Premier Division, Blackhall Cricket Club 2, Belle Vue 1: It was Burn's night at Blackhall as the colliery side beat Belle Vue thanks to a Scott Burns double.
Both sides had several chances to open the scoring, before the deadlock was broken by Burns, after good work down the left from Paul Sullivan. Veteran playmaker Peter Elliott was pulling the strings in the centre of the park like a master puppeteer and created more openings for the Hall forwards, but a mixture of poor finishing and excellent goalkeeping from Stuart Weldrake kept the score at 1-0 when the referee's half-time whistle went.
Hall spurned more goalden opportunities after the break and they were made to pay when Paul Clapman beat the offside trap and neatly finished past Chris Rookes.
Rookes was on hand again to deny Chris Tierney is a one-on-one and that save was to prove vital after Hall were awarded a penalty.
Burns was brought down right on the edge of the area and the ref pointed for a spot kick, which was neatly converted by Burns to give Hall another three points. Best for Blackhall were Rookes, Burns, Sullivan and a cameo appearance from Stephen Sargeant at left back.
For Belle Vue, evergreen defender Andrew Fox stood out, along with Neil Newton.
Burn Valley 7, Welfare Cosmo' 2
A goal-feast at the Valley as Burn Valley routed Welfare by seven goals to two. A rampant home side soon found themselves four goals up thanks to strikes from David Watson, Glen Watson, Anthony Broome and Mark Rutherford, before Lee Stodhard pulled a goal back for the visitors. In the second half, Glen Watson put Burn Valley further ahead, before Welfare were given a glimmer of hope from a Chris Andrews rocket. It was to prove a false dawn, however, as two more goals from Ian Davies and David Watson gave the result an emphatic scoreline.
Division One
Nursery 7, Tunstall Old Boys 3
Debut boy Phil Pinkney was the star of the show as his sparkling treble sunk Tunstall Old Boys. It was the visitors who were first out of the blocks, however, with two early goals to rock a confident home team. It wasn't long before Nursery pulled the game around with a double strike of their own from Mick Laidler and Karl Fraser. Anthony Young then scored a volleyed goal Mark Hughes would have been proud of as the hosts began to take control.
After the interval, Young got his second from the spot, before that man Pinkney took over, his three-goal blast giving him the match ball and putting this particular game to bed. A late consolation goal from Tunstall made the final score 7-3, in a game well-marshalled by K Parker.
Woodcutter 0, G'ham Bull and Dog 1
The home side were cut down to size by a Paolo di Canio-style back heel from Alan Harl. Harl's clever piece of skill was the only time either defence was unlocked and ultimately proved the difference between the two sides. Despite some strong pressure from Woodcutter, in particular from Stephen Hopkins and Wayne Walton, Bull and Dog held out for all three points. Best for the visitors were Mark Sickling and Ian Hendry, while for the hosts, Stuart Kenny shone like a beacon.
Ye Olde Durhams 3, Odessa 1
An unusually poor performance from Odessa saw all three points go to a spirited home side, who retain their lead at the top of the division. Durhams were two up at the break and were winning the midfield battle, with Jason Lester and Paul Boagey playing like Patrick Vieira and Roy Keane. A third goal for the hosts put them out of sight, before a good cross from Mark Robinson found Shaun Winwood to slot home minutes from time to give Odessa a consolation goal. Best for Odessa was Paul Martin, while Lester, Boagey and Kevin Dixon sparkled for Durhams.
Corner Flag 0, Rugby 3
A comfortable win for Rugby over perennial strugglers Corner Flag. Flag missed a number of good chances early in the contest, with Darren Simpson missing an open goal. They were made to pay when Rugby struck with one of their first attacks, which was the only goal of a drab first half. Things brightened up after the interval and it was Rugby who took the game by the scruff of the neck with two more goals, deemed to be own goals, to leave the Corner flagging. Best for Flag were Paul Clouston and Mark Inglesant and for Rugby, Ian Riley was the star performer. Flag keeper Steve Glazier picked up an injury during the match and is struggling to be fit for this weekend's games.
Corporation Wel 4, Travellers Rest 3
Corporation won this exciting game with a dramatic comeback by the odd goal in seven against a plucky Travellers Rest outfit. Anth Morrill gave the visitors the lead, but John Paul Tumilty soon equalised with a deft finish. Travellers then shocked their hosts after the break with two more goals from Paul Batty and Peter Twidale, to put them 3-2 up and seemingly in control.
However, Tumilty popped up with his second and Robbie Durham popped up with a double of his own to give Corporation a comeback of Lazarus proportions.
Division Two
Workingmen's C 4, Ath' Millhouse 2
Scott Green was the main reason Workies won this tight game with a superb performance in the middle of the park. Green, who was a teenage professional with Middlesbrough and also played for England Schoolboys, was instrumental in setting up the first goal for Ronnie Sharps. Paul Craigs soon equalised for Millhouse and the same player shocked the home side with his second minutes later. A tactical change at the interval saw Workies turn the game around in the second period. Substitute Michael Ireland notched a double, before Barney Waugh finished the scoring with a fine goal, to give Workies a 4-2 win.
Moorcock 1, Stranton Athletic 3
That man Andy Carter scored another two goals to his impressive goal tally as Stranton ran out comfortable winners against Peterlee side Moorcock. Paul Harrison hit Stranton's third goal with a 25-yard shot which would have made AC Milan striker Kaka proud. Andy Gill pulled back a last minute consolation for the home side, whose best player on the day was Mick Robinson. Best for the visitors were Mally Sabin and Phillip Moore.
Charters Bar 2, Engineers 3
Engineers played the better football and were rewarded with victory in a tight contest. Richard Docherty opened the scoring for the visitors in just the second minute of the game, before Darren Rowbotham strolled past a static home defence to make it 2-0. Charter Bar pulled a goal back just before the interval, before Engineers added their third through Docherty, his second of the game. The home side pulled another goal back in the last minute, but it wasn't enough to stop all three points going to Engineers, whose best were Peter Sowerby and Robert Farrington.
John Dowson Cup
Seaton Holy Trinity 5, Rovers 2
Premier Division Rovers were given the shock of their lives by Second Division Seaton, who ran out worthy winners of this cup-tie. Paul Watson gave Seaton the lead with a Hugh Robertson-style free kick from 25 yards out and John Dobing doubled the lead minutes later. The hosts went further ahead after the interval thanks to a Steve Graham penalty and then Ian McDonough left them in wonderland as he made it 4-0. Rovers pulled a goal back from the spot, before Robert Thompson made the game safe for Seaton. A late goal from the visitors made little difference as Seaton deservedly dumped Rovers out of the cup.
Lion 4, Supporters 1
No shock here as cup kings Lion purred into the semi-finals with an easy win over Supporters. Goals from Alan Martin, Craig Lines, Robbie Wright andLee Dixon capped a fine display.
Division Two Cup
Clarendon 2, Fens 1
A last minute goal from star cricketer Marty Skirving sent Clarendon into the final against King John's Tavern. Fens took the lead through Martin Edmenson, before Marty Waggott pounced on a loose ball to level the scores for the hosts. Just as the game looked to be heading for extra-time Skirving broke Fens' hearts from Paul Jewson's long throw to send the home fans into transports of delights.
St Josephs 0, King John's Tavern 3
An easy win for the Tavern against a strangely out-of-sorts St Joes, which sets up a fascinating final against Clarendon. Micky Williams opened the scoring from 20 yards, a lead which was soon doubled by an Alan Cox penalty. They had to wait till late on when the win was sealed by Andrew 'Tongy' Fletcher. Special praise goes to manager Gary Bennison who has guided his team to their first ever major cup final.
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