Richmond Town
At last the weather conditions improved so that the club's teams could play after a very long break for some of them, writes Ben Prosser.
The Under-11s travelled to Middleton Tyas to play Dales Diamonds hoping to get their first away points. Richmond applied pressure from kick off but were unable to turn possession into goals and after five minutes Dales Diamonds scored. This spurred Richmond on and from a corner by G Hill, C Morris prodded the ball home and just before half time G Hill put Richmond ahead with a shot from inside the box. Richmond rearranged at half time giving R Stanwix his debut and T Jackson making his first appearance for two months. G Hill got a well deserved hat trick and Richmond were by now in control with goalie L Newton having little to do. S Dennis also scored meaning the final score was 7-1 with the final goal coming from N Hodgson with a shot from outside the penalty box. Man of the Match was T.Osbourn.
The Under-12s played a friendly against Darlington Spaire lads and won 5-0. The Under-13s were away to Linthorpe Falcons winning 8-1. An excellent first half display on a difficult pitch saw Richmond race to a 6-0 half time score. This allowed Richmond to make a number of changes giving fringe players an opportunity. Richmond dominated the second half but squandered a series of chances before running out 8-1 winners. Goals were from S Pritchard (4), T Keegan, G Love, T Stanywix and B.Tack.
Richmond Town Under-9s continued with their improvement when they were at home to Brompton Northallerton. Two games were played, losing the first 4-0 but drawing the second 0-0 which was a much-improved result from when they last met. Man of the match was new boy Campbell.
The Under-14s continued their winning ways with a close game at Teesside Rangers. Richmond were 3-0 up at half time with goals from J Wooff, K Holbrook and N Fisher. In the second half Teesside Rangers made a come back scoring from a cross before Richmond went 4-1 up through a C Westgarth goal but Teesside had a piece of luck scoring from a goal that was deflected in. Teeside Rangers kept up the pressure and got a third goal which put Richmond under a lot of pressure. They hit the post and goalie B Prosser pulled off a couple of important saves to help keep Richmond in the lead and get three more points keeping them on top.
Brompton Juniors
George Austic opening the scoring for Brompton A against Richmond and this was followed by a well taken goal from captain James Pugh. Richmond's keeper was kept busy as Brompton pushed forward. The second half continued as the first with Brompton on top playing some good football. Austic scored again to make it 3-0. Brompton came close several times before a delightful pass from Pugh gave Austic an easy chance to get his hat-trick, final score 4-0.
The second game was a good contest with Richmond battling hard. Brompton B put the Richmond goal under siege but some excellent goalkeeping and rusty finishing from Brompton kept the score to 0-0 at half time. Mark Watkinson had numerous chances and Jason Howell hit the post but Brompton could not make their possession count. Chris Holmes was especially outstanding in holding the midfield area. The game finished an entertaining 0-0, a credit to both teams.
New County North Durham Youth League
Goals were plentiful in the Under-16 division and the biggest win of the day was recorded by Blaydon who hammered Rutherford 9-0 when all the goals were shared by two players. Shaun Lockey hammered in six goals and Larry Stanley hit a hat-trick.
Blackfyne were also in scoring mode at Wardley where they found the net on occasions when both David Thompson and Mark Lydon scored twice.
Wylam too went nap in their home game with Beamish. Adrian Sutcliffe with a hat-trick and David Sanders, who bagged a brace, shared Wylam's five goals.
In the Durham County Under-16 Cup Whickham Fellside defeated league rival Leam Rangers with a golden goal after the teams finished 2-2 following 90 minutes. Cleveland Hall also made progress defeating Billingham Wynyard 2-0.
In the Under-17 league Leam Rangers put nine goals past Wear Valley with Andrew Hetherington finding the net on four occasions while Nicky Langston recorded a hat-trick.
Goals were less plentiful in the other two fixtures. Robbie Blemmings scored both the Blackfyne goals enabling his side to defeat Prudhoe 2-0 while Felling scored just once against Blaydon, who failed to reply.
Fairs Software Tyneside Junior League
Oagain, the programme was severely curtailed and only one game went ahead. The result, though, was significant and Chester-le-Street's victory over West Denton enabled them to move into pole position.
But Chester left it late to secure their victory - scoring in the 90th and added time.
One point separated fourth-placed West Denton and second placed Chester when the Newcastle based side travelled to Moor Park on Saturday afternoon.
Chester had the better of the opening exchanges against a strong visiting side. Craig Watson's fine effort almost gave them a 10th minute lead, before Jonathan Taylor's superb centre, was blazed over at close range by Steven Dawson. Paul McDonald then powered a header just wide of the post.
The home side turned up the heat after the interval, but West Denton held firm despite Mark Adamson, Jonathan Taylor and Paul McDonald going close. Despite incessant pressure in the final 15 minutes, Chester struggled to find the breakthrough. Then, with all hopes of a breakthrough evaporating, Jonathan Taylor stepped up to grab a 90th minute winner. With the ball running lose from Mark Adamson's run, Taylor drove an unstoppable shot into the roof of the net from the edge of the box, for his third goal of the season.
A minute later, Mark Adamson was upended in the box, and Paul McDonald stepped up to secure his tenth goal in ten games, and the club's first goal of the season from the penalty spot.
Chester-le-Street are still the only undefeated side in the Fairs League this season having won seven and drawn two of their nine games. Commenting on Saturday's game, Manager Andrew Muxworthy said: "90 minutes is as good a time as any to opening the scoring. The fact that it was 0-0 for so long underpins the competitiveness of this league. For me, the fact that the team never gave up despite the frustration of missed chances, was encouraging."
Chester: Beckwith, Coulson, Haggon, Renshaw, Rome (Smith 65), Watson (G Draper 57), Flynn, Taylor, Dawson (R Draper 61), McDonald, Adamson. Subs not used: Liddle, Lowther.
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