Brit grit enough for the semi’s
Division One Cup and Kelvin McIntosh Division Two Cup

NORTH BRITON grabbed a lifeline for their season when they ground out a hard-working win over Hunwick Joiners in the quarter-finals of the Division One Cup.

In difficult windy conditions, the Aycliffe side saw off a head-wind to go into a second half goalless and with the gust behind them.

So second-half goals by Steve Hepples – a 25-yard belting free-kick – and striker Andy Kay – a goalmouth scramble which he eventually claimed – were enough for the Brit to book a semi-final clash against either Croxdale or Old Shildon, despite a late consolation goal for Hunwick by Paul Taylor.

Brit boss Stuart Hodgson said: “Like all games this weekend, this was a good match spoiled by the wind. It played a big part and, to coin a cliché, it was quite literally a game of two halves. They had the wind in the first half and pressured us a lot, but we managed to hold out until half-time.

“We grabbed the goals in the second half which were enough. Obviously we’d hope this is a competition we can progress in, but the semi-final will be a tough game whoever we face.”

Thorns are set to play the winners of Masons Arms and Quinns in the other semi-final of the competition.

Meanwhile, Eldon Arms went top of Group A in the Kelvin McIntosh Division Two Cup – and installed themselves as favourites to win the group – with a 2-0 win at Hogans thanks to goals by Adrian Jones and Darren Hewitson.

In Group B, leaders New Brancepeth went down 2-1 at Victoria thanks to a Jason Greenland brace. Chris Jones scored for Brancepeth.

Green Tree also won 3-1 at Half Moon with goals by Matthew Carrick (2) and Peter Sewell. Paul Bayles scored Half Moon’s goal

20th March 2007