Sunday 21st Feb 2016

Houghton Town moved five points clear at the top of the Premier Division, beating second-top Sacriston Cricket Club 1-0 for a ninth win in 11 league matches.

It always looked as though one goal could win the game, and so it proved. Both teams had chances, but Lee McBeth produced a calm finish, after a good build-up and cross from Kyle Davis, to clinch all three points.

Houghton had Callum Munro sent off for a bad challenge after just 20 minutes, with David Vincent star man. Shaun Gregory stood out for Sacriston.

Burnside WMC had to come from a goal down to defeat Washington Jays 3-1 in Division Three.

The hosts found themselves 1-0 down after two minutes when the ball wasn’t closed down fast enough and Jays’ left winger hit a shot from outside the box into the bottom corner, giving keeper Darren Moody no chance.

Burnside rallied well, creating a host of chances before finally levelling when Max Stoker netted from close range.

Burnside started the second half well and went ahead with an Elliot Cutts strike, and their impressive display was rewarded with a third goal, sub Kriss Jobling hammering home from close range to effectively kill the game off at 3-1.

Lewis Turnbull starred for Burnside.

Durham County outgunned visitors Quarrington Hill WMC 5-1 in a hard-fought game, with the fitter hosts coming out on top.

Star man Craig Mountain and Andrew Bartle both notched twice, with Alex Hird also on target.

Dubmire WMC fought gamely in a 4-4 thriller at home to Chester Garden Farm, with a last-minute Elsdon Thompson penalty levelling it up.

James Gardiner, Mark Liddle and James Murray also notched for Dubmire. Two-goal Tom Wray, Bailey Hunter and Scott Howe responded.

Chester-le-Street AFC edged a 1-0 win at Sedgefield Social Club, who arguably looked the better side for much of the game.

Andy Graham fired home the only goal with a left-footed shot in off the post on the hour mark, capitalising to rob a dallying defender.

New boy Fraser Storie capped his debut with a man-of-the-match performance.

Joe Burns shone for Sedgefield.

Eppleton Cricket Club enjoyed a Charlie Ord double as they outgunned Durham Buffaloes Head 5-1 in Division Four.

Aaron Grierson, Michael Ambler and Barry Appleton also struck as Eppleton never looked back from a slick start, with sub Samuel Morris replying right on time. Simon Booth stood out for Buffaloes.

Lumley hit back from an early deficit to win 4-1 at Ouston Juniors to go top.

Matty Cornish blasted home from the edge of the box for Ouston, but Dave Lucas. hauled the visitors level, then Ross Melvin put them 2-1 up at half-time, though it could have been an own goal from Danny Lawlor.

In a tight game, Lumley counter-attacked well and star man Lucas scored twice late on to complete his hat-trick.

Bowburn pipped Witton Gilbert Travellers Rest 3-2 in an entertaining game in difficult conditions.

Bowburn took a seventh-minute lead with a well-taken strike from Eddie Carr into the bottom corner, but Witton equalised by the interval.

Carr’s second goal restored the lead, finishing off a cross-shot by Lee Jennings at the far post after his initial effort was saved.

Witton equalised with a volley from the edge of the area, setting up a thrilling finale. Bowburn won it in the 87th minute with Daniel Crisp placing his 20-yard free-kick into the top corner .

Philip Spencer starred for Bowburn.

Chester Park Inn bolstered their survival push with a 3-1 win over Houghton Wild Boar All-Stars in Division One.

Paul Corlett fired home a well-taken double to lift the hosts off the bottom of the table, with sub Chris Waistell also on target. Lewis Holmes shone for Park Inn.

Some excellent shot stopping from Houghton keeper Sean Simpson kept the scoreline down. For Boar’s goal,Shaun Corner collected a long pass from Philip Thompson on halfway and ran on to shoot home.

Dean Clark rattled the post as Boar looked to level late on, but an 80th-minute striker sealed Park Inn’s win.

West Rainton and Houghton Chilton Lodge shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw.

Chilton Lodge led for most of the game thanks to a first-half goal from Ross Meenaghan.

Ian Davidson starred for Chilton, leading the back four, however he was unable to prevent Rainton’s Andrew Hope equalising with virtually the final kick off the game.

That dropped Lodge to bottom spot.

Third-top Durham County Seniors drew 1-1 with New Brancepeth WMC, who had Anthony Bussey grabbing the visitors’ goal but they rued a series of missed chances and felt they should have been three up at half-time. Mark Hughes levelled from the penalty spot.

Adam Purvis produced another man of the match performance for Brancepeth. Keeper David Pritchard was County’s star man.

Coxhoe Red Lion won 2-1 at Washington Sandpiper.

Washington were denied a 30-second opener by a fine Thomas Orton save, but Stephen Burns did give them the lead after a defensive mistake.

Coxhoe, though, rallied well to level through Jordan Stannard, and he later grabbed the winner. Adam Strong missed a golden opportunity to make it 3-1.

Framwellgate Moor WMC twice came from behind to draw 2-2 with visitors Langley Park to stay top in Division Two.

In a game between two decent sides, Stephen Clifford’s brace had Langley one up and 2-1 ahead, but the hosts recovered each time, through Nick Kitching and Lewis Coburn. Langley could have snatched victory late on, but had three efforts cleared off the line in a sensational final minute.

Kieron Moralee starred for Langley, with David Pratt best for Moor.

Ferryhill Celtic romped home 8-1 at Kelloe WMC as they consolidated second place, with four games in hand on the leaders.

Jonathan Agar fired a hat-trick, with the other goals shared around by Jason White, Nathan Lawson, Marco Linhart, John Makepeace and sub Dale Eltringham. Keeper Kris Carr starred.

Jonathan Smith hit Kelloe’s consolation.

Pittington succumbed 3-1 at home to High Handenhold Bird Inn.

Marc Wood, Thomas Illingworth and Jonathan Swift (penalty) did the damage, despite red cards for Swift and Stuart Ainsworth.

Bishop Middleham drew 3-3 at Ferryhill Community Hub.

Washington Cricket Club progressed in the JD Taxis Guards Cup with a 3-1 third round success at home to Hetton New Inn.

Keith Finch produced another man of the match performance for battling New Inn, who led thanks to a Kieron Hartill strike.

Sherburn knocked Pelton Crown out of the Stonebridge Inn League Cup, winning 3-1 away from home.

The margin of victory flattered the Premier Division side slightly, with Crown putting in an excellent performance.

Man of the match Kris Lawton replied to strikes from James Ellis (2) and Craig McManus, with Josh Ashcroft-Brown their star man.

Newton Aycliffe WMC cruised into the semi-finals of the Durham County Sunday Cup following an 8-1 drubbing of Norton George & Dragon.

Despite missing three of their main strikers, Aycliffe were 3-0 up after 15 minutes. through Connor Hughes, Aaron Wright and Corey Nicholson.

Norton never recovered and Mark Wood scored a brilliant solo fourth right on half-time.

The Teessiders came out fired up for the second half but Jordan Lavery’s 52nd-minute goal thwarted the fightback. Norton pulled a goal back, but Aycliffe went on to get three more through Luke Black, Stuart Owen and Nicholson.

Sedgefield St Edmund’s eased home 6-0 against Pelaw Grange Dogs to reach the final of the Castle Insurance Alan Smith Memorial Trophy.

The switch to a 4G pitch at Stanley suited Saints better, and they made the breakthrough when Brian Fairhurst converted a 25th-minute penalty.

Five goals capped a classy second-half display, with John Maddison (2), Jamie Dalton, Andrew Beamson and a 25-yard screamer from Kevin Hodgson doing the damage.

In the Bishop Auckland Heart Foundation Trophy, Pelton RAOB saw off Newton Aycliffe Navy Club 3-1, while Brandon Sports were good 3-0 victors at Tow Law.