Saturday's football March 27


by MALCOLM PRATT
 
Ryhope  CW  anticipated a difficult game at Cleator Moor Celtic on Saturday  but
three  goals  in  the  opening 26 minutes proved too big  an  obstacle  for  the
Cumbrians, whose title hopes have all but ended.
 
The Wearsiders though, continue their quest for honours and the race now appears
to be between Martin Swales' side and Scarborough Town.
 
Martin  Metcalfe  was first to strike on 20 minutes and two minutes  later  John
Butler converted a penalty.
 
Worse  was  to follow for the home side as Butler headed in his second goal  and
although  Lee  Dunn reduced the deficit before the interval, Ryhope  were  never
seriously stretched.
 
They  are  now  12  points  ahead  of Scarborough  who  were  on  cup  duty  but
the Seasiders have five games in hand on Ryhope.
 
Teesside  Athletic are third but they appear to have too much to do after losing
to  Easington  Colliery,  for whom captain Chris Pearson scored  the  only  goal
mid-way through the second period.
 
Following a heavy defeat in their previous game, Ashbrooke Belford House bounced
back to form easily seeing off the challenge from Guisborough Town HC with goals
from Michael Charlton (2), and Martin Deacon.
 
Silksworth  held their own in the first half at Annfield Plain but conceded four
times  in  the  second 45 minutes. Aaron Robertson and  Stephen  Kirkbride  each
bagged a brace of goals.
 
Jarrow  staged  a second half rally at home to Wolviston who were coasting  the
game  at  the  interval  after  Paul Ambrose and Guy  Whatmore  (2)  had  beaten
goalkeeper Tony Orr.
 
A  minute  into  the  second  period,  however,  Christie  Elliott  reduced  the
three-goals  arrears  and after Peter Kane also struck, Elliott grabbed  a  late
equaliser.
 
Willington  remain  bottom after losing by the odd goal in three to  Hartlepool,
who  are  two  places above them. Carl Winspear and Kyle  McDermott  netted  for
Pools with Callum Heeney on target in the last couple of minutes.
 
Coxhoe  Athletic are second from the basement. Michael Owens and Stephen  Oakley
were  the  marksmen  against  Windscale for whom Andrew Hurley  and  Dan  Gullen
replied.
 
Michael Alexander was Boldon CA's only scorer at Kirkbymoorside who won courtesy
of Darren Collier (pen) and Ryan Rivis.
 
Scarborough  Town  romped into the final of the Sunderland Shipowners' Cup  when
they  hit  New Marske for six. Mark Barber, Georgie Rose, Josh  Greening  (pen),
Nathan  Cook,  Wayne  Brooksby  and Matthew Parry  all  beat  goalkeeper  Justin
Hutchinson.  The home side's only reply came from Richie Playforth.

Wednesday's football March 24

by MALCOLM PRATT
 
Ryhope CW were only able to take 12 players to Guisborough Town HC last night but still emerged winners by an only goal scored by Chris Trewick in the 50th minute.
 
The Wearsiders had at least four excellent scoring opportunities which they failed to accept and with only one goal separating the sides, Guisborough kept up the challenge until the final whistle but Martin Swales' side held on.
 
They lead Scarborough Town by nine points but the Seasiders have four games in hand. Boro had hoped to play their first ever home floodlit match with New Marske but the match was called off half an hour after the scheduled kick-off time because the lights failed.
 
Ashbrooke Belford House were surprisingly hit for six at home to Teesside Athletic who moved into third position, enhancing their chances of promotion to the Skilltrainingltd Northern League.
 
James Kesterton is a regular scorer and he rifled a hat-trick with the Teessiders' other goals credited to Dale Mendum, Stephen Thompson and Grant Bulmer.
 
Annfield Plain were ahead through Roy Gordon and Stephen Kirkbride but Boldon CA hit back  to level the score thanks to  Mark Williams and Chris Robertson. With just three minutes remaining Kirkbride scored his second goal and Plain's winner.
 
Easington Colliery  were saved the long journey to Cleator Moor Celtic when the pitch was declared waterlogged.

Saturday's football, March 20

by MALCOLM PRATT

It remains nip and tuck at the top of the table with Ryhope CW's lead over
Scarborough Town now only six points, with the Seasiders having three games in
hand on their rivals.

Martin Swales' side were favourites to win at Hartlepool, who started the day
second from bottom but in the event they were lucky to claim one point.

Colin McCullough shocked the visitors when he found the net in a goalmouth
scramble after only nine minutes and when Ryhope had John Butler sent off in the
76th minute, the omens were not good.

With the game deep into stoppage time, John Davis saved Ryhope just when it
seemed his side was about to suffer what would have been only their second
defeat of the season.

In contrast, Scarborough Town enjoyed an eight-goals romp over Wolviston, whose
defence has been one of the strongest in the league.

The Teessiders though had no answer to Boro's penetrating attack and the goals
flowed from Josh Greening, who rifled a hat-trick in the first nine minutes,
Jamie Lawrence, Dean Craig, Matthew Brown, Robbie Hawkes and Joe Danby.

Houghton Town moved into the top half of the table with an excellent 3-2 victory
over Windscale in Cumbria.

The home side scored first and last courtesy of Dean Rogers and Peter O'Donnell.
In between, Stephen Harrison, Brad Freeman and Richard Hall found the net for
Steve Patton's side.

Jarrow scored their first goal in five games but Peter Kane's header
wasn't enough at home to New Marske, who won with strikes from Stephen Barker
and Shaun Mackin.

Coxhoe Athletic were no match for Annfield Plain who scored twice in each half.
Dean Lee and Stephen Kirkbride were the early marksmen before John Clarke and
Aaron Robertson also got in on the scoring act.

Brothers Stephen and Mark Williams gave Boldon CA a perfect start and although
Adam Blenkinsopp threw Willington a ray of hope, the South Tynesiders finished
strongly taking their tally to four thanks to Michael Meek and Jason Donnelly.

An only goal two minutes from the end by James Kesterton was sufficient for
Teesside Athletic against Kirkbymoorside.

The result lifted the Teessiders into third position but they still have a lot
to do if they are to realise their promotion aspirations.

Silksworth were saved the long journey to Cleator Moor Celtic and a waterlogged
pitch also caused Easington Colliery's game at Guisborough Town HC to be called
off.

Wednesday's football March 17

by MALCOLM PRATT
 
Wearside  League  leaders  Ryhope  CW left it late  before  defeating  fifth-top
Easington Colliery by the odd goal in three.
 
A  tense  struggle  was anticipated and it was not until two  minutes  into  the
second  period  that  John Butler celebrated his return to the  Ryhope  line-up,
firing home from the edge of the penalty area.
 
With  just  five  minutes  remaining it looked as if  former  Horden  CW  player
Stuart  Brightwell  had  gained a point for the Colliers but two  minutes  later
Jonathan Davis produced a good finish from 18 yards.
 
Martin  Swales'  side  still  lead Scarborough Town by eight  points  but  their
rivals have three games in hand.
 
The  Seasiders  made  no  mistake at Guisborough Town HC where  they  enjoyed  a
five-goals  romp.  Joe  Danby bagged a brace with Mark Barber,  Dean  Craig  and
Josh Greening also on target.
 
Guisborough  played  almost  the entire second half with 10  men  following  the
dismissal  of  Stephen Reid and on the hour Danny Cornell was  also  red-carded,
leaving the home side with only nine players.
 
Jarrow  have  not  scored in four games after losing at Houghton  Town.  On  the
stroke  of  half  time Michael Curtis set up Kevin Gordon who  rifled  the  ball
into the net.
 
Five  minutes  later 17-year old Richie Goodman celebrated his debut heading  in
a corner.
 
Windscale,  who  at  one stage were too near the bottom for  comfort,  confirmed
that  they are a much improved side when they held Ashbrooke Belford House to  a
draw at Silksworth.
 
Lee  Harrison  gave Tommy Dobbing's side the lead on 30 minutes and  20  minutes
from the end Adam Blair equalised.
 

Saturday's football March 13

by MALCOLM PRATT
 
Leaders  Ryhope  CW  were  taken to the wire by holders  Annfield  Plain  before booking their place in the Final of the Monkwearmouth Charity Cup.
 
An only goal by Jimmy Farrell on 15 minutes was all that separated the sides and the   Wearsiders  will  meet  Cleator  Moor  Celtic,  comfortable  winners  over Wolviston.
 
Lee Dunn and Chris Thornton (2) had the Cumbrians well ahead before Liam Jackson claimed a late consolation goal for the visitors.
 
Second-top  Scarborough Town also have their eyes on a double and progressed  to the  Third Round of the Sunderland Shipowners' Cup at Jarrow, who ended the game with nine men.
 
Josh  Green  broke the deadlock three minutes into the second period and in  the 68th minute Joel Ramm converted a penalty.
 
Liam  Poppleton  was immediately sent off and Chris Maw followed him 10  minutes from the end. In stoppage time Billy Logan completed a comprehensive victory for the Seasiders.
 
Houghton  Town  conceded  their  first goals in open play for  five  games  when Windscale won a thriller at Leyburn Grove.
 
The  Cumbrians  roared  into a two-goals lead courtesy of Dan  Gullen  and  Dean Rogers  but Brad Freeman reduced the deficit with a 46th-minute penalty and four minutes later restored parity.
 
The  scene was set for an exciting final 40 minutes and with the game  seemingly heading  for  a draw, Windscale snatched victory with a last-minute  penalty  by Rogers.
 
Silksworth's   defence  was  considerably  tighter  at  Kirkbymoorside  but  the Wearsiders  returned  home pointless after Johnny Brown scored the only goal  20 minutes from time.
 
Easington  Colliery consolidated fifth place with victory over Ashbrooke Belford House.
 
Robert  Huntley  and  Chris Tarn had them two goals up but  after  Lee  Harrison replied  from the penalty spot, Tommy Dobbing's side was in with a chance  until John Harrison restored the Colliers' two-goals cushion.
 
Boldon  CA  returned to form, defeating Hartlepool with goals by Mark  Williams, Chris  Robertson  and  James  Hudson. Pools' only reply was  credited  to  Keith Hutchinson.
 
Willington  parted  company  with  manager  Max Reece  before  their  game  with Guisborough Town HC.
 
Paul  Mullen  and Robert Lee took over but failed to start on a winning note  as the  visitors  scored twice in the second period through Lewis Tidy  and  Philip Jopling.
 
Teesside  Athletic stay fourth-top but their promotion hopes received a  setback at New Marske whose matchwinners were Richard Playforth and Mark Dawson.
 

Wednesday's football March 10

by MALCOLM PRATT
 
Ryhope  CW just couldn't find a way past the Jarrow defence, despite  dominating their 'home' game which was played at Houghton.
 
"We  would  not have scored if we had played another 90 minutes. It was  one  of those  nights but Jarrow gave a tremendous team performance with goalkeeper Mark English outstanding," observed Ryhope secretary Dougie Benison.
 
The  Wearsiders  extended their lead at the top of the Wearside League to  eight points but Scarborough Town now have three games in hand.
 
Silksworth  had conceded 11 goals in their previous two games and when Wolviston went two up by the hour, another defeat was on the cards.
 
But  Steven Smith's side battled back and deservedly shared the points in a  2-2 draw.
 
Richard  Mills twice beat goalkeeper David McKinley before Owen Shannon  reduced the  deficit in the 65th minute. With 10 minutes remaining, Andrew Place hit the equaliser.
 
Easington  Colliery  had  no such problems in their game with  Coxhoe  Athletic. The  Colliers' made a dream start, scoring after just six minutes with a  Martin Langley header.
 
Haydn Pace struck twice in the space of three minutes early in the second period and  but for the brilliance of goalkeeper Tom Orton, Coxhoe would have  suffered an even heavier defeat.
 
New Marske were another side in scoring mode as they crushed bottom-of-the-table Willington  10-0. Shaun Mackin and Richard Playforth both rifled hat-tricks with Shaun Howes (2), Stephen Barker and Andrew Dawson also getting in on the scoring act.
 
In  contract,  Annfield Plain failed to score at Windscale where they  dominated for  90  minutes, hitting the woodwork on several occasions. In  stoppage  time, Dan  Gullen  had  the  ball  in the net for the Cumbrians  but  his  effort  was disallowed.
 

Saturday's football March 6

by MALCOLM PRATT
 
Ryhope  CW  were  without  a  fixture on  Saturday  and  Scarborough  Town  took advantage, reducing the difference between the pair to seven points.
 
On  a  day  when  goals flowed, the Seasiders  became  leading  scorers  hitting fourth-top Cleator Moor Celtic for five.
 
Their  hero  was Wayne Brooksby who celebrated his return from Australia with  a hat-trick.  Georgie  Rowlands  and Joe Danby also struck  with  Robbie  Fowler's strike no more than a consolation for the Cumbrians.
 
Houghton  Town,  who haven't conceded a goal in open play for five  games,  were another team to rack up five goals on  their visit to Guisborough Town HC.
 
Man of the match was Brad Freeman who was on target four times. Houghton's other goal  was  conceded  by  a defender and the two  which  Guisborough  netted  for themselves were both penalties converted by Jonathan Cairns.
 
Silksworth  conceded  five  goals  at home  to  second-bottom  Hartlepool  whose marksmen were Chris Archer, with a hat-trick, Daniel Corbett and Anthony Davis.
 
Willington  remain  at  the  basement after they too suffered a  5-0  defeat  at Teesside Athletic who are up to third to maintain their challenge for promotion.
 
Dale Mendum rifled a hat-trick with James Kesterton and Stuart Poulter adding to the woes of Willington who have leaked 87 goals, the most by any team.
 
Ashbrooke  Belford  House made it 11 goals in two games when  they  surprisingly romped home at Boldon CA, who had been in good form.
 
There  was  no  stopping Tommy Dobbing's side, however. Peter Benson  and  David Baxter each bagged a brace with Martin Deacon completing the scoring.
 
Five  goals were also recorded at Wolviston with Windscale scoring three of them courtesy  of  Kevin Oliver, Andrew Hurley and Rick Parnaby, with  a  last-minute winner. Lee Butterworth and Danny Shields replied.
 
No  fewer  than 33 goals were scored in six games but the remaining  fixture  at Kirkbymoorside  was  goal-less as Coxhoe Athletic, third from bottom,  gained  a useful point.
 
Easington  Colliery reached the Third Round of the Wearside League Cup defeating Annfield  Plain  3-2 thanks to goals from Chris Tarn, Robert Huntley  and  Haydn Pace. Graeme Wilson and Stephen Kirkbride kept the visitors in the tie until the final whistle.
 
Jarrow  went  out to New Marske whose matchwinners at Perth Green  were  Michael Mackin and Richard Playforth.