WEARSIDE LEAGUE
 
by MALCOLM PRATT
 
Ryhope  CW  are just two points behind Wearside League leaders Scarborough  Town
following last night's emphatic victory over Boldon CA.
 
John  Butler  was an early marksman for the home side but within a  minute  Mark
Johnson equalised.
 
Martin  Swales'  team  then stepped up a gear and the goals  flowed  from  David
Newby, Butler and Anthony Ross before the interval.
 
Midway  through  the  second  period Butler completed  a  superb  hat-trick  and
although  Chris Robertson reduced the arrears three minutes later, there was  no
way back for Boldon who had scored 11 goals in their previous two games.
 
Houghton  Town lost 3-1 to New Marske at Leyburn Grove. Mark Dawson headed in  a
corner  and Lee Harrison scrambled the ball home to give fifth-placed New Marske
a half-time advantage.
 
Billy  Harrison threw Steve Patton's side a lifeline when he converted a penalty
but late in the game Shaun Howes made sure of the points for the Seasiders.
 
Easington  Colliery  shared the points with Kirkbymoorside at Welfare Park.  The
visitors  were  gifted  an eighth-minute lead as  Martin  Langley  unfortunately
sliced an attempted clearance into his own net.
 
The Colliers were quickly back in the game as an 18-yard drive from Barry Turton
flashed into the net but Alex Strickland regained the advantage for the visitors
on 41 minutes.
 
Just  before  the  break  Turton  dribbled his way into  the  penalty  area  and
equalised  with a splendid individual effort. There were chances for both  teams
in the second period but the game  ended in a draw, which was a fair reflection.
 
Ashbrooke  Belford  House  fielded a severely-weakened line-up at  Cleator  Moor
Celtic  and  crashed  to  a 5-1 defeat despite having  the  encouragement  of  a
10th-minute goal from Michael Charlton.
 
Lee Dunn hit a hat-trick with Barry Irvine and Craig Padley also penetrating the
Wearsiders' defence.
 
Goals  were  scarce in the other two games. Roy Gordon's 87th-minute effort  was
sufficient  for Annfield Plain at Willington and Wolviston also won by a slender
margin at Windscale where Dan Shields was the only marksman.
 
Jarrow  reached  the second round of the Sunderland Shipowners' Cup with  a  4-2
victory at Guisborough Town HC.
 
The  South  Tynesiders made a flying start with goals from Peter Kane and  Chris
Lunn  but before the interval the scores were level as Richie Walker and  Junior
Massandi hit the target.
 
Jarrow  enjoyed  the better of the second period and after debutant Chris  Quinn
celebrated  with  a goal, Peter Kirkham completed the scoring from  the  penalty
spot.