MASONS TOP IN NEW YEAR
Jackson Anderson Accountants Spennymoor Sunday League
MASONS ARMS leapfrogged Thorns at the top of Division One as their thumping win over Browney gifted them a superior goal difference.
Masons hit Browney 11-1 – and, with Thorns having no game, that was enough to go level with the current champions and just nudge ahead on goal difference.
“It’s a great start to the New Year,” said Masons’ John Booth. “I think Browney were struggling for a side, to be honest, but we still played very well and our football at times was superb. It was an overall comprehensive performance and a good New Year present!”
Kevin Dodds (3), Tom Fothergill (2), Justin Fox (2), Craig Warburton, Steven Fothergill, Gavin Greenwood and John Savage were all on target for Masons.
At the other end of the table, Lakeside once again hauled themselves out of the relegation zone when their 2-1 win at Salvins pushed them up three places to seventh, Andy Clay and Marc De Lucia getting the all-important goals.
Hunwick were 5-0 winners Voltigeur, while Old Shildon were 5-3 winners at the Grand.
The match between Horndale and Tudhoe United was postponed.
In Division Two last week, Belvedere were also in the goals as they jumped up the table with a 11-0 win at home to bottom-of-the-table Gainford.
John-Paul Greaves (4), Lee Nixon (3), Timmy Hutchinson, Karl Thompson, Brendan Mullen and Andrew Short all scored the goals.
And victorious boss Karl Thompson said: “We needed that! Especially after the way we’d been playing. They only had the bare 11 and they looked like a totally different side, but we played well and were always at them, so it was a very pleasing performance from our point of view.”
Elsewhere, North Briton were 7-1 winners over rivals Cumby Arms, with Dave Patrick (3), Gary Donald, Kevin O’Neill, Phil Judge and Barry Scott getting Brit’s goals.
And Secretary Phil Judge said: “I thought it was unfortunate they had a couple of players missing, because they played well and it would arguably have been a much closer game had they had the two extra players.”
Meanwhile, Shildon Athletic and Croxdale played out a 3-3 draw. Paul Gargett, Ross Brown and Martin Smailes scored for Shildon, with Phil Wilkinson, Matt Quinn and Dean Taylor getting Croxdale’s goals.
Eldon Arms won 4-2 at Masons United with goals by David Leary (2), Andrew Sams and John Sweeney. Lee Hall and Steven Alderson scored Masons’ goals.
Ash Tree and Green Tree drew 1-1, with Richard Turner netting for Ash and Darren Dye for Green.
The match between Atlantic Bar and Binchester Social Club was postponed. | 
