Sunday 24th April

Buffs move into Top Spot

By Ground hopper

In the Only Game in the Premiership Pelton Looking to leapfrog Hetton Lyons Cricket Club into top spot travelled to Newton Aycliffe Wmc. Pelton took the game to Aycliffe from the start but were unable to create a good opportunity.Aycliffe gradually fought themselves into the match which was becoming a hard fought contest. There was a rush of goals in the last fifteen minutes of the first half. Aycliffe opened with two in two minutes from Ian Bussomworth and Dave Mason, before Pelton hit back with two goals from outside the penalty area from Craig Marron and  Anthony Davidson. The second half continued in the same competitive way, and it was Pelton who got the winner, ten minutes from the end, after a free kick into the box. A great team goal, finished off by Carl Ritchie with a right footed conversion from close range, following a Luke Kerry pass.

In the First Division Steelers FC lost their second game in a week as Sacriston WMC took all the points in this local derby. The visitors came to Langley Park sitting in a relegation spot but they thoroughly deserved to leave as victors. Steelers had the best of the first half exchanges and entered the break 1-0 thanks to Jamie Clifford’s 20th of the season. Kerry Moralee spotted that our two forwards were man for man with the defence and launched a long ball that ex Sacriston WMC player- Liam Burn headed on for JC to run onto and chip the keeper. Early in the second half the visitors applied pressure to our defence and a resulting corner was headed home by John Chapman to level the scores. A penalty late on sealed the points and this may be enough to keep Sacriston WMC safe. It was great match for the healthy crowd and Kieron Moralee was awarded MOM from the club with my selection going to Gary Varty. Gilesgate Moor Hotels run of poor results in division one continued with a 5-1 defeat at Washington Arms, two Andrew Elliot goals and one a piece for John Wilson, Steve Crame and Carlo Barrass doing the damage, substitute John Garr grabbing a late consolation goal. The Osborne Wmc won 4-1 at Barley Mow Inn. The Biddick were 7-1 winners at Ushaw Moor Cricket Club

In the Second Division Sedgefield Net park again had to shuffle the pack with a goalkeeper on the bench as they make the Journey to Waterhouses to Play Waterhouses Fc, Waterhouses were the better team in the 1st half creating the better chances but with Stephen Torrison in fine form in the Net park goal they were kept at bay it was Net park who took their chances leading at the interval, 2-1.

Waterhouses struck early in the 2nd half to equalise 2-2, the game went from end to end in the blistering heat. It was Net park who finally got control of the game netting two quick goals 4-2 then went further ahead after 80mins 5-2, Waterhouses scored a late consolation goal 5-3 (Net park scorers Turland 2, Pilling, Bland, M.Broom Coxhoe Wmc were 8-1 winners at Sherburn Lambton Arms. Chilton won 4-1 against Visitors Durham Bede Lodge.

In The Third Division New Durham Wmc Had There 12th Clean Sheet of the Season Beating Pittington 10 -0 Mark Wild Hitting 5 and Nicholas Marley   Andrew Ward. Daniel Chester and Michael Parker and Robert Allen Hitting the Other 5 for New Durham. The Bird Inn won 4-1 at Bishop Middleham Cross Keys, Chilton Lodge Lost 3-0 at Framwellgate Moor Wmc.Shadforth Plough Inn were 3-2 Home winners Over Chester Easy street. Pelaw Grange Travelled to Witton Gilbert Wmc, It was the Dogs who settled the better of the two teams but were making a few basic errors at the back which Witton Gilbert looked to take advantage of. It was Witton Gilbert who struck first going 1-0 up, playing quite effectively on the counter attack. Pelaw got their equaliser when a good ball into the box was headed down by Tippins for Worley to stroke home following a venture forward from left back. Pelaw then missed some very good chances and were disappointed not to be leading at half time. Early in the second half a mix up at the back for Pelaw saw a clearance fall to the edge of the box and the ball was immediately headed back to lob the keeper for the home side to go 2-1 up.  Pelaw got their second equaliser of the game when a cross from Donnelly caught everyone out and dropped in at the far post. Pelaw were searching for a winner and it came when a good cross into the far post broke for Tippins to calmly slot the ball into the top corner.

In the Fourth Division Chester Cricket Club entertained Washington Colliery in there final home game of the season, hoping to send the Cricketers faithful home happy in the final push for promotion. Manager Sam Marshall made 5 enforced changes, Steve Redshaw, Simon Masters, Andrew Robinson, Jon Sexton and Martin Guy returning to the side in the place of the missing Dan Irving, Chris Rayner, Chris Martin and the injured duo Ryan Pender and Lee Cuthbertson. The Cricketers  were on the front foot from the first kick of the game and didn’t take there foot off the gas for the whole of the first period, playing some glorious one touch football. The first goal arrived after ten minutes when after a good move down the right flank involving Davidson and Balfour, Martin Guy crossed for John Adamson to cleverly flick in with his head. The second arrived moments later when Ryan again made great progress down the right and his looping cross was heading into the net when Ab nipped in on the line to claim his second. Mid way through the half and it was three nil when a long punt upfield from keeper Jak Taylor bounced nicely for winger Jon Sexton to nod over the onrushing keeper and into an empty net. Martin Guy got the goal his performance deserved when he finished from just inside the box with his left foot and Michael Redshaw finished off the half with a deflected effort from on the left by-line. The 2nd half started as the first ended with the Home side thoroughly dominating and substitute Jon Haggerty grabbed his sides 6th when he finished well after being set up by Mick Red. Mick Red was then set up by Jon Sexton for the 7th and Hagg played a neat 1-2 with Martin Guy to complete the scoring and the match finished 8-0.

Quarrington Hill Wmc Travelled to Durham Garden House in A very entertaining game with both sides playing some excellent football.  Chris Winter opened the scoring for Quarrington Hill with a powerful header from a corner.  Garden House equalised from the spot on 15 minutes.  Gaz Walker made it 2-1 after taking the ball down superbly in the box with one touch and drilling a shot past the Garden House keeper. Dan Beaney made it 3-1 just before half time when Quarrington Hill was awarded a penalty.  Second half saw Quarrington Hill increase the lead to 4-1 when Lewis Newton finished from close range. Garden House replied with a well worked goal to make it 4-2 before Dan Beaney sealed the win with his second goal on 78 minutes. Langley Park Rams Head were 2-0 winners at New Brancepeth Wmc; Kelloe Davy Lamp lost 4-2 at Dubmire Wmc.