Match Reports for week ending 14 November 2009
22/11/09 17:00 Filed in: Match Reports
Aquatic Sports entertained the Colonel Prior at Marley Potts in the TWR Trade Frames Premier Division with Aquatic knowing that a win would take them joint top of the league with the Jolly Potter. The game kicked off and both teams cancelled each other out in the first ten minutes. The first chance came to Aquatic forward Mark Fisk and he took it well with a cool left footed shot into the corner of the net to make it 1-0. The Prior then came to life with five minutes of pressure on the Aquatic goal and getting on level terms with a long ball over the top (with the ref not spotting two of their players offside), but the forward took the ball down and played it across the six yard box for the Prior centre midfielder John Spence to slot it home making it 1-1. With 15 minutes remaining to half time Aquatic went 2-1 ahead with a quick passing move down the right side and finished off with Hailstone just getting his toe to the cross making it 2-1 at half time. The second half started with both teams trying to find a way past each others defence. Aquatic trying to find a third goal had some good chances but the Prior keeper kept them at bay with some good saves and that must have lifted the Priors' players because with their next attack they made it 2-2. A well worked goal starting in midfield with some neat passing then a one two on the edge of the box with the forward Gary Adey making no mistake from 10 yards. With 20 minutes left either team could have won it and Aquatic must have thought they did when Scott Hailstone made it 3-2 wth a good finish but full credit to the Prior as they came back again to make it 3-3 when they were awarded a penalty after the left winger went on a good run and was brought down in the box for a penalty. The Prior ‘goalkeeper’ placed the ball on the spot and calmly slotted it into the corner of the net making it 3-3 and each team having to settle for a point. Prior were again missing big players for this league clash with aquatic, Richardson, Sanderson, Marsh and Major were out through injury or work commitments. But even so the prior put out an attacking team which produced one of there better displays this season but still conceded 3 soft goals. A game which either team could have won ended 3-3.
Blue House got a well deserved win over Hylton CW with the Blue House running them ragged. It was a grey day but it was made ‘Blue’ again with an excellent performance by the Blue House who started the game with a bang keeping Hylton defending as Blue House tried to take the lead and had a couple of good chance but the break through came from a corner when Brian Carter swung a great cross over to be met by centre back and man of the match Luke Morrow to net a thunderous header past the Hylton keeper to make it 1-0 Blue House. It wasn't long before Blue made it 2 when James Gilhesphy ran down the left wing crossed it in to be met at the front post by Martin (Ghandi) Hope to slot it past the keeper on his return game after a couple off games injured. Blue House should have finished the game by half time but didn't take their chance's. Half time Blue House 2-0 Hylton CW. Second half Blue House were still all over Hylton with some great passing and skill and still creating a lot of attempts on goal. Then it was game over when a lovley ball came over the top for Brian Carter to go 1 on 1 with the keeper to smash it into the back of the net to make it 3 and that’s how the game finished HYLTON CW 0-3 BLUE HOUSE FC. In the other remaining fixture in the Premier Division, Hendon FC were far too strong for local derby opponents Hendon Grange Global Gym, running out comfortable 5-2 victors. Kyle Sumner (2), Marcus Turnbull, Martin Jackson and Michael Welch were the scorers for the Grange.
Houghton Town carried on from last season and were knocked out of the Alan Hood Memorial Trophy early doors by first division opponents Colliery Tavern who quite simply battled harder, were more physical and wanted it more. Town were again without the inspirational Tony Harrison and with Stuart Archbold, Allan Carr, Paul Hamilton, David Jackson, Ian Brown & Paul Lamb also missing Town were down to only a squad of 15, Captain Kyle Lax and Striker Ian Mordey were only fit enough to start on the bench. Town got off to a decent start and were ahead within 10 mins when Dean Smith notched but that was as good as it got, after that we didn’t press, test the keeper and couldn’t string 2 passes together, Collery were also getting stuck in which some of us clearly didn’t fancy, the daft thing was Town’s back three of Agnew, Bowden and Day were all performing and defending very well and Tavern never looked like scoring until a freak goal just before half time, an ambitious 40 yard effort hit the bar and bounced up, Boardman got caught ball watching in goal and by his own admission was beaten too easy by the striker who headed home when the ball came down. The second half was much the same with Town again very poor and wasting the ball far too much and again never tested the keeper. Tavern went ahead with their first attack of the second half and that’s the way it stayed, only Hope with a good free-kick came close, Town tried a treble substitution on the hour with Mordey, Lax and Dorian coming on and going three up top but it got no better, infact it got worse as Mordey got crocked in a fair challenge and had to be carried off on 80 mins, a sad way for Mordey to end what was his last game before going into hospital for a major operation on Wed. After that the game died and only great defending by Town’s Bowden and an excellent Boardman save kept the score down!! Mark Robinson was man of the match for Colliery Tavern and Chris Day for Houghton. Jolly Potters were very confident going into their game against Chesters BB in the Alan Hood Memorial Trophy but were brought back down to earth by Nelly, Gaz and Basha telling them this was another game they had to work hard to win. The Potters took an early 2-0 lead and never really looked back with the game eventually finishing 6-0. In the windy conditions the Potters played football on the floor. Goal keeper Cullen kept feeding Robson and Lax and these played balls up the lines to Saunders and Grant who went at the Chesters defence the whole game. With Keithley and Wardle bossing the middle the Potters were comfortable. Up front McCabe and Wharton worked the Chesters back four hard and they both got their reward with a goal each. At the back Coomber and Dodds kept the Chesters front men quiet and Cullen didn't have much work to do. In the second half Potters shuffled things around, made 3 substitutions and Conlin, Cox and Walton slotted straight in and Potters could have added a few more goals. Scorers; Grant 2, Wharton, McCabe, Wardle, Lax.
The other game in the Alan Hood Memorial Trophy competition between Dawdon & Redhouse FC was abandoned due to Redhouse player, Ian Innes, breaking his fibia and tibia. On behalf of everyone within the league we wish Ian a full and speedy recovery. The game will now be replayed on 19/12/09.
The Cove entertained Travellers Rest in their TWR Commercial First Division game and with both teams starting the game brightly, a perfectly weighted through ball from David Oxley put Andrew Brown through to slip the ball past the visitor’s goal keeper to give the Cove the lead. Shortly afterwards, Travellers equalised through Brett Edwards to level the score 1-1 at half time. For the 2nd half The Cove made 2 changes, 1 in midfield and one on the right wing, The subs seemed to pay off as the cove took control of the game with good passing and excellent defending when needed. The cove soon took the lead again, a shot rebounded to Steven Halliday’s feet for a simple tap into put The Cove 2-1 up. The Traveller's continued to battle their way back and equalised following a good move to make it 2-2 through Jonathan Rowntree. The travellers rest soon went 2-3 a shot from there striker, our goal keeper equal with an exellent save, only for the ball to drop to Brett Edwards who smashed the ball in for his second and winning goal. The last ten minutes were played like a cup final, both teams having chances, the cove more so, piling on the pressure, fighting for every ball. It was a vast improvement on previous performances by The Cove witch gives them confidence going into their next fixtures. Usworth played host to Arms & City Coach Works and took an early lead through Lee Williams who, after a great solo run, rolled the ball under the advancing keeper. However their lead was short lived as the Arms got their act together and replied through Gordon Glendenning, Jake Baker (2) and Paul Bainbridge to take a comfortable lead. Usworth pulled another goal back through Golightly but it was too little too late, final score 2-4 to the coachworks. Washington Cricket Club took a break from league action today when they travelled to The Saltgrass in the 2nd round of the TWR Commercial League Challenge Cup with a few selections problems. Due to injuries and players missing there were opportunities for fringe players to stake their claim for a regular place in the team. Saltgrass kicked off in gusty conditions with the wind behind them, but immediately lost possession to James Douglas, who broke forward and saw his shot deflected for a corner. The swirling environment was giving both teams anxious moments with Phil Sykes dealing well with a vicious in-swinging corner which he tipped over from underneath the crossbar. Then in the 21st minute a slick move allowed Dan Clark to slip Phil Ingram into space, a good 1st touch and poised finish put the visitors into the lead. Washington taking control, created several opportunities, but the final ball and lack of control in the box kept Saltgrass in the tie. With half time approaching and the visitors seemly in command, a lack of concentration in the Washington back four allowed the home team back into the game. Indecision enabled the home forward to race clear and fire a shot passed the Washington keeper from 20 yards. H.T. 1-1. The second half started with Washington raising the tempo. With the wind behind them they created numerous openings, the best being a header from Dan Clark from a corner being cleared off the line with the keeper beat. Eventually the pressure told and Washington took the lead when an accurate ball in from the left ultimately fell to David Laidler to clinically fire the ball into the top corner. Washington in ascendency now settled the tie with a third from Gavin Pine. Intelligent procession on the left allowed Anthony Dixon into the box to fire a shot that was well saved by the keeper only for Gav Pine to follow up and kill the tie as a contest. Washington without being at their best still had enough in their locker to see off a spirited Saltgrass performance and will be in the hat for the next round draw. F.T. 1-3 WCCFC.
After last weeks comfortable victory Country Park Inn came up against a Cambridge side looking determined to take maximum points in their First division fixture. Paul Stokoe with a hat trick and Liam Richardson were the scorers for Cambridge. Keith Robinson and Anthony Mallin replied for CPI.
In the other remaining fixtures, Sassco defeated Hylton Colliery Juniors 5-3, and Times Inn defeated Park View 5-2.
At the recent league management meeting welcomed a new team, East Durham Spartans, into the league. They will play their first fixture away to The Saltgrass on Saturday 28th November.