Middlesbrough Post Office 10 North Skelton Village 0: Post Office went into this game holding a four-point lead at the top of the table while North Skelton Village also entered the arena on a positive note having won two recent games.
Post Office were always favourites to take something from the fixture and on five minutes Mark Brydon picked up a fortunate ball from a poor goal kick resulting in the quick thinking midfielder threading a great ball through to John Symon who made it look easy with a simple tap-in. Post Office scored a second when John Leach attacked the right flank and delivered a perfect cross that allowed John Symon the second simple tap-in of the game. Post Office continued to apply the pressure and a resultant corner found the ball falling in the path of Paul Leonard who hit the crossbar. Mark Brydon was also unlucky when his shot hit the bar. Following a period of sustained pressure on the North Skelton goal Paul McGlade picked up the ball and hit with ferocity into the roof of the net to take a three-goal lead. North Skelton Village managed to settle the game down for the remaining first half with some good work from Anthony McCabe and Darren Anderson. Two minutes into the second half John Symon scored his hat-trick when Paul Davies put through a great ball. John Leach was to be a provider again when from his cross John Symon scored his fourth of the game. On 60 minutes John Symon got his fifth goal when he attacked the ball at the near post to flick the ball into the far corner following good attacking play by David Pattison who had beat the full back before releasing the ball to Symon. Ten minutes later John Symon wrapped up a double hat-trick when Scott Hislop provided the cross having received the ball John Symon did exceptional to control the ball and lift it over the village keeper Laity. The goal of the game came when Paul Davies took the ball from the half way line beating four players on his way to goal and finding himself one-on-one the keeper was drawn towards the player only for Davies to slot the ball into the unguarded net. Post Office made it 10-0 when Dave Pattison and Mark Brydon each scored late on.
Linx Hemlington 0 Kings Head 2
Linx Hemlington entered into this game confident on the back of some good wins, Kings Head FC expecting a tough game knew they couldn't afford to slip up even though they have a game in hand. Linx Hemlington could have taken the lead when Marc Salvati hit a tremendous shot that hit the crossbar and apart from one or two half chances didn't get a serious chance. The battle was in midfield and Dean McGee and Neil Hodgson were bossing the play, Linx did compete with Chris Hubbard showing his potential. However, it was the experience of the Kings Head playmakers that showed when Steve Smith opened the scoring for the Guisborough side following a counter-attack down the right and a great cross into the danger area. For the most part the Linx defence held firm with Mike King, Justin Godfrey and Peter King in outstanding form. Kings Head did increase the lead when a goalmouth scramble resulted in Dean McGee driving the ball into the unguarded net. Up and coming referee Mr J Smith was praised by both teams.
Stokesley SC 1 Ennis Square SC 5
Ennis Square SC were upbeat coming into this game following a successful League Cup campaign whereby they qualified for a semi-final place on Monday. The game had a fairly even start and it was Ennis Square's in-form player Jon Kirk who opened up the scoring with an absolute pearl of a goal, a free kick was awarded to Ennis Square on the edge of the box and quick thinking Jonny Kirk hit the ball while Stokesley were still organising their wall, the ball curled around the defence into the bottom corner. Stokesley could have got back into the game when they were awarded a penalty; Craig Johnston stepped up to take the penalty only to shoot wide. Ennis Square got a second through Phil Bellerby when they attacked Stokesley defence in numbers. Mike Dexter got goal number three following good work from Duncan Evans who knocked the ball over the Stokesley defence for Mike Dexter to hammer the ball into the roof of the goal. Phil Bellerby got his brace when the ball was cleared from a corner only to be returned into the goal area, with Bellerby being perfectly positioned to lob the keeper. Phil Bellerby became provider for goal number five when his long throw was met with perfect timing for Phil Lloyd to head past the helpless keeper. Stokesley did get a consolation goal through substitute striker Andrew Drummond.
PJS FC 0 Thornaby Mandale 8
This game started as a close first half contest with PJS FC defending and competing well as well as creating a number of chances. PJS finished the first half comfortably managing to limit the half time score to 2-0. However Mandale's half time teamtalk appeared to expose a number of PJS weaknesses. Mandale came out to the second half with a different plan of attack and it worked as PJS capitulated and Mandale went on to score a further six goals with top striker Andrew Dyson getting his hat trick, a brace apiece from Brad Murray and Anthony Larsen and a goal from Lee O'Toole. This was a cruising performance for Mandale but a disappointing one for PJS who have struggled to find a consistent form this season.
Coulby Newham 2 Woodmans Arms 2
Both teams returned to football on Saturday having been on the receiving end of a 5-1 mauling by Linx Hemlington FC. Coulby Newham starter the game the brighter when Richie Cook hit the ball over the advancing Woodmans keeper only to see the ball rebound off the cross bar, this in the second minute of the game. This move kick-started Woodmans into action and on five minutes it was Woodmans who took the lead when Adam Kidd mis-timed his tackle and allowed the Woodmans Striker to run through and score. The game was moving end to end and Coulby Newham's offside trap was working well. Woodmans further increased their lead by a great piece of counter attacking play with the Woodmans striker finishing off a great run by cheekily chipping the stranded Coulby keeper from all of 20 yards. Coulby couldn't believe the score and came out in the second half full of grit and determination and on 55minutes Craig Thomas let in defender Martin McManus to score his first goal for the club with a super shot. Woodmans continued with a number of half chances but couldn't get the right combination on goal. Late in the game on 80 minutes Darren Kirby hit a terrific shot that the keeper stopped and spilled for Richie Cook to finish off equalising for the Cats. This led to a nail biting finish and Woodmans should have won the game when they were awarded a penalty only to see the strike rebound off the post.
South Bank Utd 0 St Mary's Coll. OB
St Mary's continued their recent good run with a 2-0 victory over South Bank, both teams were under strength due to injuries and work commitments but the return to form of Mark Elliott was the difference between the teams. The opening 20 minutes both teams enjoyed plenty of possession but it was South Bank Utd who had the better of the chances. South Bank relied on the quick ball forward to their speedy forwards and Craig McCitterick came close when he hit the post and similarly some good link up play from Graeme Watson and Graham Cousins resulted in a second shot resulting in a great save from Thomas Straker. St Mary's could thank there experienced defence preventing South Bank opening their account, little was seen of St Mary's as an attacking force as they failed to master South Banks offside trap. One rare first half attack on goal from St Mary's saw Mark Elliott head in on goal but the goal was averted through some great goalkeeping from Lee Stephenson. The second half was a different story as St Mary's reshuffled and reverted to their short passing game. On the 55th minute were rewarded when good interplay between Dave Aspery and Dave Wesson give Mark Elliott the opportunity to run at goal. He used all his strength to hold off the challenge from the centre back and goalkeeper to give St Mary's the lead. St Mary's were now on top and only two good saves from the South Bank keeper Lee Stephenson prevented St Mary's from extending their lead. With ten minutes remaining Mark Elliott scored his second goal when he neatly side-stepped his marker and scored with a strong shot from inside the box. With the season coming to an end both teams have one eye on their semi-final games in the League Cup and will be hopeful to field a strong team in their quest to reach the final.
NS Bulls Head 2 Thornaby Village 2
This game started in an even way until Bulls Head won a free kick on 30 minutes, Steve Thornton stood up to take the kick and it was a goal to savour with great technique as the ball was bent around the wall into bottom right corner of the net. Paul Rae pushing through the Bulls defence equalised for Thornaby Village on 35 minutes. The second half saw Bulls take the lead for a second time in the game when following a goalmouth scramble Kyle Crooks bossed the situation and hammered the ball into the back of the net. In recent games Bulls have failed to hold the lead and again surrendered late in the game when they let Jeff Belt in to score a late equaliser following some great Thornaby link-up play.
RESULTS: Monday, April 5: Coulby Newham 1 Linx Hemlington 5; North Skelton Village 2 NS Bulls Head FC 0; South Park Rangers FC 0 Thornaby Village FC 0.
League Challenge Cup re-arranged match: Ennis Square SC 3 Woodmans Arms 0.
Wednesday, April 7: Linx Hemlington FC 5 Woodmans Arms FC 1; St Mary's College OB 9 PJS 0.
Cliff Wells Trophy re-arranged match: North Skelton Village 3 British Steel Sports 2.
Saturday, April 10: Coulby Newham FC 2 Woodmans Arms FC 2; Linx Hemlington FC 0 Kings Head FC 2; Middlesbrough PO 10 North Skelton Village FC 0; NS Bulls Head FC 2 Thornaby Village FC 2; PJS FC 0 Thornaby Mandale FC 8; South Bank Utd FC 0 St Mary's College OB 2; Stokesley SC 1 Ennis Square SC 5.
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