Second division cup finalists FRA Mowden did their promotion chances no harm when the visited The Northern Echo and came away with all three points.
Although the Echo took the lead midway through the first half when midfield dynamo Martin Williamson, found himself unmarked in the visitors' penalty box to power home a header, Mowden showed they are a capable side and with some excellent team play levelled through the excellent man of the match Richard Bestford. More controlled play from the visitors saw Martin Hickmans give them a 2-1 advantage at the break. The second 45 minutes saw chances come and go for both sides, including a missed penalty for the home side. With the Echo pushing forward for an equaliser, it was Mowden who broke away, and when they were awarded a penalty for a hand ball in the box it was leading marksman Stephen Thompson who stepped up to fire home making the final score 3-1 to the visitors.
The league's last 100 per cent record went when Cleveland Bridge could only manage a draw at Middleton St. George. The fixtures between the two have always been good games and last weekend's encounter was no different. MSG were missing their regular strikeforce, as well as their usual captain and it looked like Cleveland were going to make the advantage tell early in the game as they forced the home team on to the defensive with goal line clearances and chances coming off the woodwork. But it was MSG who struck first after a mix-up in the visitors' defence it was Jon Wilkinson who fired the ball into the back of the net. With the home side pressing forward John Sunter bearing in on goal he was brought down by the last defender and the visitors were reduced to ten men. Sunter again pressed the Cleveland defence when as beat the offside trap to make it 2-0. The second 45 minutes saw the visitors move into top gear, pushing the home side to defend deeper, Stu Hardy had a good chance to get a goal back with a shot from long range, beating the keeper, but not the crossbar. MSG had their chances with Sunter going close on a couple of occasions. But Cleveland were never going to give up and for the last 30 minutes of the game they had MSG pinned back in their own half. With chances going begging the home side looked to be holding out for a victory when Cleveland were awarded a penalty for handball; top marksman Trenton Hewitt made no mistake with the spot kick to bring the score back to 2-1. As the game moved into the final minute the visitors were awarded a free kick 20 yards from goal, man of the match James Briggs in the MSG goal made an excellent save but couldn't hold the ball and Cleveland's Danny Chapman nipped in to make the final score 2-2.
The improving Copper Beech DCS visited promotion chasing Peacocks Pub Co., in an even contest it was the home side who came out on top. They lead 1-0 at the break through a Scott Raper effort only after the visitors' stand-in keeper Chris Foster had superbly saved Mike Weston's spot kick. Copper had their chances with Jeff Coates coming closest when his shot came back of the post but they could not force an equaliser and when Kevin Wake's late header found the back of the net the points were safe for the home side with a 2-0 victory.
In the only other game of the day Berlins and Royal British Legion battled out a 2-2 draw.
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