| OLD SHILDON SNEAK EXTRA-TIME WINNER
Bowman Anderson Accountants Spennymoor Sunday League
DIVISION ONE side Old Shildon needed extra-time to knock second division promotion hopefuls Hunwick Joiners out of the B&A Trophy.
At the crucial, semi-final stage, Hunwick – currently second in Division Two – gave top-flight title-chasing Shildon a real run for their money, with the favourites needing extra-time to progress to already their second final of the campaign.
Hunwick had taken a 2-0 lead, although Shildon pulled it back and after 90 minutes the score was 3-3. Martin Hedley, Ian Maddison and Anthony Brass scored Shildon’s goals, with Stephen Howe getting two for Hunwick and Sean Brown one.
Howe netted again in extra-time, but John Poulter and Paul Whensley grabbed the all-important goals to avoid a penalty shoot-out and send Shildon through to meet either Loves or Masons Arms at Spennymoor United’s Brewery Field ground on Sunday May 2.
“It was a great game,” said Shildon’s Dave Hedley. “We didn’t expect an easy game, with Hunwick doing so well in the second division, and they certainly made it hard for us, although we didn’t expect it to go to extra-time. But it was a very good, close game of football.”
Meanwhile, in a Division One relegation dog-fight, Lakeside beat Beehive 4-1 with goals by Steve Woodward, Martin Walker, Andy Clay and Marc De Lucia to lift them one place up to fourth-from-bottom, with Mark Pattinson scoring Beehive’s goal.
Lakeside boss Stuart Hodgson said: “It was a big win for us. We haven’t been playing well for a while and this was a slightly better performance. We played some great stuff at times but then reverted back to our old ways at times, but a pleasing win nevertheless.”
Beehive manager Mick Hill said: “I thought we should have been winning comfortably by half-time. We created four or five great chances but have again squandered them and it’s that that has cost us the game.”
Elsewhere, Newton Aycliffe maintained their up-turn in form with a comfortable 9-2 win over Postchaise, with striker Dave Muir grabbing four goals. Mark Armstrong (2), Russell Mercer (2) and Richard Dimambro-Walters were also on the scoresheet.
Loves carried on their title bandwagon with a 4-2 win at Browney, while Horndale won 2-0 at home to Green Tree, both goals coming from Paul Weatheridge.
Thorns won 3-0 at home to Tudhoe United, Andrew Richardson (2) and Martin Longthorne scoring the goals.
Kevin Gilham scored for Salvins to give them a 1-1 draw with Binchester Social Club, with Lee Furber netting for them.
In Division Two, Belvedere won 4-2 at home to North Briton, Lee Nixon getting all four goals, and Richard Jameson and Phil Judge getting Brit’s goals.
Meanwhile, due to unforeseen circumstances, the four cup final dates have had to be re-arranged.
Newton Aycliffe face Old Shildon in the final of the Division One Cup on Sunday April 18.
Voltigeur will play either Masons Arms in the Division Two Cup Final, a game that will now take place on Sunday April 25.
The B&A Trophy Final between Old Shildon and either Loves or Masons Arms will be played on Sunday May 2, which means the League Cup Final will now be played on Sunday May 9. The semi-finals consist of Tudhoe United, Loves, Thorns and Old Shildon.
• The league is requesting that all clubs return their trophies won during the 2002-03 season to the next meeting, which is due to be held at Middlestone Moor Club on Wednesday April 7.
Newton Aycliffe currently hold the Division One title shield, while Old Shildon have the Division One Cup, the B&A Trophy and the League Cup trophies. Browney have the Invitation Cup and the Division Two cups, while Postchaise have the Division Two title shield.
• The league has invited proposals from members to stage the annual end-of-season presentation night.
So far, Old Shildon WMC, Middlestone Moor Club and the Belvedere in Bishop have been put forward as potential venues for the ceremony, which is expected to be held in early June.
The league is still open to offers from other members.
Meanwhile, the league will also be discussing proposals for the event – such as entertainment, trophies etc – at the next league meeting on Wednesday April 7.
• Old Shildon are holding a Sportsman’s Dinner on Friday April 16th (7.30-11pm), with former Liverpool star David Fairclough the guest speaker. Comedian Dave Adams also makes up just some of the entertainment. Entry is just £10, pay at the door, which includes a Pie and Peas supper. Contact David Hedley for more details on 07940 992884.
RESULTS
Sunday March 28
B&A Trophy SF: Old Shildon 5, Hunwick 4 (aet).
Division One: Lakeside 4, Beehive 1; Newton Aycliffe 9, Postchaise 2; Browney 2, Loves 4; Salvins 1, Binchester SC 1; Horndale 2, Green Tree 0; Thorns 3, Tudhoe Utd 0.
Division Two: Cumby Arms 1 Eldon Arms 3; Belvedere 4, North Briton 2; Voltigeur 2, Grand 1; Victoria 2, Masons Arms 3; Masons Utd v Shildon Athletic postponed.
FIXTURES
Sunday April 4
B&A Trophy SF: Loves v Masons Arms.
Division One: Newton Aycliffe v Thorns; Old Shildon v Beehive; Salvins v Tudhoe Utd; Horndale v Postchaise.
Division Two: Grand v Masons Utd; Voltigeur v Hunwick; Victoria v Eldon Arms; North Briton v Belvedere; Middlestone Moor v Shildon Athletic.
Tuesday April 6
Division One: Salvins v Beehive; Old Shildon v Postchaise; Thorns v Binchester SC; Tudhoe Utd v Lakeside; Horndale v Newton Aycliffe.
Thursday April 8
Division Two: Eldon Arms v Masons Utd; Hunwick v Shildon Athletic; Voltigeur v Victoria; Masons Arms v Cumby Arms; Middlestone Moor v Grand.
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