Grindon stand firm to claim draw against Darsley Park
Defences were on top as Grindon and Darsley Park turned in a battling performance in the Sunderland & District Over-40s League.
Darsley Park took the lead after 30 minutes when Watson was standing unmarked and scored from five yards out.
However, Grindon hit straight back when defender Gary Wake scored with a powerful header.
In the second half, Grindon were the stronger side, but Darsley Park keeper kept them in the game with some fine saves.
Grindon were denied a penalty on the hour mark when a Darsley Park defender appeared to handle ball.
Grindon finished the stronger side, but failed to find the winning goal.
Penshaw and Easington battled hard on once again a very poor surface at Herrington Park.
Both teams did their best, with Penshaw opening the scoring with a clinical finish by Chris Liddle after being put clean through with a superb ball from Mark Donnelly.
Easington levelled things up late in the first half with a fine strike by Mike Monaghan.
Penshaw regained the lead early in the second half with a left foot volley by Archie Archbold from 25 yards.
Barry Frost equalised once again for the away side after a bad error by a Penshaw player and despite Mark Liddle missing a glorious chance to seal it for the home team a draw was a fair result.
In Division Two, the Hartlepool derby between Hartlepool Raby Arms and Hartlepool TECH resulted in a hard fought win for the hosts, thanks to a goal from Nicky Lloyd.
Hartlepool Cricket Club came unstuck at home to Washington Biddick, losing their way in the second half and losing the game 2-1.
Cricket had already threatened down the right before another raid from that area led to the opening goal inside the first ten minutes.
Paul Dougherty beat his man, got to the line, and whipped in a cross, Shaun Arnell came in at the far post and got ahead of his marker to score with a diving header.
Dougherty and Scott Newbegin continued to cause Biddick problems, but unfortunately Cricket were to lose both of them to injury.
Biddick started the second half better than their hosts got an early equaliser and were the better side.
Cricket changed their formation late in the game in an attempt to get the winner but it backfired on them. Rather than hanging on to what they had, Biddick won all three points with a late goal.
Willow Pond edged out Seaton Carew to claim a narrow 1-0 victory.
A high defensive line by Seaton worked well to frustrate the home side, but Pond striker Martin Lee was put through on goal, but his shot was straight at Seaton keeper Colin Smith.
Jamieson broke the offside trap to set up David Kelly in the box, but his shot blocked.
A Pond corner was met by Andy Norman and his powerful header hit the underside of the bar with keeper beaten only to bounce on the line before being cleared.
The second half saw Pond
crank up the pressure with striker Lee having a shot punched clear by Seaton keeper Smith and Pond’s Gareth Vincent having a long drive on goal after good work from David Laws and Lee.
Tricky play from Jamiesonagainsawhimmarauding into the Seaton box, a cracking tackle by Seaton centre half David Cooling, stopped Jamieson in his tracks as he pulled the trigger on his shot.
Pond striker Lee had his penalty appeal waved away by referee Colin Stores when he went down under pressure from Seaton fullback Graham Rowbotham in the box after they tangled then both hit the ground.
The game became end to end as both sides looked for
the win and the deadlock was broken after Seaton lost the ball in an attack which saw Brown break out of his own half, up the right wing to play a sublime defence splitting pass to Pond striker Lee, who beat his marker to run in on goal and fire past Seaton keeper Smith to take the lead which turned into the eventual match winner that send Pond into third place in Division four.
FIXTURES: Premier Div:
Easington Colliery v Ryhope Foresters, Ferryhill Greyhound v Middlesbrough, Hebburn Town v Blyth Masons Arms, Penshaw Catholic Club v Killingworth YPC, Sherburn Village WMC v Pelton Crown Inn, Sunderland Times Inn v Marden,
Wallsend Boys Club v Hartlepool FC Blues
Div One: Dubmire Club v Woodhorn Lane, Hartlepool Jacksons v Sedgefield, Redcar Town v Milbourne Arms, Seaham Harbour Cricket v Roseberry Hilda Park, Stanley v N/Shields Pineapple, Sunderland Plains Farm v Consett, Wallsend Community v Grindon Broadway, Wearmouth CW Old Boys v CSSC Darsley Park
Div Two: Boldon Colliery Old Barrel v Newcastle East End, Durham County v Seaton Buildings, Hartlepool Raby v South Shields, Richmond Town v Hartlepool Tech, Sunderland Hall Farm v Peterlee Helford, Washington JFC Biddick Inn v Sunderland Mill View SC
Div Three: Durham Bede Lodge v Bedlington United Sporting, Hedworthfield Red Hackle v Sunderland Ivy Legends, Newcastle Blue Star v Billingham Vets, Shildon AFC v Heighington Bay Horse, Wingate Constitutional v Trimdon Vets
Seaton Carew Community v Billingham the Lion, Sunderland Rolls Royce v Catchgate, Sunderland Doxy Lad v Sunderland Royal Naval, Sunderland The Philadelphia v Darlington Railway Athletic, Sunderland Willow Pond v Hartlepool Vets, West Moor v Houghton The Burn
Div Four: