Dans Pilling Driver sees off Ferryhill

By Groundhopper

In the Quarter Finals of the League Cup sponsored By Spennymoor Town Fc; Second Division Sedgefield Net Park entertained Premier League Side Ferryhill Wmc. In a very close game Net Park edged it winning 4-3,. The scores level at 3-3 Stephen Turland scoring twice for the Net Park and One Goal from Dan Pilling, then the Game settled by a ridiculous 20 yard overhead kick that made Rooneys look average!! Dan Pilling scoring from 20 Yards with and Overhead Kick Final score Sedgefield Net Park 4-3 Ferryhill WMC the Other Game between Pelaw and Pelton ROAB was off Due to a Waterlogged Pitch

In the 5th round of the Alan Smith Trophy sponsored by Castle Insurance Ltd, Framwellgate Moor Wmc pitch was declared unplayable so the Tie was Transferred to Hetton Lyons Cricket Club Home Pitch at Murton.Third Division side Framwellgate Moor Wmc found The Premier League Leader Hetton Lyons Cricket Club to strong as Hetton Lyons dominated the majority of the game and had plenty of chances before they got their first goal in the 25th minute when Jason Ainsley was fouled in the penalty area and Keith Graydon scored from the penalty spot 1-0. Nicky Kane scored two goals his first came in the 53rd minute with a great strike that gave the keeper no chance, then seven minutes later with some great work in midfield from Ainsley who then threaded a ball through to Kane and he calmly slotted the ball home to make it 3-0.Jason Ainsley was in the thick of it again when his 30 yard pass to Chris Lawther and he squared it to Warren Byrne to make it 4 -0. Fram Moor came close to scoring minutes later but a brilliant save from Simon Bishop denied them. Byrne got his second of the game in the 83rd minute a quality ball from Tommy English and Warren Byrne's strike smashed in to the net 5-0.

In the First Round of the Ramside Hall Hotel Cup Winners Trophy the, Draw created a Chester le Street Derby. The Osborne Wmc entertaining Easy street, a scrappy game that saw both teams unable to pass the ball like they wanted. The Osborne enjoyed most of the first half possession but it never came to anything. The Second Half was the same at the First both side cancelling each Other out in Midfield with Both Keepers rarely called upon to make a Save. The Osborne broke the deadlock in the 85 min a Long Ball forward Found Lloyd McGee unmarked who dully lobbed the Easy street Keeper Mark Middlemas to Give the Osborne a 1-0 Lead, This Fired the Easy street into action with The Osborne Keeper Steve Barnes having to make two Good saves, also the Osborne Full Back Ben Connolly had to kick a Easy street shot of the Line with Barnes well beat, Final Score 1-0 to the Osborne.

In the 2nd Round of the D and P Trophies Sponsored Knock out Trophy at the Riverside Chester-le-Street produced an exiting seven goal encounter between Chester Plough Inn and the Washington Arms. The Arms took the lead almost from the kick off, Darren Green heading home a corner. Daniel Hill thumped the ball home ten minutes later to level the score but within two minutes Chris Morrison restores the Arms lead, further Arms goal from Steve Crame and a spot kick from Danny Murray sees the Arms cruise into the half time break. The second half opens brightly for the Plough; Mark Atchinson makes it 2-4 on the sixty minute mark and twenty minutes later Aaron Sheriff puts the Plough right back into the game, and however stout defending by the Arms sees them through to the next round. Langley Park Steelers FC progressed through to the third round of the Knockout Trophy with a 5-4 win in extra time. In what was a scintillating match against Pelton FC the one goal in extra time was enough to see the home side as victors. Pelton took the first initiative when they scored a brilliant goal from the left by-line and it stayed that way until the half time whistle. Steelers FC rallied back in the second 45 with four goals out of the seven scored with the first coming from Jamie Clifford to level the match. The home side then took a 2-1 lead with a solo effort from Ben Harris and then again to make it 3-2 with a Craig Thompson one on one with the keeper after Pelton had equalised once more. The visitors levelled yet again at 3-3 before taking the lead in the final stages to push Steelers all the way. With 4 minutes left on the clock the skipper ventured forward to meet a Craig Thompson corner and head us level to take the match into extra time. Robert Russell had a top game for Pelton FC and was named as their MOM but it was the Steelers skipper who received the MOM accolade from the visitors as he broke the deadlock and their hearts in the second 15 with another header from a Thompson corner that was flicked on by Liam Burn. Although, not a good day for any supporter as it was pretty cold but those that stuck it out certainly watched an entertaining game that was played in great spirit.Framwellgate Moor Salutation Travelled to Quarrington Hill Wmc, an pitch Inspection because of the weather was ok when the Referee deemed the pitch Playable. The Salutation started slow and could not string any passes together to get in to the game. This allowed Quarrington Hill to dominate the early exchanges, but failed to score. This carried on for the most half till The Salutation began to put more than 2 passes together. The change in game resulted in the first goal coming from Paul Innes. A good passage of play down the right led to the ball being played across with Paul Innes hitting it from the edge of the box past the Quarrington Hill Wmc Keeper keeper. To give the Salutation a 1-0 lead at Half Time. In the Second half saw Steve Hughes coming on for injured Innes, and within a few minutes Andrew Harle had played the ball through and with a great first touch by Hughes he slotted low past the home keeper. The third goal for the Salutation came soon after from skipper David Smith. It was something he has tried a couple of times already this season without any joy. A near post run from a corner and a glancing shot, this time taking a couple of slight touches on the way in to the net. The game carried on in the same vain, although the home team did start to pile a bit more pressure on after they made a couple of substitutions. This resulted in a penalty being awarded after a harsh challenge by substitute Dave Armstrong. This ended in a red card for the away side’s player, and also a goal for Quarrington Hill. There wasn’t long left in the game after that, Dan Beaney grabbed a consolation penalty goal with two minutes remaining for Quarrington Hill.The score could have been a Lot more but for some Cracking saves from the Home Keeper Doc Clewes.The Final score Quarrington Hill 1 Fram Moor Salutation 3. Coxhoe Wmc were 7-1 home winners over West Rainton Fc.

In the Tie Carried Over from Last Week Lumley Fc entertained Sacriston Wnc in the First Round of the Competition, The road to Wembley (well New Ferens Park) began at Lumley Park.Vistors Sacriston wmc took an early lead thanks to a superb finish. But the hosts, Lumley fc rallied & levelled when Alex Malcolm nodded home from a corner. With the scores level at half time, the second half began with chances at both ends. When Alan Thompson broke and played a 40 yard pass to Alex Malcolm who finished to make it 2-1. Only for Sacriston to level. The game went into extra time. With neither team able to find a break through and penalty's looming Sean Henderson was able to race clear, score & win the game for Lumley FC

In the Bishop Auckland Heart Foundation Trophy Kelloe Wmc entertained Darlington Sunday League Side Darlington Haughton Grey Horse a decent game which was played on a very heavy Field both teams weren't at 100% and you could tell that on the pitch with a host of missed chances. Haughton had the better opening of the game and should have taken chance when they came but as the game wore on Kelloe started passing the ball well and took control of the match and played some good football, then a goal for Kelloe with 8 mins to go, put Kelloe into the Next Round .Two sides from the League met each Other Premier League Side Brandon Bay Horse Travelled to First Division side Houghton Comrades. Houghton just about deserved their victory after a slow start from the Bay Horse, The Comrades 2-0 after30mins however Brandon had a few good chances in the first half without really testing the keeper.2nd half the Bay Horse on top but Houghton Comrades still looked comfortable and Defended well .The Bay Hose got 1 back with 20 minutes left and also missed a last min pen. Final score 2-1 to the Comrades.

In the Premier Division the Only Game Played saw Sedgefield st Edmunds beat Visitors Sacriston Cricket Club 3-1,The Cricket Club started the game ok and they created a few promising situations in and around the Sedgefield area without getting any worthwhile shots on there goal, the weather conditions and the state of the pitch were not conducive to playing good football and at least the Cricketers were trying to play football the passes were not sticking and Sedgefield played the conditions better with a much more direct style of play.On 35 minutes Sedgefield went 1-0 up following a header from a corner which squirmed underneath Marc Hall in the Sacriston goal with Marc Baden having lost his man .Half time came and went and then on 47 minutes Sedgefield went 2-0 up when Dean Smith miss judged the flight of the ball and allowed his man to get in on goal and his shot was well saved and the danger seemed to have passed with Sacriston getting men back to defend but the same Sedgefield player managed to get hold of the ball and smash a shot in at the near post from a tight angle.On 64 minutes the Cricketers did get one back when Rob Draper headed in Gary Draper's corner at the far post but a minute later Sedgefield went urther ahead when John Robson hesiatated in defence and allowed the Sedgefield forward to take the ball into the box where he found himself one on one with the keeper and he finished superbly into the bottom right corner. Sedgefield had further chances to extend there lead when Brian Fairhurst hit the post from a tight angle which was well saved by Cricketers Keeper Hall.Final score 3-1 to Sedgefield

In the First Division Birtley Barley Mow Inn were 2-1 winners at Burnside Wmc, Ushaw Moor Cricket Club crashed to a 6-3 Home defeat from Visitors Gilesgate Moor Hotel, After losing 8-0 the previous week Houghton Mill All Stars bounced back with a fine 1-0 win against Fatfield Biddick Inn, this was a good competitive game throughout played in great spirit by both sides. The only goal of the game was after fifty minutes - Mill's Chris Rogerson brought the ball out of defence and made a neat pass to David Jane on the left wing. Jane crossed the ball into the goal area where an attempted clearance by the Biddick defence fell to David Hall lurking on the eighteen yard line. Hall fired the ball goalwards and into the net off the inside of the post.

In the Third Division East Rainton FC travelled to High Handenhold to play the Bird Inn, in a very entertaining game East Rainton beat High Handenhold Bird FC 6-3 in an epic division 3 clash. Steve Spence with a hat trick, Jon Gaunt with 2 and Steve Shepherd did the damage for East Rainton.Houghton Chilton Lodge were 3-1 winners at Bishop Middleham Cross Keys .New Durham Wmc won their 8th league game of the season beating local rivals Bowburn Cooperage 8 -1, New Durham kicked against a blustery wind first half but still went in at Half Time 2-1 up, second half, New Durham took control of the game and scored a further six goals to take another 3 points

In the Fourth Division Games at Durham Garden House and Burnmoor were cancelled due to Waterlogged Pitches, Chester Cricket Club entertained Dubmire Wmc; But the Misfiring Cricketers lost 4-1. Despite taking an early lead through Simon Masters, a disappointing first half performance saw Dubmire go in 2-1 up at half time. There was an improved second half performance from the Cricketers, but as they pushed forward to try and find an equaliser Dubmire struck twice more to round off a deserved victory. Langley Park Rams Head lost 8-5 at Ferryhill Dynamo’s. Washington Colliery took on top of the league New Brancepeth Wmc , only just managing to get 11 players, With many players playing 1st games and out of position the individual and team performances were more important than the result which is just aswell as New Brancepeth won 6-0. From a Colliery point of view the game had 3 major talking points..... 1- Mark Smith's excellent save of a goalbound header....... 2- Craig Neal's last minute MISSED penalty........ 3- Paul Short's 35 yard volley which flew into the back of the net, unfortunately though it was into his own net.