By Groundhopper

Hetton Lyons Cricket Club Entertained Canada from the Liverpool Sunday Football League In the FA Carlsberg Sunday Cup 2nd Round at The Brewery Field in Spennymoor .The game itself almost had a late kick-off as the visitors arrived late due to Traffic, but despite the Canada Officials asking to delay the Kick Off, the Three Match officials didn’t bow to pressure and the match kicked off on time.

Hetton Named the Following Side team; Finch, Ryan, Mason, Dodd’s, Dixon , Capper(Toft), Ruddy, GrayDon(Ainsley), Byrne, Lawther(Cogdon), Waite    subs not used Bishop(gk), Roulston,

 Hetton Lyons Cricket Club dominated from start to finish but it took a while for them to find the back of the net, first real chance of a goal came after 25 minutes when a shot from 18 yards and Steve Capper hitting the post, 5 minutes later with some good work from Craig Ruddy and Warren Byrne who squared the ball to Keith Graydon but his shot was well wide of the goal, shortly after that Chris Lawther saw his shot from some distance go wide of the goal. In the 43rd minute Keith Graydon hit the ball wide to Steve Capper who sprinted up the left wing and crossed the ball for Chris Lawther to put the ball wide of the Canada keeper and into the back of the net.   The halftime 1-0. to Hetton.

The second half started and the Lyons were much quicker and better passing and in the 48th minute a cross from Craig Ruddy and a header from Warren Byrne beat the keeper 2-0. In the 53rd minute Byrne collected the ball beat the defender and saw his shot saved from the goalkeeper and Chris Lawther scored from the rebound to make it the 3-0. Chris Lawther got his hat-trick on the hour mark with some great work from Ruddy and Graydon to lay the ball off to Lawther to put it past the visiting keeper 4-0. Lawthers fourth goal after 72nd minute was the pick of the bunch, substitute Jason Ainsley's sublime pass to Chris Lawther who turned and hit it and the goalkeeper had no chance 5-0, with 5 minutes left on the clock substitute Gavin Cogdon beat 3 defenders and was then up ended by the keeper and from the penalty kick Cogdon sent the goalkeeper the wrong way. Full time  6-0.to Hetton Lyons

A good solid performance from the Lyons with the defence of Mason, Dixon and captain Leon Ryan containing the Canada attack and keeper Keith Finch having the occasional save to make Hetton were too strong for the Liverpool side.

The Lyons have been handed an away tie in the third round and no surprises They are off to Liverpool to either Poulton Royal or JOB FC, the third time we have played a Merseyside  based club this season, Poulton are a Wallasey side in the Wallasey and District Sunday League and JOB FC play in the Liverpool Business Houses League. 

In the Alan Smith Memorial Trophy 3rd Round Sponsored by Castle Insurance Pelton Roab produced their best performance of the Season as they entertained last Seasons Premier League Champions Kelloe Wmc the Referee handled the game very well and deserves a mention. In a Very Tight Game Kelloe Wmc Took the Lead on 16 Mins , Pelton Continued to battle on and there patience paid of in the 58 min Ryan Drummand latched on to a Through ball from Michael Graver and Drummand Lobbed the Kelloe Keeper. On67 min the
Referee blew for a foul in the box, and Michael Graver slotted home the Free Kick with a fine left footed finish. Pelton sealed the Game in the 75 min - Ryan Drummand scored His second of the Game to Give Pelton a 3-1 Home win. Newton Aycliffe wmc also progressed to next round winning 5-2 at Home to Chester Osborne Wmc

In the JD Taxis Trophy Lumley Crashed to a 3-1 away Defeat to Fourth Division Club Framwellgate Moor Wmc .Sedgefield Black Lion were 5-2 Home winners Over Shadforth Plough Inn. East Rainton Travellers Rest entertained   Sedgefield NETPark Sedgefield Net Park a much depleated squad due To Injuries the squad comprising mainly of defenders the lads arrived at Rainton for what would be one of their hardest games of the season so far. A much changed East Rainton side warmed up for a full 30mins before the game and looked a far more organised outfit than in previous seasons. Netpark won toss and immediately took control with particularly good link up play down the right hand side involving Burke, Dickenson, Bagshaw and Turland. Several excellent chances went begging before Sedgefield were awarded a somewhat dubious penalty for what looked like an excellent tackle. Dickenson put the penalty away and soon after Joe Burke joined the season’s goals corers by slotting home the 2nd from a Sheppherdson pull back. Sedgefield continued to press forward much to the frustration of the EastRainton .

Then following a Great move from Sedgefield which involved virtually every player in the team passing and moving sweetly, Turland struck the post. Tommy Hotchkiss quickly got the ball forward and a low cross was hit into the Net park box, bizarrely and very unexpectedly the referee blew his whistle and pointed to the spot, claiming the ball had struck the arm of the Chris Lines. The penalty was dispatched and within minutes a more decisive East Rainton carved out another good chance. Rob Earnshaw was somehow out jumped and the on East Rainton centre forward rounded the Net park Keeper  and stroked the ball towards an empty net only to see it cleared by the a Net park Defender . The Second half saw East Rainton have the better of the play and missed a couple of really good chances. Then enter the battle of the Goalkeepers as Tommy Hotchkiss the East Raintom Keeper made a fabulous save from Joe Burke’s header. Not to be undone though Darren Bill made 3 or 4 wonderful saves one of them I can’t believe he saved it a firm shot from close range looked to be flying in but Billy flung himself and somehow tipped it over the bar. It was a fairly close affair but minutes from the end Mally Dickenson latched onto a cross which fell to the edge of the box and he thrashed a half volley low beating the keeper as the defender tried to clear could only help it on into the roof of the net. Net Park held out for the remaining 5 minutes with the Final score East Rainton  2-3 Net Park this Puts Net Park into the quarter finals of the cup.


In the First Round of the Deerness Driveways Trophy Chester Easy Street chalked up another cup win as they demolished visitors and fellow Fourth division side Quarrington Hill.wmc 7-2 with several key players missing due to other commitments, Easy Street only had 12 fit players available.

Easy Street started off in abysmal fashion and were lucky they weren't playing a stronger team otherwise they would have been behind early on. They did however take an undeserved lead when Anthony Davison’s back heel found Steven Marriott and his sliced shot beat the keeper via the post.

It was Marriott’s first competitive goal for over 6 years and it was only start for Easy Street.

They doubled their lead soon after when another fancy back heel from Davison released Craig Mickle who coolly slotted the ball past the goalkeeper. Quarry Hill provided an immediate response with the number 9 slipping past David Cowan and curling a left foot effort towards the Easy Street goal. Fortunately keeper James Davidson was on hand to tip the ball wide at full stretch.

With Quarry Hill getting back into the game, Easy Street went in search of the game killing goal and it was David Hope who put them 3-0. Some great play by top scorer Mickle, saw him beat two players and slip the ball into Hope who then smashed the ball past the goalkeeper from the angle.

It was 4-0 soon after with Mickles stinging left footed free kick, too hot to handle, with the keeper palming the ball in the path of Mark Peck who bundled the ball over the line. Davison then got himself on the score sheet as Cowan’s ball allowed the winger plenty of time to bear down on goal and measure his finish to make it 5-0 before half time. Half time came and Easy Street were firmly on top but not playing to their usual standard and definitely needed to get out of second gear.

Chris Cairns was replaced by Stephen Wood with Mark Peck moving to left back and it was Peck who swung the ball into the box for Davison who bundled home his second and Easy Streets 6th of the match. But some defensive blunders allowed Quarry Hill to regain some pride as they got a goal back. A ball in from the right was misjudged by Marriott who let the ball run under his feet and the Quarry Hill number 9 tapped in. But Easy Street did manage to make it seven with 15 minutes to go. Corletts run up the right saw him receive the ball from Glen Taylor and his pull back created space for Mickle to turn the defender and curl an unstoppable shot into the bottom left corner for his second goal.

 But it was Quarry Hill who had the last laugh on proceedings as they struck their second with a few minutes left on the clock. Poor play by Cowan allowed the Quarry Hill number 9 to float a cross in towards the advancing number 12 and he headed the ball into an empty net. In the same Competition Chilton Wmc were 6-4 winners at Sherburn Lambton Arms.

In the Premier Division Sacriston Cricket Club Suffered Their first league defeat since the 23rd August and although it is bitterly disappointing to lose we were not disgraced by any means and at times we played well again in this game as they entertained Brandon Bay Horse at Sacriston.The Cricketers started the game well and in the first 5 minutes caused the Brandon defence problems but goal chances were few and far between. In the 5 mins the Bay Horse scored with there first attack when Barry Johnson lost John Robson from a throw in and put a wicked cross into the box where Michael Fort headed home giving Hall the Home Keeper no chance. The Cricketers continued to pressured the ball all game and although Brandon did have other chances in the half the best of which when Hall tipped a shot onto the post, the Cricketers had their fare share of the Game, But they just couldn't get the goal wasting numerous good positions in and around the box and making the wrong choice in the final third where it matters. At times we had Brandon hemmed in their own half but the difference between the 2 teams were the two Bay Horse forwards,  Barry Johnson and  Dave Fort both caused the Cricketers Defence  problems all day long .. Johnson and Fort were able to hang onto the ball and create problems for the Cricketers Defence.  The killer 2nd goal for the Bay Horse came from a corner when Andy Robson headed home at the near post on 52 mins rising above the Cricketers defenders. However the Cricketers were still kept searching for a way to get back into the game and we won countless free kicks in the game none of which we really made the most of but Graeme Embleton did manage to hit the cross bar from one on the hour mark and they had one other glorious chance to score when Fenton had a free header from a Graeme Embleton free kick at the back post only to miss the target with a tame header. To make the Final Score Sacriston Cricket Club 0 Brandon Bay Horse 2.Langley Park Wmc and Visitors Burnside Wmc Shared the Points in a 3-3 Draw. Houghton Glendale were 2-1 Home winners Over Ferryhill Wmc.

In the First Division  Washington  JFC entertained Sacriston wmc, Sacriston  took the lead after Jfc had missed several good chances, The  right winger received the ball from a throw in and went around the full back and chipped the keeper from an acute angle, a cracking goal. JFC made it 1-1 from the penalty spot after a forward was brought down just as he was about to pull the trigger from 6 yds, Keith Vincent tucked the ball into the corner, game on, JFC went 2-1 up when a lovely through ball good enough to split the Sacriston Defence found Craig Rousell he slid the ball under the approaching keeper. Sacriston seemed to loose heart after this and the home team scored 3 more through John Middlemiss, Peter Taylor and a second for Rousell sealed the result. Chester Hilda Park Travelled to Washington Biddick Inn  Both asides Looking for Promotion , the Hilda Park Bandwagon again came of the Rails Callum Turnbull getting their Only Goal as they Crashed to a 5-1 defeat. The Local Derby at Esh Winning between the Cricket Club and Water houses was called off Due to a Waterlogged Pitch. 
In the Second Division Chester Plough Inn found themselves on their travels, this time Coxhoe WMC providing the opposition in a league encounter. The Plough Inn will need directions to our home ground as this was our 7th away game in a row. Chester Plough started very brightly and managed to grab the lead as early as the 3rd minute when Daniel Hill broke down the right flank and drove a superb ball across the 6 yard box for BEN LLOYD to bundle the ball past the keeper. The Plough were hoping to build on the lead but unfortunately it was Coxhoe who came back the stronger of the two teams. The lead only lasted 5 minutes, when goalkeeper John Witherspoon made a brilliant save only to watch the away defenders clear the ball as far as the edge of the area straight to the Coxhoe forward who lobbed the ball straight over the Keepers head from 20 yards. Coxhoe’s confidence was now growing and continued to push The Plough back in their own half and got their rewards in the 15th minute. The Plough defence were caught napping when half of the players pushed out and the other half stayed in playing the Coxhoe striker onside who squared the ball across the six yard area for their Michael Owen to finish comfortably. Coxhoe were now well in control and for the next twenty minutes had all the possession and created several good opportunities to increase their lead but thankfully didn’t take them. The Plough did have a spell in the last 5 minutes of the half and could easily have grabbed an equaliser, with Ben Lloyd forcing the keeper into a great save and Joel Baddams seeing his shot hit the post. Half Time 2-1 to CoxhoeThe Second Half the Plough driven on by inspirational skipper Lee McGuiness were now starting grow in confidence and belief. They grabbed a deserved equaliser in the 55th minute and it came from an unlikely source. John Forster took the corner, and LEE McGuiness headed the ball goal bound only to see his effort blocked, however he was the first to react as it hit the ground and smashed the ball into the net from a good 7 yards out! The Plough had the bit between the teeth now and managed to take the lead only 5 minutes later when DANIEL HILL capitalised on some sloppy defending. The Coxhoe centre half misplaced his clearance that fell straight to Daniel Hill who took a couple of touches before firing past the stranded keeper from 25 yards out. After the goal, it was backs against the wall time for the Plough as Coxhoe pressed in search of an equaliser and created some golden opportunities only to find goalkeeper Jon Witherspoon in sparkling form. The Plough defence stayed strong and put in some brilliant blocks to keep the lead. The Plough were now trying to see the game out but actually put the game beyond doubt in the 86th minute. Coxhoe had gone with 3 at the back and found themselves stretched when Wilcock brought the ball out of defence and passed to John Forster who hit a super ball down the line for livewire Hill to skip past his man before squaring to KEITH LINES who made no mistake from 6 yards out. The Final Score Coxhoe wmc 2 -4 Chester Plough Inn . Pelton Fc‘s Home game against Durham Bede Lodge was cancelled due to a Waterlogged Pitch.Ushaw Moor Cricket Club were 4-1 Home winners Over Pittington Fc.  

Washington Lambton Village were Due to Play Bishop Middleham Cross Keys at Washington however, with Lambton pitch still under water and Bishops pitch in good condition it was agreed to switch the match to Bishops home game.  On 20 min - Luke Cresdee the Lambton Forward supplied the cross, and Warren Leadbeater found the net from outside the area with a spectacular left footed effort.  On 35 min – Lambton Village went Further Ahead when a direct free-kick was given outside the area. Warren Leadbeater ran up and fired home a brilliant left footed shot past the opposition keeper. The Cross Keys replied with Two Goals to make it 2-2 But Just before Half time Lambton Forward Neil Hughes fired home from 18 yards out with a tremendous headed goal, following a cross from Andrew Bell. The Lambton added a Further Goal in the 65 min – when the Lambton were awarded a Penalty. Some good work from Luke Cresdee led to an offence in the box, and with a superb left footed shot Warren Leadbeater hit the mark. The Cross keys Came back into the Game adding two further Goals to make the score 4-4 Then The Lambton went Further ahead In the 75 min ,An inspired solo goal by Les Coombs, scored from 18 yards out with the right foot. It was a first-class effort... the move originally started with some good work from Dan Thompson, they added a Further Goal in the 80 min with Luke Cresdee supplying the through-ball, and Christopher Slater found the net from just inside the box with a speculative right footed effort. To Give the Lambton a Fine 6-4 win
In the Third Division Washington Victoria entertained Ferryhill Dynamo’s the Home side winning 6-2 with Goals from In the 20 min -Mark Liddle supplied the through-ball, and Paul Kindon found the net from six yards out with a well-finished right footed effort. On35 min Darren Stanley Converted from outside the area with a right footed finish; it was a spectacular individual goal which Darren Stanley won’t forget! The move started with some clever play from Ryan Mason. Just after Half Time a well delivered through-ball from Paul Kindon was converted by Mark Liddle. A fine finish with the right foot from 18 yards out. Kindon added another Goal on 60 min when He fired home from close range with a well-finished right foot goal, following a through-ball from Mark Liddle. On 70 Mins Ryan Mason Converted from just inside the box with a left footed finish, it was a spectacular individual goal which Ryan Mason wont forget! The move started with some clever play from Mark Liddle. Mason added another On 80 Mins Paul Kindon supplied the through-ball, and Ryan Mason found the net from just inside the box with a well-finished left footed effort. Low Fell Gold Medal were 3-0 winners at Hamsteels Inn, Hetton Social earned a Point in a 2-2 Draw at Washington Usworth Top Club.
In the Fourth Division Chester Leonard’s were very poor today and went down 1-0. To Visitors Washington Colliery, Kelloe Davy Lamp and Visitors Langley Park Rams Head shared the Points in a 1-1 Draw

In the Durham County FA Sunday Cup the two Outstanding Games with clubs in the League saw Ferryhill White Horse Loose 6-2 at Home to Sunderland Barnes and Washington Arms lost 6-1 at Easington HMS Victory