Thorns claim big Shildon win
Jackson Anderson Accountants Spennymoor Sunday League
THORNS stamped their authority on the Division One title race with a convincing win over Old Shildon.
The champions and current league-leaders beat their rivals Old Shildon, traditionally a strong side and previously Thorns’ bogey team, 6-0.
Sean Longthorne opened the scoring and Mark Nicholson doubled Thorns’ lead before the break.
And second-half goals by Nicholson, his second, Ian Woodhall, Stuart Rand and Woodhall again completed the win.
Thorns Secretary Steven Richardson said: “It was a very close first half and goalless for 30 minutes, so we were happy to get the second just before half-time which eased some of the pressure slightly. It was a good win for us in the end and we played well.”
Meanwhile, Lakeside got into their stride with a convincing win over the Voltigeur. See Game of the Week feature.
Elsewhere, Hunwick Joiners won 5-1 at Bay Horse thanks to a hat-trick by man-of-the-match James Melville as well as goals by Ross Brown and Jamie Wragg.
Masons Arms won 3-2 at Eldon Arms with goals by Steven Fothergill, Marc Costello and John Savage. David Leary and Craig Clark scored for Eldon. Binchester Social Club were 2-0 winners at Hogans.
In Division Two, Belvedere claimed their fourth victory of the season with a 6-1 win at home to Masons United.
Paul Gargett (3), Lee Nixon (2) and David Brown were on the scoresheet for Belvedere, and their manager Karl Thompson said: “We played quite well and it was a close game during the first half. But it opened up a bit in the second half and we scored some good goals, while our defence played well and used the off-side trap well. Had it not been for that it could have been a different story!”
Elsewhere in Division Two, New Brancepeth won 10-0 at Atlantic Bar with goals by Mickey Gibbons (5), Gary Hindmarsh (3) and Carl Wilkinson (2).
Croxdale won 3-0 at home to Horndale Celtic. Karl Lamb, Gavin Bell and Iain Ambrosini were on the scoresheet in that game.
Shildon Athletic won 6-4 at Ash Tree thanks to goals by Jamie Scaife (2), Richard Thompson (2), Peter Duce and Nigel Thompson. Mark Surtees, Richard Turner, Lee Gobin and Grant Parnaby scored for Ash Tree.
George & Dragon drew 2-2 with the North Briton. Ian Fairless cored both goals for the George, while Mark Hodges and Kevin O’Neil scored for the Brit.
• Meanwhile, the league would like to congratulate three of its teams that progressed to the third preliminary round of the Durham Sunday County Cup. Masons Arms have drawn Fishburn Beehive at home, Hunwick Joiners are at home to Stockton Roseworth and Masons United entertain Washington Dunlop in the next round on Sunday 23rd October. The league would like to wish all three teams the best of luck in their hopes of going through to the first round proper of the competition.
• The league is holding a Christmas Party at the Southerne Club in Newton Aycliffe on Friday 9th December. A Pie & Peas supper will be available and entertainment will be provided by top local band The Zoo, while the league’s annual Christmas Prize Draw will also be made. Tickets costing just £3 will be available to league members at the next meeting on Wednesday 2nd November at Belvedere WMC.
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