Thorns clinch league title
Jackson Anderson Accountants Spennymoor Sunday League
THORNS were crowned league champions for the third successive season with a 4-0 win at Hunwick Joiners last week.
The Spennymoor side wanted to avoid a one-off deciding game to determine the league title – and they had to get past Hunwick to do that.
They managed it with goals by Andrew Richardson (2), Ian Woodhall and Michael Oliver.
And delighted manager Dave McWaters paid tribute to his players after watching them lift the Division One championship for a third year running.
“The last thing we wanted was a one-off, sudden-death game to decide the title,” he said. “So foprthat reason it was a huge game.
“And I’d like to thank the lads – it’s just reward for all their hard work, effort and commitment over the course of the whole season.
“We’ve got a good spirit on and off the field and I that was reflective in the number of hangovers on Monday morning!”
Elsewhere in Division One last week, Binchester Social Club won 4-1 at Hogans thanks to a Lee Furber hat-trick as well as one goal by Michael Tinkler. Simon Marshall scored Hogans’ goal.
Tudhoe United won 2-1 at home to Voltigeur with a Billy MacClacklan brace. Chris Pennal scored Volti’s only goal.
Masons Arms squeezed through to the quarter-finals of the League Cup with a narrow win over the Lakeside.
Striker Marc De Lucia had given Lakeside a first-half lead after he capitalised on a defensive mix-up by Masons at the back - see the latest Game of the Week feature for more details and action pictures.
Meanwhile, Quinns just edged their B&A Trophy semi-final tie with Victoria on penalties after they drew a stalemate.
Craig Parker had scored for Quinns and James Smith for Victoria, but Quinns won the penalty shoot-out 4-3 to set up a final clash with Masons Arms.
In Division Two league action, Green Tree won 6-3 at home to Andrew Walton (2), Matthew Carrick (2), Andrew Carrick and Barry Liddle. Gavin Alderson, Stephen Alderson and Chris Larkman scored for Masons.
New Brancepeth won 6-0 at the North Briton thanks to goals by Gary Hindmarch (2), Sean Davis, Chris Jones and Anthony Holiday.
• The league have finally been able to set the dates for their four cup finals. The B&A Trophy Final between Masons Arms and Quinns will be held on Friday 5th May. The League Cup Final between Thorns and either Masons Arms or Quinns will be played on Sunday 7th May. The
Kelvin McIntosh Division Two Cup Final between Belvedere and Quinns will be played on Friday 12th May, and finally the Division One Cup Final between Masons Arms and Hunwick Joiners will go ahead on Sunday 14th May. All finals are being held at Coxhoe Athletic’s ground in Coxhoe.
• The league’s end-of-season presentation night will take place on Friday 9th June at Old Shildon WMC, with entertainment by local band the Zoo, tickets priced £3.
• The next league meeting will take place at the Locomotion in Shildon on Wednesday 3rd May from 8pm.
| 