Penshaw Catholic Club see off star-studded Blyth side
Penshaw Catholic Club Over40s reached the final of the Robson Pattison Cup when they defeated Blyth Masons Arms 3-1.
Penshaw Catholic Club will now face their old foes Marden in the final on Saturday, May 28, at Hebburn Town Sports and Social Club, kick off 10.30am.
The game couldn’t have started any worse for the home team with former Newcastle United player Olivier Bernard scoring at the back post after a mistake by a Penshaw player.
However, Penshaw laid siege on the Blyth goal, with corner after corner coming to nothing.
Despite Penshaw twice hitting the bar, Blyth still looked dangerous on the few breaks they had.
It looked like Blyth, marshalled superbly by ex Chelsea and Sunderland player Pascal Chimbonda, might keep their 1-0 lead intact until half time.
However,DaveSanderson wriggled past a couple of defenders and threaded a ball through to Paul Hodgson, who managed to beat a defender and slide the ball into the net to put his side level at half time.
Blyth changed to a more defensive formation in the second half, maybe hoping to stifle the home side and catch them on the break.
It worked for 10 minutes until Penshaw went 2-1 up with a well struck free-kick from outside the box by Lee Ellison.
Blyth had to change again to claw back the deficit, but this only led to Penshaw taking full control and following a great run by Paul Donnelly, and a clever through ball to Hodgson, the same player ran on to goal and finished beautifully to put the game beyond Blyth.
There was still time for a Moody chance and a fine header by Andy Colledge which brought excellent saves out of the Blyth Keeper.
In the other semi-final of the Robson Pattison Cup, Marden soon took the lead when a Femi Akinbolu cross rebounded off the post to the
predatory Frankie Deverdics, who slotted home.
Hartlepool were undeterred and levelled when Paul Murphy powerfully headed home.
Marden then made it 2-1 shortly before half time when fine set up play saw Paul Antony fire home from 10 yards.
Hartlepool then levelled the score to 2-2 after a fine counter attacking move. John Payne beating Marden keeper Graeme Morton from close range.
With the result in the balance, Marden introduced Tony Healer for the injured Steve McQueen.
With 15 minutes remaining, Healer won the tie when he unleashed an unstoppable shot from 30 yards which flew into the top left hand corner of the net.
Dubmire took on Seaham Harbour Cricket in the Division One Alan Spedding Semi Cup with a final meeting with league winners Consett at stake. Clear cut chances were at a premium in the first 20 minutes, with the visitors Seaham applying the pressure without testing the home keeper.
The deadlock was broken on 30 minutes with Seaham striker Turner heading in his 52nd goal of the season.
There was nothing between the teams for the first 15 minutes of the second half
with defences on top. With 55 minutes on the clock, Seaham winger Parry beat his man on the right and crossed for McCabe to head into the net.
The hosts were sprung a lifeline five minutes later when the Seaham keeper Robson was penalised for a foul in the box, the penalty was slotted home and the equaliser soon followed.
With 15 minutes left to play, the visitors went back in front, Parry playing a short corner to Punshon, who then crossed for Raine to head into the net.
As the game approached the final minutes, Seaham added a further two goals, Dixon netting from close
range and Raine netting his second and Seaham’s fifth when he curled the ball into the net from the edge of the box to secure a 5-2 win.
Seaton Buildings were made to work hard to clinch a promotion place from Division Two when they were held to a 2-2 draw by Richmond, the only team who could catch them.
Seaton raced into a 2-0 lead within the first 20 minutes through goals from Barry Cougle and John James.
However, Richmond scored just before half-time to set up a frantic second half.
Richmond clawed themselves back into the game with an equaliser.
However, as both teams
went in search of the winner, both teams hit the woodwork.
Seaton held on to the draw that they needed to secure promotion and now look forward to Saturday’s Ironside Cup final against Newcastle East End.
All five Divisional Finals are now scheduled to happen in the next three weeks at a variety of venues.
The remaining league fixtures will be completed in the next two weeks making for a very successful season.
The Presentation and AGM will be on the June 9, at Sunderland’s Mill View Social Club.
Fixtures (10.30am KO): Ironside Cup: Newcastle East End v Seaton Buildings at Wearmouth CW, Sunderland.
Sunderland Echo Cup: Heighington Bay Horse v Newcastle Blue Star at Grayfields Sports Pavilion, Hartlepool.
Premier Div: Marden v Killingworth, Pelton v The Times Inn, Ryhope Foresters v Easington Colliery
Div One: CSS Darsley Park v Consett, Hartlepool Jacksons v Redcar Town, N/ Shields Pineapple v Seaham Harbour Cricket, Roseberry Hilda Park v The Milbourne Arms, Humbledon Plains Farm v Stanley, Wallsend Community v Sedgefield.