Hammill cross to make it 2-1.
Their hopes of getting level were dashed when poor defending from a corner handed the points to Hall Farm.
Fixtures
Premier: Easington v Blyth Masons Arms, Ferryhill Greyhound v Ryhope Foresters, Hartlepool FC Blues v Penshaw Catholic Club, Hebburn Town v Middlesbrough, Killingworth YPC v South Shields, Pelton Crown Inn v Sherburn Village, Wallsend Boys Club v Sunderland Times Inn, Washington EMS v Marden Div One: CSSC Darsley Park v The Milbourne Arms, Consett v Seaham Harbour Cricket, Dubmire SC v Redcar Town, Hartlepool Jacksons v Roseberry Hilda Park, Stanley v Sedgefield, Grindon Broadway v Humbledon Plains Farm, Wallsend Community v Wearmouth CW Old Boys, Woodhorn Lane v N/Shields Pineapple.
Div Two: Hartlepool Cricket Club v Richmond Town, Hartlepool Tech v Boldon Colliery Old Barrel, Newcastle East End v S/ Shields Catholic Club, N/ Aycliffe Cobblers Hall v Hartlepool Raby, Peterlee Helford v Hall Farm, Washington Biddick Inn v Seaton Buildings.
Div Three: Billingham Vets v Newcastle Blue Star, Hedworthfield Red Hackle v Heighington Bay Horse, Pennywell Comrades v Wingate Comrades, Trimdon Vets v Bedlington United Sporting, Walkergate Vets v Shildon, Whitburn v Ivy Legends.
Div Four: Catchgate v Royal Navy Club, Houghton Cricket v Hartlepool Vets, Houghton the Burn v Redcar Newmarket, Seaton Carew v Doxy Lad, Rolls Royce v Darlington Railway Athletic, the Philadelphia v Billingham the Lion, West Moor v Willow Pond.