THORNS WIN TOP-OF-THE-TABLE CLASH
Jackson Anderson Accountants Spennymoor Sunday League
THORNS won their top-of-the-table clash against Masons Arms last week.
Newly-promoted Masons, previously unbeaten and second in Division One, gave current champions Thorns a run for their money but failed to capitalise on their chances and paid the ultimate price.
David Lowes, Sean Longthorne and Andrew Richardson scored the goals as Thorns cruised to a fairly comfortable victory, with Masons getting a late consolation.
“We were expecting a hard game and that’s what we got,” said Thorns’ Steven Richardson. “It was a very close game and there was little between us. They never really threatened our goal and we created chances and took them when they came along, so it was a very good win for us.”
Meanwhile, Grand beat Salvins 3-2 with goals by Dean Cummins, Scott Wright and Sean Hunter. Kevin Gilham scored both for Salvins. Winning boss Sean Reynolds said: “I think we just edged it. We went two goals up and they came back at us to pull one back, but then we went 3-1 at up and we should have wrapped it up. But they pulled another back and cam at us again, so we had to hold out for the win.”
Elsewhere, Hunwick beat Horndale 3-2 with goals by James Melville (2) and Lien Howe, with Mark Buckley and Tony Stebbings coring for Horndale, while Tudhoe United won 2-0 at home to Voltigeur, Billy McClacklin getting both goals.
The games between Lakeside and Postchaise and Old Shildon and Loves were postponed.
In Division Two, Cumby Arms won their first match of the season with a comfortable 3-1 win at home to Belvedere.
John Fleming, Tim Leadbitter and John Airey were all on target for Cumby, while Lee Nixon scored for Belvedere.
Belvedere manager Carl Thompson blasted his side, saying: “We went out expecting to win and they played us off the park. It was our worst performance for three seasons and we have to take a good hard look at ourselves. They were by far the better side and defended in the second half, and thoroughly deserved to win.”
Elsewhere, Binchester Social Club won 3-1 at Croxdale with goals by Chris Pickles, Lee Furber and John Wheatley, Phil Wilkinson scoring for Croxdale, while Eldon Arms won 4-1 at home to Ash Tree thanks to top scorer Andrew Sams, Jonathan Corner and Paul Bailes. Steven Walton scored the Tree.
Gainford beat Atlantic Bar 5-3 with goals by Lee Sumpton (3), Steve Fullerton and an OG. Trevor Dixon (2) and Keith Penman scored for Atlantic.
North Briton won 2-1 at home to Middlestone Moor with goals by Gary Donald and Dave Patrick, David Carr scoring for Binchester, while Masons United won 1-0 at home to Victoria with a Dean Merchant strike.
Green Tree won 5-1 at home to Shildon Athletic thanks to a hat-trick by Darren Dye and two from Gavin McIntyre. Ryan Laffey scored Shildon’s goal.
• The next league meeting will take place at Belvedere WMC in Bishop Auckland on Wednesday 29th September 2004.
• The league has made some of its administration forms available on-line. Secretaries are able to download team sheets, registration forms and transfer forms from the league’s official website, www.spenny-league.co.uk
TOP GOALSCORERS
DIVISION ONE
Andrew Richardson (Thorns) 8
Marc De Lucia (Lakeside) 7
Tony Stebbings (Horndale) 6
Billy McClacklin (Tudhoe Utd) 6
Dale Phillips (Browney) 5
Paul Bailes (Hunwick) 5
Shaun Nicholson (Hunwick) 5
Kenny Melvin (Loves) 5
Kevin Dodds (Masons Arms) 5
Paul Latchman (Old Shildon) 5
Paul Thompson (Postchaise) 5
DIVISION TWO
Christopher Pickles (Binchester SC) 10
Lee Nixon (Belvedere) 8
Andrew Sams (Eldon Arms) 8
Adam Cunningham (Victoria) 8
James Smith (Victoria) 8
Adrian Brown (Belvedere) 7
Jason Greenland (Victoria) 6
Guy Starling (Croxdale) 6
Jordan Bulmer (Middlestone Moor) 5
Adam Potter (Shildon Athletic) 5
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