Ebac Northern league
West Auckland Town..... 3
Morpeth Town............... 2
WEST proved the old adage that in the Northern League, anyone can beat anyone on their day as they put an end to runaway leaders Morpeth Town’s unbeaten run of 12 games.
It was a cracker of a game with both teams holding sway at some point.
Morpeth welcomed new signing Chris McDonald, who had joined from Berwick Rangers earlier in the week, while for West, Darren Richardson started his first league game of 2018.
Morpeth took the lead on 17 minutes when Curtis Coppen headed home Ben Sayer’s pinpoint free kick from close range.
The visitors could have extended the lead had David Carson’s effort been on target, but it was the familiar figure of Nathan Fisher who levelled the score on 29 minutes.
He burst through onto Adam Mitchell’s measured pass and rounded keeper Dan Lowson.
Six minutes later, West went ahead. Mitchell was again the provider, this time from a corner, and Danny Parker headed home powerfully.
Back came Morpeth, who made it 2-2 when Chris Reid nodded in David Carson’s in-swinging free kick.
However, parity lasted all of two minutes as Amar Purewal put West Auckland back in front after being played through by Fisher.
The striker’s shot was just too strong for Lowson, who got a hand to it but couldn’t prevent it going into the back of the net.
The second half started in just as frantic a fashion, Fisher and Ben Wood going close for West; Carson producing a save from Adam McHugh.
And it was the big stopper who West had to thank for maintaining their lead.
He produced two top class saves, the first on 81 minutes when he denied Liam Henderson one-on-one followed by a fine diving save at full stretch to keep out a long range effort.
West Auckland could have put the result out of sight in stoppage time, but Lowson got a strong hand to a Fisher strike from the edge of the box but as it was, the hosts hung on to claim the points.
Weather permitting, West were due to welcome Washington to the Wanted stadium on Tuesday evening before heading to Team Northumbria on Saturday in search of more points.
Dave Bussey
Crook and District League
BOWES FC progressed through to the semi-finals of the Weardale Charity Cup with a fine 5-2 win against Darlington Travellers Rest.
Despite the tricky conditions and heavy playing surface, a depleted Bowes side played some good football, scoring some excellent goals along the way.
A 25-yard thunderbolt from Richard Hinton gave Bowes the lead, but this was cancelled out by Lee Gibbon’s equaliser.
Straight from the restart, Tom Merryweather swivelled and volleyed home a long ball into the Travellers’ box.
Rob Dixon then finished off the move of the half to give Bowes a 3-1 lead at the interval.
Rob Dominick added a fourth, and although Gibbon pulled a second back for Travellers, Gabriel Radu added a fifth for Bowes to secure their passage.
Evenwood’s game at Wearhead United was postponed and division two leaders Glaxo Rangers took full advantage, opening up a four-point lead over their dale rivals with a 5-3 win at home to Crook Town Wanderers.
With Manor Farm under water, the game was switched to Shaw Bank and Glaxo raced into a 4-0 lead by the break, Billy Hutchinson bagging the lot.
Wanderers fought back to 4-3 before Danny Vayro scored to make sure of the three points for Rangers.
Wear Valley Sunday League
TOFT Hill consolidated their top three place in division two with a 3-1 win at dale rivals Staindrop.
A brace from James Brack and one from Nigel Beckley did the damage for Toft Hill, with Sam Hicks scoring for Staindrop.
In the game between the top two, West Auckland Tunns ran out 2-1 winners against Newton Aycliffe Hallington to extend their lead to five points.
In the top division, it was a disappointing morning for both dale clubs.
Tommy Hutchinson scored twice and Rob Dixon added a third, but Bowes FC went down 5-3 at home to BA Sports.
Ryan Hardy scored twice for Gainford, but they lost 7-2 at home to Coundon Miners Arms.
Other results:
Division 1: Durham Ox 2, Witton Park 6; Middlestone Moor Mason's Arms 4, Peases West 2; Spennymoor Voltigeur 4, Shildon Elm Road 3.
Division 2: BA Cumberland 3, BA Snooker Club 0; NA Sports Club 4, BA Bay Horse 1; Spennymoor Ash Tree 3, NA Iron Horse 0; Shildon Three Tuns 5, Escomb Saxon 5.
Stuart Laundy
