Wednesday's football September 22

LOCAL Football
by MALCOLM PRATT


HOUGHTON  Town  trailed  for  75 minutes in last night's  Durham  Challenge Cup Preliminary  Round  tie  with Ashbrooke Belford House at  Silksworth  but still managed an extra-time 3-1 victory.

It  looked  as if Peter Benson's 10th-minute strike would prove  sufficient for Tommy  Dobbing's team but five minutes from the end of normal time, Chris Curtis equalised.

Early  in  additional  time  David  Keighley fired Houghton  in  front  and the visitors'  place  in the next round was secured with Brad Freeman's spectacular goal five minutes from the end.

Washington  were also involved in an exciting tie with Easington Colliery which was decided by Nick Quinn's winner with virtually the last kick of the game.

Graeme  Liddle gave the Newtowners an early advantage but the Colliers then went in front courtesy of Barry Turton and David Doughty.

Quinn  threw Washington a lifeline with his equalising goal and then became the toast  of  his new team mates as he struck in the last minute to  celebrate his debut following a move from Boldon CA.

Peterlee Town went out to Hartlepool in a seven-goals feast where fortunes ebbed and flowed throughout the game.

Peter  Elliott  and Peter Crawford (pen) had the home side two goals up  by the 22nd minute but gradually Pools came more into the picture.

Bob  Smith reduced the deficit and two goals from David Manson had the visitors in front for the first time.

Craig  McManus  restored parity but Pools scraped home with a late  winner from Stephen Chapman.

Brandon  United  were hit for double figures by Gateshead at  the International Stadium.  Ian  Bogie's  side roared into a seven-goals interval lead  and there was  no  respite for goalkeeper Richard Heineger as the home side romped  to an 11-0 victory.

Nathan  Fisher,  who moved to Gateshead from Chester le Street during the close season,  rifled  four  goals, Brian Wake struck a hat-trick  with  Alex
Francis (2),  Stephen  Baptiste  and Luke Gilbert completing a miserable night  for the Durham side.

Darren  Richardson  struck a low drive to give Bishop Auckland a seventh-minute advantage  but it took two goals in three minutes from Stephen Salvin and Aaron
Wearmouth  just before the end to stave off a spirited performance by Darlington Cleveland Bridge.

Willington  conceded  goals to Darlington's Dan Burn, Paul Grainger  and Jordan Marshall  at The Northern Echo Arena before Carl Thompson claimed a consolation
scoring the best goal of the four with a tremendous 25-yard drive.

Horden  CW went out of the Ernest Armstrong Memorial Cup at Crook Town for whom Chris  Baxter  and  Andrew  Appleby beat goalkeeper  Grant  Herbert  inside
the opening half hour.

Following  an  uncertain start the Colliers played some good football  but were unable to break down a resolute home defence.

Morpeth  Town, without a win in the STL Northern League Second Division, sprang a  surprise,  defeating table-topping Guisborough Town with goals  from
Matthew Wade and Wyn Fremlin. David Onions replied for the home team with an 88th-minute
penalty.

Consett  are  the  new leaders in the STL Northern League First  Division.
They defeated Billingham Town with second-half goals from Jonjo Dickman, Gavin Barton and Lewis Teasdale.

After  losing  to Billingham Synthonia in the FA Carlsberg Vase at the weekend,
Newcastle  Benfield  returned  to Teesside and gained a measure  of revenge.  
A goal after   19 minutes from Scott Fenwick enabled them to maintain the only 100 per cent record in the two divisions.

Top  four sides Bedlington Terriers and Shildon shared the points but it took  a
magnificent  performance  by goalkeeper Kevin Morton, playing his first game
of the season, to keep Terriers in the game.

Jamie  Harwood  fired  Shildon in front before debutant Wayne  Gredziak,
signed this  week  from  Bishop Auckland, restored parity. Thereafter,  Morton
made  a string of outstanding saves as Shildon camped in their opponents' half.

The  shock  result of the night was Dunston UTS's 3-0 defeat at  West
Allotment Celtic  whose  marksmen  were Stephen Buzzeo, Stephen Forster and  debutant
Lee Hamilton.