PELTON RAOB secured a second cup final success, with another on the
horizon.
by Ian Mackaskill Sunderland Echo.
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Pelton Roab |
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Brandon Sports |
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League Chairman Micheal Henderson presents the Man of the Match Award. |
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Match Officials |
The Castle Insurance Alan Smith Memorial Trophy final was a largely
disappointing affair, though, low on excitement at New Ferens Park and bereft
of chances.
Pelton were the
stronger side and played to their strengths against Brandon Sports Club, opting
for the long ball forward to their strikers.Set plays and long balls brought
all three goals in an ultimately convincing 3-0 victory, with Mark Peck making
the breakthrough for the Buffs on 25 minutes and Luke Kerry doubling the lead
nine minutes later.
Craig Mickle killed off Brandon with a third goal 10 minutes from time.
Brandon failed to create any clear chances and Pelton keeper Scott
Cresswell was only tested onceKeeper Rob Barron was Brandon’s star man, with
Matthew Smith getting the nod for Buffs.
Hetton Lyons Cricket Club completed their Premier Division championship
success with an unbeaten record of 17 wins and three draws.But they were held
to a 2-2 draw by visitors Pelton RAOB in their final match.Craig Price’s
penalty gave Lyons the lead on 28 minutes, and they looked good for a last-day
victory when Conor Winter doubled the advantage four minutes before the break.Buffs
rocked Lyons on the restart, though, and grabbed a point when Matthew Smith and
man of the match Craig Mickle pounced, with the equaliser coming three minutes
into stoppage time.Runners-up Sedgefield St Edmund’s eased to a 3-0 win at
relegated Coxhoe WMC, with Brian Fairhurst, with a 25-yard free-kick, Andrew
Beamson and Liam Parsons all scoring in the first half.
Washington Cross Keys confirmed a fifth-place finish by holding
champions Chilton WMC in the last match of the season in Division One.
Keys led, but they were pegged back by a Joe Cornbill strike. Michael
Searby was Chilton’s star man as they finished seven points clear of runners-up
Chester Britannia.
Dubmire WMC finished their campaign at the bottom of Division Two,
despite a deserved 3-2 last-day derby success at mid-table Houghton Wild Boar
All-Stars.
Houghton led 1-0 and 2-1 through Liam Lusk and sub Liam McKitten, but
Dubmire battled back both times to take all three points for only the third
time all season.
Stephen Donkin, Jake Croft and Jed Croft came up trumps for Dubmire,
whose star man was Mark Liddle.Boar keeper Sean Simpson made a couple of
excellent saves while Nick Thompson was their star man.Quarrington Hill WMC
deservedly saw off neighbours High Shincliffe Avenue 4-1 in Division Four, with
all the goals coming after half-time.
Hill dominated the first period without scoring, and they missed a
penalty before taking the lead.Shincliffe could count themselves unlucky,
putting all four goals conceded down to defensive mistakes, with Chris Winter,
sub Carl Tingley, Chris Kane and Charlie Fowler finishing off.Avenue pulled one
back when they were three down.
The goal came from a long ball forward from Craig Browne, who
ludicrously tried to claim Jeff Dean’s unfortunate own goal as his own. The
Hill defender attempted a clearance that looped over his goalkeeper.Simon
Coultas, in the Avenue goal, was once again their man of the match, pulling off
a string of great saves.Luke Tinkler shone for Hill.Newton Hall Jovial Monk
finished their season on a high with a 3-0 victory over Chester-le-Street AFC.
Newton Hall started strongly and created a few chances before finally
opening the scoring, when Anthony Hunton finishing a well-worked team goal.
Matt Williamson added a second soon after with a good individual goal
and finish.
Chester had plenty of the ball, especially early in the second half, but
never really threatened the home keeper and Monk sealed victory when star man
Matt Williamson, brought down on the edge of the box, dusted himself off and
powered home the free-kick for 3-0.
Lumley Snooker Club climbed to third place, above Houghton, with a 3-0
win in their final game, away to Washington Jays.Man of the match Ben Haddock,
Dan Young and Andrew Simpson all pounced.