Football round-up
Barnard Castle FC..........................3
Ferryhill Athletic AFC.....................1
Barnard Castle hosted Ferryhill Athletic last Wednesday and put together one of their best performances of the season to defeat the high fliers 3-1 at the Tens Field.
Ferryhill have been in the running for promotion all season and will still be battling until the last day, but in this contest, Barney were too strong for them, all over the pitch.
Dan Hull once again got his name on the scoresheet as he opened the scoring after just ten minutes, but the visitors struck back immediately.
Captain Phil Merryweather returned to the lineup and was able to put Barney back in the lead again shortly after with a strong guided header.
The game was then tilted heavily in Barney’s favour when Ferryhill’s Jay Rodham took down Rob Dixon and was shown a red card by the referee.
Ferryhill managed to sustain an attacking presence, but they were left open in defence and Dan Hull was able to seal the game in the closing stages to secure a Barney victory.
Barnard Castle................................5
Sunderland RCA Reserves............. 0
Barnard Castle were able to collect six points in the week with a comfortable 5-0 victory over Sunderland RCA Reserves on Saturday.
Sunderland have struggled all season. Their manager having to come on after just 15 minutes, following an injury, just about sums up their campaign.
They were never a threat and Matty Wheeler in the Barney goal didn’t have any meaningful saves to make for the whole game.
Games like this never bring a high entertainment factor for neutral spectators, but it did provide a much-needed respite for some of the players with a number of substitutions being able to be made early in the second period.
Goals were spread around with Ben Lambert, Harrison Saunders, Rob Dixon and Jamie McDougall all getting on the scoresheet.
McDougall came off the bench to score a brace and completely put the game to bed.
Barney are away to Birtley Developmental tonight (Wednesday) and then host Deerness Valley on Saturday afternoon.
They almost certainly need maximum points from their remaining fixtures to stand a chance of promotion.
Sam Alexander
Ebac Northern League
WEST Auckland Town find themselves in the play-offs for promotion to the Northern Premier League after beating Whitely Bay 1-4 in their final league match of season.
West got off to a flying start at Hillheads Park with an early chance in the seventh minute when Oscar Fletcher’s shot was saved by the keeper, and the rebound blocked.
However, Fletcher thwarted the keeper just three minutes later to slot home into an empty net.
Josh Scott got West’s second goal just before half-time after a square from Fletcher inside the box.
Scott got his second three minutes into the second half after he headed home from an Adam Mitchell corner, giving West a solid 3-0 lead.
West enjoyed several more chances after making four substitutions, but it was Whitely Bay who pulled one back with a penalty in the 88th minute.
Scott achieved his hat-trick in the 90th minute after receiving the ball from substitute Brandon Holdsworth.
The victory left West third in the Northern League table, taking them into a play-off against Shildon and Heaton Stannington for a chance at promotion to the Northern Premier League.
West Auckland will be in action tonight (Wednesday) when they take on Whickham AFC in the Frank Pattison Challenge Cup Final at the Stadium of Light. Kick-off is at 7.30pm.
Darlington Sunday Morning Invitation League
STAINDROP Wheatsheaf enjoyed a stunning 5-2 victory over Darlington’s Grey Horse at Sedgefield Community Centre.
There were two goals apiece from Dan Hull and Ben Goodfellow plus Harvey Reed also added to the scoreline.
Middleton Wanderers squandered a 4-1 lead to draw their match 4-4 against Woollen Mill.
In the second division Gainford Cross Keys enjoyed a 3-2 home win against Toft Hill Three Tuns.
Martin Paul
