The Kenny Ball Cup, third round produced its usual shock results last Saturday. Premier leaders Ferryhill Greyhound turned in a dismal performance, never playing in their usual immaculate fashion by losing 3-1 away to lowly-placed Sunderland Catholic Club.
Ferryhill took the lead after ten minutes through a Geoff Mason goal but a faulty back pass let Tommy Wright level shortly before half-time. The restart saw Trevor Bennett make an unchallenged solo run to put the Catholic Club 2-1 up and ten minutes from time Wright scored his second and made it 3-1.
Spring Gardens, division two promotion contenders, showed why they have an outstanding chance by defeating premier side Usworth. Trailing 1-0 at the interval, they came back three times to level the scores 3-3 and force extra time and then took the lead only for Usworth to equalise and force a penalty shoot-out which saw the Gardens score four times and Usowrth to miss the last.
Crook Town lost 2-1 at home to Wallsend Rising Sun. The first half was fairly even with Wallsend taking the lead after 30 minutes. After the restart Dennis Dolphin headed home the equaliser and the game swung from end to end. Extra time looked on the cards but the visitors grabbed the winner five minutes from time. Brian Fowler had an outstanding game.
Wynyard Veterans turned in a spirited performance to win 3-2 away to Moor House. The home side were the first to score but the Vets fought back and levelled close on the break. The restart saw the Vets taking the lead 2-1 but Moor House stormed back and made it 2-2 and it seem like extra time but Vets pushed forward and took the lead in the closing minutes.
Champions Billingham Wanderers won 5-3 away to division one side Wardley Green. The score flattered Wardley as Billingham were always in command leading 3-0 at one period courtesy of Eric Barrass and a powerfully headed goal from Charlie Bell and one from Mark Steele before Green pulled one back. After the restart Kevin Smith made it 4-1 but Green scored to make it 2-4. A 20-yarder from Keith Aldridge made it 5-2 only for the Green to make it 5-3 in the dying minutes. Geoff Kirton was outstanding for the visitors.
Sedgefield United belied their lowly division one position by losing 3-1 at home to the premier side Seaton Delaval. Three times Sedgefield led and extra time looked certain only for the visitors to score the winner in the dying minutes. Sedgefield began in fine style and went 2-0 up courtesy of goals from Kevin Stevenson and a penalty from John Barber. Rob Kitching reduced the arrears and Peter Saunders levelled with an unstoppable 25 yards free kick. Sedgefield fought back and Geoff Robson went solo to beat the offside trap and make it 3-2 just on the interval. The second half saw Seaton having a slight edge and midway through Bill Foreman equalised for the visitors. Five minutes from time Dave Mulholland netted from close in to put the visitors through 4-3.
In division three West Cornforth lost 2-1 to Durham C Strollers. Durham took an early lead, but Jimmy Hudson levelled. The second half saw the game swing from end to end with both teams having chances and it was the visitors, however, who scored ten minutes from time and won the game 2-1.
In division four Thornley Celtic won 2-1 at home to Trimdon Veterans. The first half was Thornley's and they went 2-0 up after 20 minutes through goals from Paul Summerson and Dennis Flanagan, but good defensive work from Trimdon denied them further goals. The restart saw Trimdon come back and eventually they made it 2-1 but despite all their efforts Thornley kept their goal intact and ran out 2-1 home winners.
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