PELTON RAOB secured a second cup final success

PELTON RAOB secured a second cup final success, with another on the horizon.

by Ian Mackaskill  Sunderland Echo.

Pelton Roab

Brandon Sports

League Chairman Micheal Henderson presents the Man of the Match Award.

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.