WEARSIDE League
by MALCOLM PRATT
 
FOLLOWING  six  weeks  of  inactivity, four games went  ahead  on  Saturday  but
another five were postponed.
 
Houghton  Town failed to celebrate a return to action, losing their bottom-seven
clash with Stockton Town at Leyburn Grove.
 
David  Johnson was the Teessiders' scoring hero as he twice beat goalkeeper Dean
Caris in the opening 45 minutes.
 
The  result  leaves Houghton fifth-from-bottom but well clear of  basement  side
Prudhoe Town.
 
A  stoppage-time  goal by Michael Meek gave Boldon CA's result at  Hartlepool  a
measure of respectability.
 
Until  he  struck, the South Tynesiders were trailing by three goals  and  never
really threatened the home side.
 
Carl  Wood  pounced  on  a rebound to give Pools a first-minute  lead  and  soon
afterwards,   Stephen   Chapman  capitalised  as  17-year  old  debutant   Craig
Hutchinson's shot was parried by goalkeeper Lee Jackson.
 
The South Tynesiders hit back, reducing their deficit through Chris Robinson who
was perfectly placed for a simple tap-in after nine minutes.
 
It  was  mostly  Hartlepool, however, and in the 12th minute Wood  restored  his
side's two-goals cushion with a shot-come-cross which eluded Jackson.
 
Four  goals flowed in the first 12 minutes but it was not until the 37th  minute
that  Chapman went past several defenders before crashing the ball into the roof
of the net.
 
Pools  went  in  4-1 ahead and could easily have added more  goals  as  Chapman,
Stephen  Thomas and Johnny Bolton all hit the woodwork before Meek struck at the
other end.
 
Redcar  Athletic made a poor start to the season, claiming just seven points out
of  a possible 21 but they started where they left off when they defeated fifth-
top Darlington Cleveland Bridge.
 
A poor first half produced few openings but the game sprang to life four minutes
into the second period when Jamie Lee netted from six yards.
 
The  Bridge battled back and threatened to upset Redcar's promotion  aspirations
but  five minutes from time Billy Millington produced a wonderful 20-yard  drive
to  secure  three  crucial  points for the Seasiders.
 
Redcar  have gained 25 points from their last nine games and are now in the  top
six for the first time this season.
 
Only  one  of  the  three  scheduled Wearside League cup  ties  went  ahead  and
following  a closely-fought game, Silksworth went out to Willington after  extra
time.
 
Shaun  Golightly  gave the Wearsiders an interval lead but early in  the  second
period Michael Weston levelled.
 
There  were  chances  for  both sides to clinch victory but the  tie  went  into
additional  time  and Willington secured their place in the second round with  a
late winner from James Seymour.