Sunday 7th Feb 2016

Wild Boar All-Stars denied at the death by never-say-die Seniors

Houghton Wild Boar All-Stars were desperately unlucky not to come away with three points at Durham County Seniors in Division One.

Two minutes into the game, Durham caught the visiting defence napping to open the scoring, but Nick Thompson equalised midway through the half .County regained the lead by the break, but a Thompson header levelled it up in the second half, then Karl Anderson fired home on 75 minutes to give Boar a 3-2 lead.Houghton had chances to seal a win – Shaun Corner shot at the keeper when he was through on goal and Thompson narrowly missed a wonderful, low cross from Liam Lusk.But Houghton were made to pay for their missed efforts when Durham hit a 90th-minute equaliser at 3-3.

Josh Gregory, Mark Hughes and sub Ryan Huntley bagged County’s goals.

Defender Daniel Johnston starred for Wild Boar.

Leaders Whitehills handed out a 4-1 defeat to visitors Coxhoe Red Lion.

The home side went two up in the first half, thanks to goals from Ryan Grayson and Joe Whelan, who scored with a superb free-kick.

Red Lion pulled one back just before half-time, before man-of-the-match keeper Stephen Turnbull had made some great saves to keep Whitehills in charge.

Whitehills dominated the second half and goals from James Cattell and Stephen Fisher put the game beyond doubt. Richard Cousins returned from 18 months out injured, and they were delighted with the debut display of Gareth Patterson.

Ferryhill Dynamoes shared the spoils with New Brancepeth WMC in a 1-1 draw.

Brancepeth started well on a very heavy pitch and went ahead when Adam Purvis slid the ball under keeper John Cavanagh.Brancepeth had another good spell in the early stages of the second half, but they passed up four clear chances and Ferryhill capitalised, getting a foothold in the game and creating opportunities of their own.Goalie Anthony Sowerby was outstanding in keeping Dynamoes at bay, but the home side finally levelled with a Josh Gash header from a corner.Late on, Brancepeth had a penalty appeal waved away.

Kurt Seymour shone for Ferryhill.West Rainton were taught a lesson in a 6-1 hammering from visitors Waldridge Park.Washington Sandpiper saw off Ouston Cherry Tree 4-2, handing their visitors a first league defeat.Sandpiper were four up before Tree rallied with strikes from Richard Brennan and Paul Chilton.

Framwellgate Moor WMC romped to a 7-1 win over Ferryhill Community Hub in Division Two.Ian Field plundered a hat-trick, supported by braces from Lewis Coburn and James Smith to move Moor three points ahead at the top, though Ferryhill Celtic have four games in hand.

Ushaw Moor Cricket Club were fired up from the start as they outgunned third-top Bede Lodge SC 3-1.Bede Lodge, though, opened the scoring against the run of play, with Daniel Mann on target, but the home side quickly equalised through Stevan Storey.

Ushaw Moor continued to dominate and sealed victory with further efforts from star man Paul Taylor and Andrew Smith, direct from a corner.

Andrew Bell shone for Bede, who will look for revenge this weekend.

In Division Four, Witton Gilbert Travellers Rest enjoyed a very comfortable 6-0 victory over Durham Buffaloes Head.

Early pressure brought an opener, Dan Cooke tapping in from Paul Finnigan’s pass, and Cooke doubled the lead from close range from another good move.

Witton continually attacked in the second half, and Cooke completed his hat-trick, coolly slotting home after timing his run to beat the offside trap.

David Calcutt added a fourth before Buffaloes had a man sent off for swearing at the referee. An own goal and a sixth from Scott Bradley completed the scoring.

Lumley stormed four goals up by half-time before easing up in the second half in a 5-3 win over Bearpark.

Daniel Jowett, Jack Howey, Ross Melvin and Scott Foster had Lumley on easy street.

But Bearpark’s young side battled well, pulling two goals back before Howey notched his second and Lumley’s fifth. Bearpark – whose scorers were Craig Bennett, Adam Flatley and Jack Bainbridge – grabbed a late consolation.

Jonny Cossar starred for Lumley.

Newton Hall Jovial Monk edged a 2-1 win at Durham Federation.

Monk went 1-0 up inside three minutes with a superb individual goad from Adam Baister, who cut in from the left and fired home off the post from 20 yards.

It was 2-0 on 20 minutes, Matthew Williams coolly sending the keeper the wrong way from the penalty spot after David Wile was fouled inside the box.

Both sides huffed and puffed on a pitch which cut up before Fed’s Matt Wilkie managed a late consolation.

Jack Avery shone for Monk.

Durham County were flattered by their 4-0 success at home to Washington Jays in an excellent Third Division game.

Leaders County created more chances to sink a powerful, well-organised visiting side.

Jack Carr, sub Ben Reed, Stanley Ogunsuyi and man of the match Craig Mountain grabbed the crucial goals.

Lumley Snooker Club turned on the style to romp to an 11-1 drubbing of second-placed Houghton.Newton Aycliffe WMC progressed in the Durham County Sunday Cup, beating Boldon Shack 2-0 to reach the last eight.

It was an even game throughout, but Aycliffe created more chances. They opened the scoring on seven minutes when Jordan Lavery fired in from 30 yards over the heads of a stranded goalkeeper and defence.

Boldon pushed forward in the second half, without a clear strike on the Aycliffe goal, and the home side should have put the game beyond their reach.

The killer second goal came five minutes from time, following a corner, when Mark Wood fired home from 20 yards past the unsighted Boldon keeper.

They next meet Norton George & Dragon.

Pelton RAOB clinched a semi-final place thanks to a comfortable 5-1 defeat of East Stanley WMC.

Burnside WMC won through to the JD Taxis Guards Cup final, beating neighbours Houghton Chilton Lodge 3-1 away.

Lodge went out with a whimper.

Two goals in two minutes, a debatable penalty from Craig Ellison and a close-range Kriss Jobbing strike, had Burnside ahead at the break.

A third goal from sub Grant Craig, from Paul Gardner’s rasping ball across the six-yard box, sealed victory before sub Ross Meenaghan fired a late penalty reply.

Jon Jordison starred for Burnside.

Chilton WMC clinched their place in the Stonebridge Inn League Cup final, securing a 5-2 victory at Chester Park Inn.

Star man Nicky Pickford stole the show with a well-taken hat-trick, backed by efforts from Steven Clough and Vinny Gash.

Kelloe WMC, a side down on their luck, were battered by Middlestone Moor Masons Arms in an 8-1 drubbing in the Bishop Auckland Heart Foundation Trophy.

Jake Kidwell scored his first senior goal as a consolation for the hosts, whose star man was Michael ‘Casper’ Graham.

Sacriston Cricket Club pipped Chester Garden Farm 4-3, while Pelaw Grange Dogs beat Ferryhill Celtic 2-1 and Sherburn outgunned Yarm George & Dragon 8-2.