Mar 2011

Wednesday's football March 2


WEARSIDE LEAGUE by MALCOLM PRATT
 
AFTER  suffering  only their second defeat of the season in the  previous  game, Wearside  League  leaders  Easington  Colliery  bounced  back  to  form  against Annfield Plain last night.
 
Former  Durham  City  player  Simon Todd, signed from Seaham Red  Star,  made  a dream  debut  giving the Colliers a third-minute lead. His long-range shot  flew into the net, giving Plain goalkeeper Stephen Kennedy no chance.
 
The  visitors  quickly levelled as Dominic Elliott finished off a  nicely-worked move  but  two goals in a minute early in the second period had  Easington  back in the ascendancy.
 
James  Donnelly  cut in from the right and fired into the top corner of the  net before  Dale  Crawford  made  it 3-1 with a fierce drive from the  edge  of  the penalty area.
 
Easington  remain  nine  points in front of New Marske who came from  behind  to win 3-1 at Silksworth.
 
James  Gillespie finished off a good move down the left, slotting the ball  home at the far post after just a couple of minutes.
 
The  Wearsiders  though  were  then undone when they failed to  defend  two  set pieces.  Shaun  Howes  equalised following a corner and  Michael  Mackin  struck from a free kick.
 
Midway  through  the  second period, Shaun Mackin beat goalkeeper  John  McClean and  although  they pressed in the later stages, the Wearsiders rarely  troubled Seasiders' keeper Justin Hutchinson.
 
Ryhope CW stay third despite conceding two points to visitors Redcar Athletic.
 
Sam  Young  headed  in  a corner after only three minutes  but  by  the  seventh minute John Butler had equalised for Ryhope.
 
Houghton  Town  gained a welcome victory when they defeated Kirkbymoorside  with a 13th-minute goal from Chris Curtis which was worthy of winning any game.
 
Curtis  was  well outside the penalty area when he struck a superb volley  which rocketed  into  the  top  corner of the net giving  goalkeeper  Aaron  Rivis  no chance.
 
Both  teams  produced an excellent game of attacking football and despite  going down  to 10 men on 70 minutes with the dismissal of Rob McDermott, the  visitors had Houghton penned back into their own half but failed to equalise.
 
Boldon  CA  celebrated the switching on of their new floodlights when they  went nap against Coxhoe Athletic.
 
Kris  Robertson  bagged  a brace of goals with Michael Meek,  James  Hudson  and Shaun Reay (pen) completing a comprehensive 5-0 victory.
 
Alan  Blair, Laurie Black and Dean Rogers (2), swept Windscale to a 4-1  success at Willington whose only reply came from debutant John Roberts.
 
Cleator   Moor  Celtic  played  only  their  third  game  this  year  and  edged Hartlepool  2-1  with  goals  from Robbie Fowler and Craig  Padley.  Shaun  Ross replied for Pools.