Shildon Fox bounce back again
Division Three Cup

SHILDON Fox and Hounds showed good bounebackability yet again when they came from two goals behind to clinch this close game with rivals Merrington Fox and Hounds.

Just a few weeks earlier, the Shildon side had to scrap their way back from two goals down against Browney in the quarter-finals of the J&A Trophy to eventually win 5-3.

And they found themselves two down again this time when Glyn Porter opened the scoring for Merrington before Sean Bent added a second to give the home side a shock half-time lead.

But the Shildon visitors fought back when Michael Roberts and Stephen Hall grabbed two goals to draw them level.

The pair scored another goal apiece to cap a good win as Shildon comfortably top group A of the Division Three Cup by six clear points.

Their boss Dave Owens said: “We struggled to get going in the first half but they played very well and made it hard for us. But then we played very well in the second half, probably some of the best football we’ve played this season. We changed the formation at half-time and introduced Neil Wilson, who really changed the game for us.”

Meanwhile, in the same group, Bishop Masons won 3-0 at Castle with goals by David Bowes (2) and James Barron.

In group B of the competition, Aycliffe Village made hard work of their game against EBAC, eventually winning 6-5 with goals by Wayne Marram (2), Darren Griffiths, Johnny Craig and Phil Judge. Sub Paul Middleton also capped a rare and dull appearance with a tap-in goal – he managed to put his boots on the right feet, this time. John Wheatley (2), Mark Owen, Stuart Boddy and Gavin Bell scored EBAC’s goal.

Masons United also won 5-3 at home to the Southerne Club thanks to goals by Chris Larkman (2), Gavin Alderson, Stephen Alderson and Carl Dawson. Adam Redhead, Lee Marshall and Scott Hudson scored for the Southerne.

• The semi-finals of two cup competitions were drawn at this week’s league meeting.

The quarter-finals of the J&A Trophy are due to be played this Sunday. The semi-finals are: Masons Arms/Quinns v Aycliffe Village/Shildon Fox and Green Tree/Tudhoe Utd v Half Moon/Castle. A date is yet to be set for the games.

The semi-finals of the League Cup, due to be played on Sunday April 8, are: Shildon Fox/Old Shildon v Hunwick Joiners and Castle v New Brancepeth.

The outstanding quarter-final tie between Shildon Fox and Old Shildon is due to be played on Sunday March 25.

 
8th March 2007