Single goal enough for a slender Sherburn victory in close game
Sherburn Village WMC hosted a depleted Washington EMS side in the Sunderland & District Over 40s League and won 1-0 in a tremendous end to end game.
Sherburn started very strongly and took the lead after 12 minutes when striker Tony Hanson headed in a corner at the far post. Washington defended for most of the half and kept the score to 1-0 at half time.
The second half was more even and both teams had chances to add to the score but the goalkeepers pulled off great saves and no more goals were added.
Striker Tony Hanson for Sherburn and defender Nathan Hicks for Washington won man of the match honours. Jeff Russell was called in to referee the game at the last minute and both teams praised his performance.
Penshaw and Marden shared the points in a 1-1 draw at Herrington Park. Both had key players missing but Marden took the lead when Daniel Patterson outstripped the defence to slot in past the Penshaw ‘keeper. The home team had good chances which fell to Luke Charlesworth and Simon Holland, with Marden ‘keeper Graeme Morton making good saves – but he could do nothing to stop an equaliser just before half time from Penshaw player of the match Paul Donnelly. Marden defended deeply in the second half, obviously playing for a draw, and it paid off. However, Penshaw still had many chances to win the game. The best of these fell to John Spence and Charlesworth, which were spurned, frustrating Penshaw as the game petered out to end 1-1.
Against Sunderland Willow Pond, Philadelphia wing man Tommy McIntosh saw an early chance go over before a series of home side corners led to a half-clearance which was put back in by Joe Walters and met at close range by Steve Wall. Pond ‘keeper Andy Tilbury got a hand on it but couldn’t stop the ball crossing the line.
Pond striker Martin Lee went close from a David Laws free kick and Shahab Makvandi
had a low drive saved by Philly ‘keeper Lee Major. Philly had the better chances on the counter attack and Pond struggled to cope with Philly star man Mark Nixon, who was instrumental throughout the match. Wall went close again with a header from a throw-in and McIntosh had a shot tipped round the post by Tilbury for a corner which saw Nixon hit the bar with a bullet header.
Philly went 2-0 up before the break after a long punt from Wall on the wing saw Nixon race forward, with his header going through the ‘keeper’s arms.
The Philadelphia were always a threat on the counter and another by Nixon set up Wall but his shot was saved by Tilbury. Pond substitute Anthony
Lewis Jr set up Lee in the box but he couldn’t get his shot on target and Lewis himself saw a chance go astray after good work from Makvandi and Lee.
Lee, in the thick of the action, had another shot saved by Philly ‘keeper Major and Lee set up Laws but his shot to the far post was cleared off the line by Dave Jenkins. Pond had a few corners and went close again with a Lee header blocked on the line by Paul Russell. The next goal was crucial and it fell to the home side from a counter attack by Pitcairn to make the final score 3-0 to Philadelphia.
The Division Two derby between Hartlepool Cricket Club and Hartlepool Tech ended all square and scoreless. Despite the lack of goals, though, it was an entertaining game. Cricket dominated the first half, probably having as much as 80 per cent possession, but failed to trouble the visiting ‘keeper.
After the break, it was much more even but again, clear-cut chances were hard to come by until the final 15 minutes. Paul Dougherty headed just over and was twice thwarted by Peter Gale in the Tech goal. Then Dougherty whipped in a superb ball to the far post to pick out John Dobing but Gale scrambled his effort away.
Tech had their own chance to win it late on. Cricket had lost their keeper to injury but stand-in John Tumilty blocked Michael Ross’s effort with his feet to keep it level. Best for the hosts was Craig
Winstanley, while Tech’s star was Philip Adams.
Hartlepool Raby Arms travelled to take on leaders Newcastle East End with the bare XI and lost 4-0. Newcastle started the brighter and a mistake at the back resulted in the ball cannoning off a home player and falling at the feet of a teammate, who
tapped it into an empty net. It was 2-0 when Raby were caught trying to play offside but there was no whistle and a striker tucked away the chance. Raby were struggling to keep possession and the home team made it 3-0 before half-time after a good one-two.
Raby came out after the breakandmorethanmatched their opponents before a debatable penalty saw Newcastle
make it four. Raby didn’t give up and showed great endeavour, despite having players injured and needing to shuffle things around. Dominic Skelly was their man of the match.
Hartlepool FC Blues drew 1-1 in their Premier League clash at Blyth Masons Arms. They too took the bare squad up to Northumberland and, as such, were happy with the point. Blyth took the lead midway through the first half with a decent goal but FC levelled 10 minutes later. Mark Loynes played Stuart Greig through and his pace took him past two defenders before slotting home from 10 yards. The second half was close as the draw was played out. Best for FC were Greig, Micky Driscoll and Jamie Morrow.