Wednesday's football September 1

WEARSIDE LEAGUE
by MALCOLM PRATT

 
Not  many  sides travel to Cumbria mid-week and return happy but  Houghton  Town
were a jovial lot on their long trek home last night.

 
Difficulty  in  players  leaving work early often means teams are  weakened  and
Houghton  were  no  exception  but  at the end  of  a  cracking  encounter  they
celebrated a 4-3 victory.

 
Celtic  were  quickly into their stride, taking a 10th minute lead through  Greg
Stainton.

 
It  took the visitors until the 31st minute for Shaun Graham to level and  after
Ross  Freeman fired Houghton in front from the spot, the hosts equalised on  the
stroke of half-time as Stainton drove past goalkeeper Carl Chapman.

 
Immediatley  on  resuming, Freeman restored the advantage to Houghton  only  for
Barry Armfield to restore parity following a free-kick.

 
With  time  running  out it appeared the teams would share the  points  but  Ian
McPherson  got  ahead to 'keeper Craig Devine to earn the visitors their  fourth
win of the season.

 
It's  been a topsy-turvey start for Ashbrooke Belford House who look as if  they
are now running into consistent form.

 
They  produced  a good performance defeating Stockton Town with a  fifth  minute
strike  by  Peter  Benson  who sealed victory with a second goal  in  the  final
minute.

 
Annfield  Plain extended their lead at the top of the table to three points  but
they were taken to the wire by Jarrow at Derwent Park.

 
John  Gibbs  and Aaron Robertson gave them the cushion of a two-goals  lead  but
when  Liam  Clark replied, Jarrow exerted pressure in the late stages which  the
Plain survived.

 
Easington  Colliery  are  second after conceding the last 100 per  cent  record.
Windscale,  who  continue to impress, were worth a point at Welfare  Park  where
they were in front until the 81st minute.

 
Michael Farrer delivered a clinical finish wide of goalkeeper Dean Caris but the
Colliers  were  saved by Barry Turnton's equally impressive strike from  outside
the penalty area.

 
Silksworth  fielded  a depleted side at Ryhope CW who romped to a 6-0 win.  Adam
McGuinness  shot  home  past  goalkeeper John McClean and  soon  afterwards  the
visitors defence was again split, leaving John Butler with a simply tap-in.

 
Before the break Jake Moan made it three and the goals continued to flow in  the
second  period.  Captain Greg Swansbury, Paul Kane and Butler added to the  woes
of Silksworth, who have now conceded 19 times in eight games.

 
Boldon  CA,  the only side yet to claim a point, have now leaked 33 goals  after
they succumbed to a seven-goals mauling at Coxhoe Athletic, who had managed just
seven goals in their previous seven games.

 
Indy  Singh, with a brace, Shaun Laverick, James Moohan, Dan Hatton, Phil Butler
and Graeme Richardson all found the net.

 
Wolviston  defeated out-of-sorts Redcar Athletic, who pre-season were tipped  as
promotion candidates.

 
Paul  Vickers  and Anthony Brown were on the mark for Wolviston and it  was  not
until the final minute that Jimmy Lee replied.

 
An  only  goal  by Luke Jenkinson proved sufficient for  Kirkbymoorside  against
Darlington Cleveland Bridge, for whom Michael Carter failed with a penalty.

 
Shaun  Ross fired Hartlepool ahead but Kristian Kamarra claimed a valuable point
for third-top New Marske.

 
Scott  Turner  and Michael Weston netted for Willington in their 2-2  draw  with
Prudhoe Town whose marksmen were Lee Best and Brett McGill.