Brotton still on title charge

Annandale Hotel v Brotton WMC

Aentertained title hopefuls Brotton. The game was evenly contested for the first half hour, with both teams attempting to play passing football on a heavy pitch. Solomon had a shot cleared off the line for Brotton and then Booth went close to scoring for the home side. Annandale defended well but were dealt a cruel blow when Brotton struck twice in a minute just before half time, through Solomon and Ward. With Annandale pushing forward Solomon broke clear to score again just after the restart. Shortly after he completed his hat trick from the penalty spot. As the yound Annandale side tired in the heavy conditions Scott added to Brotton's goal tally making the final score 5-0.

Gt Ayton v Redcar Mackinlay Park

Gt Ayton went ahead with a crossed goal from Murray that beat the Mackinlay Park keeper. Ten minutes later Murray scored again with a hard low shot into the bottom corner of the net. In the 30th minute a shot from Ripley was saved by the Mackinlay keeper but unfortunately his palmed clearance fell back to Ripley who was able to tap the ball into the net. In the closing minute of the first half the Redcar side pulled a goal back with a well taken shot into the top corner of the net by Ackerley. 5 minutes into the second half Mackinlay Park got themselves back into the game when Ackerley scored his second after he powered in on a defensive error and tapped into an empty net. Mid way through the half however Gt Ayton increased their lead again, Murray completing his hat trick from the penalty spot. With 5 minutes to go Roth came on as substitute for Mackinlay Park and immediately scored, but it was too late in the game for Mackinlay to find the equaliser and the game finished 4-3.

Grosmont v Lingdale Tavern

Heavy conditions made play difficult but Lingdale took the game to Grosmont, Pearson in goal having to make some good early saves with shots from Calvert and Breckon. In the 13th minute Breckon opened the scoring from the penalty spot after Gary Calvert was tripped in the box. Lingdale continued to pressurise and won a corner. Downing found Neil calvert on th edge of the box whose looping header beat the Grosmont keeper. Grosmont battled hard with Swales working well in midfiald to make chances for the forwards but they failed to capitalise. In the 41st minute Lingdale increased their lead when Breckon won the ball in midfield, played the bal to Gary Calvert who run through and acored a cracking goal from 20 yards. On the stroke of half time Breckon was again the provider this time for Calvert to head the ball home from ten yards.

Both teams found the conditions increasingly difficult in the second half. Lingdale continued to attack but Pearson and his defence held firm until the 80th minute when Calvert completed his hat trick after rounding the keeper to score Final score 5-0.

Highland Laddie v Goldsborough

Laddie started the brighter with Taylor combining well with Brian Combellack but the shot went just wide.Goldsborough began to settle and with Duell bursting through from the back began to create chances. One good chance fell to Hicks but a point blank save from Bennett denied him. Then a break down the right and a cross from Raine saw Brown make a brilliant saving header in front of Hicks. Laddie were struggling as Goldsborough dominated in every wat except scoring, then a rare break after nice work from Combellack saw Corner slot home Laddie's first goal. Goldsborough continued to dominate but found no way through the Laddie defence and Laddie carried their slender advantage to the break. In the second half Laddie pressed more, Combellack and Brown working hard in midfield, with Welford,Stewart and Raine compacting the midfield for Goldsborough. Eventually laddie managed to nick another goal after good work by Taylor and Brown gave Combellack the chance to squeeze the ball home. Laddie relaxed a little as Goldsborough pushed hard, another great Bennett save keeping them out. Laddie brought on striker Jason Rye for his home debut with 10 minutes to go qand as Goldsborough pressed forward they were caught on the break after Rye made his presence felt, leading to Combellack being brought down and successfully converting the resulting penalty. Exciting stuff. Final score was 3-0 to Laddie.

Hinderwell v Anchor Inn

Anchor followed up last weeks win over Grangetown with afine display at Hinderwell. Anchor took the lead within 10 minutes when Scott side footed in from the edge of the box after the Hinderwell keeper had blocked a previous shot. Scott made it 2 - 0 after he took a short corner, received the ball back and took on three defenders before rifling the ball into the top corner of the net. He then completed his hat trick within half an hour with another great strike from 20 yards. At this stage Anchor didn't have it all their own way and good pressure from Hindwerwell led to them pulling a goal back when Sivills fired into the roof of the net. However Strike widened the margin just before half time finishing from close range after some nifty footwork. The second half was a much more one sided affair with the Anchor running their hosts ragged with some great passing football, despite the wet conditions, goalkeeper Stinton a spectator - stark contast to his previous weeks heroics. Man of the match, Scott, got his 4th and 5th goals again with good finished and the game was wrapped up by strikes from debutant Hetherington with a cool finish following a run down the left; Lacey with a glancing header;, Stevenson from a one to one with the keeper; Blakey with a close range header and veteran Bowmaker who tucked away a penalty after being felled in the box. Final score 11-1

Lingdale Utd v Boosbeck Utd

The game took place thanks to the committee and players of Lingdale putting in a lot of work to make the pitch playable. Boosbeck were the first to attack, Lingdale keeper saving at the feet of Johnson in the opening minutes. Winter then took the ball up the right and crossed for Johnson who narrowly missed with a good header. Lingdale then broke nbut the Boosbeck defence held Hololob and Iseton, who combined well on the right, and Myers saved comfortably. Boosbeck then attacked againforcing Gibson into a point blank save from a Brown header. Gibson was in action again when Thompsom had a strong volley brilliantly saved. The deadlock was finally broken when Johnson rounded the Lingdale defence to put the ball into an empty net. With the pitch playing more heavily both teams did well to continue playing such good football. Early in the second half Brown made it 2 - 0 in Boosbeck's favour with a firm headed goal. The next 20 minutes saw Lingdale fight back forcing a brilliant save by Myers but the resulting corner led to a powerful header from Wood giving the keeper no chance. Lingdale then threatened with Welford dominating the midfield and a melee in the Boosbeck goal mouth saw Wood score his second. With 5 minutes to go Gibson again came to Lingdale's rescue with a fine save off a Winter shot, this time the resulting header was cleared off the line. Both keepers were outstanding in this typical local dereby game. Final score 2-2.

Staithes v Grangetown YCC

This top of the table clash was as expected a highly competitive game with both sides giving their all in the attempt for maximum points. Staithes put on the pressure for the first 30 minutes, with Grangetown closing down and tackling hard to thwart any chances that The home team created. With ten minutes to the half time whistle an excellent through ball was superbly brought down and tucked away by Libby to break the deadlock. In the second half Grangetown began with their usual determination and levelled after some lack lustre defending through Wake. With Hampton working extremely hard for Staithes, chances were created but Mealing saved superbly on four separate occasions to keep the score level With time running out Staithes applied more pressure, Libby put them ahead after some well worked moves and then Theaker put the result beyond doubt with a screamer from 25 yards. Staithes deservedly going to the top of the table but all credit to Grangetown for providing a highly competitive game.