In a very entertaining match with both sides playing an open attacking game South Bank had the better of the opening stages going into a 2-0 lead after twenty minutes with goals from Chris Watson after good inter passing by Gary Owens and Paul Barker and Anthony Reed hitting the second after harrassing two defenders then winning the ball and smashing home. Dubliners hit one back when Jamie Clark slipped when attempting to clear a through ball by Glenn Butterworth for Karl Boult to score past Danny Watson. Minutes before half time Phillip King was injured in a tackle the Bank were disorganised momentarily when he tried to carry on James Hackett broke clear to hit the equaliser just on halftime for 2-2.   Phillip King was replaced at the interval South Bank introduced Jamie May. A bullet like shot hit Sam Greenfield and the Bank felt hard done by when referee James Cann, who had a very good performance, awarded a penalty. This was converted by Glenn Butterworth past Danny Watson who guessed the right way but alas was beaten 2-3 to the Dubliners. Jamie May playing in his first game since his recovery from an operation he put in an excellent performance a testament to his hard work and committment. Chris Watson was replaced by Simon Annal and his driven cross got a slight deflection off a defender deceiving keeper Darren Humphrey to make it 3-3. This set up a grandstand finish and the hard working non stop performance of Anthony Reed was rewarded when he smacked home the winner 4-3  from a through ball by man of the match Harrison Davies.


Hardwick hit top form with an awesome display of clinical striking from their forwards and a tremendous all round team performance. Jamie Owens bagged a double hat-trick and Kallum Hannah netted four times. Hardwick took control from the start and scored three goals with their first three attacks, two from Owens and one from Hannah. They then had the taste for it and pushed on and on, by half time it was 7-0. St Mary’s deserve a lot of credit for playing the game so sportingly and kept it going right to the end. The other Hardwick goals came from Ross Heslop 2, Danny Dawson & Philly Parkinson.

In division two The Eagle had to settle for a draw this weekend in what turned out to be an entertaining 4 - 4 draw against Penny Black.  The Eagle came from behind on four occasions, Marc Johnson and Richard Mills both scoring a brace. For the Penny Black Neil Brette netted twice and further goals came from Graham Richardson and Kevin Rigby.

In division two Stockton West End continued there good start to the season with a 7 1 win over Stockton Arms. West End started brightly dominating the early part of the game with the Arms keeper making good saves from Mulgrew, Martin and Peter Irish. After 20 minutes West End took a deserved lead with a thunder bolt shot from 15 yards from Matthew Martin. West End continued to dominate and if it was not for Carl Holland in the Stockton Arms goal The game would have been over before half time. However after 30 minutes Stockton Arms James Thompson made it 1-1 with a long range shot that left Jamie Farley in the West End goal stranded. Early in the second half West End were awarded a penalty which Martin converted to make it 2-1. Then West End made a couple of substitutions and that is when the flood gates opened Steven Carberry made it 3-1 with his first touch of the ball. Stephen Brown made it four then Peter Irish chipped in with two goals before Brown wrapped the game up with his second and West Ends seventh. SWE would also like to congratulate referee Darren Walker who had an excellent game.

Also in division two The Eagle ran riot against Fairfield Athletic winning 1-11.  Daniel Ward scoring the opening goal with a brilliant solo effort before going on to bag himself a hat-trick in the first half.  Another hat-trick from Richard Mills, a brace from Marc Johnson and goals from Matthew Knaggs, Daz Smith and Alan Gill sealed the victory; a deserved man of the match went to Daniel Ward.

Last Sunday saw the first round of the Ian Gorman Memorial trophy whilst holders the Mandale had a bye all other teams were involved in first round ties.

The Sheraton were looking to get over the disappointment of last week, and made five change's bringing in a full new midfield and one change at the back. The Sheraton started at a good tempo closing down and giving The Swan no time on the ball the Sheraton won a corner which Mark Robinson took picking out Liam Connor who flicked it on to Bri Cole who made no mistake putting it away and giving the Sheraton the lead inside five minutes, then minutes later Ash Hauxwell picked the ball up wide right ran past two defenders before hammering home on his left foot.

The Sheraton were in total control of the game and The Swan were finding it hard to get out of their half. Mark Robinson hit a long range shot that just went wide, Ste Lonsdale was given a chance to shine and was playing well in the centre of midfield for the Sheraton, he took a long throw which Ash Hauxwell flicked on for Bri Cole to get his second of the game, the Sheraton took their foot of the pedal a little before half time. The Sheraton took off centre back Liam Connor for new boy Jonny Cooper who went in midfield making it 3-5-2.

The Sheraton started well and the Swan couldn't handle the first division team as another Mark Robinson corner was flicked on by Jonny Cooper for Ash Hauxwell to head in at the back post, Matty Holbrook hit the cross bar before coming off for Carl Thompson. Jonny Cooper was having a good game and after picking the ball up went past three defenders and finished on his left foot, Mark Robinson worked down the right wing and crossed a ball into the box which Ash Hauxwell met with a sweet left footed volley making it 6-0 and his hat trick before coming off for Martin Slater who was in on the goals within minutes after tapping in a deflected Bri Cole shot. Jonny Cooper hit another great shot which was blocked but looked destined for the goal.
The Swan managed to get on the score sheet when Craig Allan gave the ball away, which was crossed into the centre for a simple tap in but the Sheraton were still wanting more and as the game went in to the last ten minutes. The fitness started to show and Ste Lonsdale, Paul Ayre, and Jonny Cooper were just allowed to play football as they played a quick one two saw Carl Thompson run through at goal before hammering a 25 yard shot past the keeper. Mark Robinson finished the scoring with a headed goal rounding off a good Sheraton win and a place in the next round.   

It was top of the league the Sheraton at home to league favourites the Mandale after their first loss in three seasons in the league last week, the Mandale were up for the game and fielded their strongest team of the season so far.

The game started at a good tempo and within two minutes Brian Cole had a great chance nearly lobbing Gary Poole in the Mandale goal, Martin Slater couldn’t follow it up. Martin Slater was having a bit of luck down the right but the Sheraton couldn’t find a much needed early goal as Mandale quickly settled and started making inroads down the Sheraton left, right winger Andy Henderson put a good ball into the Sheraton box which was side footed in, to give Mandale the lead. The Mandale started to play some good football and centre midfield’s O Toole and Ryder were controlling the game and out working the Sheraton’s midfield and soon hit a second which was much the same as the first goal with Andy Henderson crossing from the right and was put past Danny Phillips in the Sheraton goal. The Sheraton were finding it hard to get into the game Brian Cole was working hard upfront but didn’t have much to go on and Ash Hauxwell was having a good run in with Jamie Poole, Mandale were in total control and added a third before half time a great header from another good ball into the box, the Sheraton were in need of the half time whistle.

After the hair drier treatment the Sheraton went back out, looking to finish the match with some pride, and started the second half better working hard and making it hard for Mandale to play football and Mandale were slowly being pushed back into their half, the Sheraton were starting to make half chances and winning more and more corners but still couldn’t find a way past Gary Poole both teams made two change’s which gave the Sheraton some more go and legs, 15 minutes in and the Sheraton got their first goal it was a Marc Parry corner flicked on by Liam Connor and finally headed in by Martin Slater from close range this lifted the Sheraton more and the second half was looking to be as one sided as the first but this time it was the Sheraton making all the inroads, Danny Phillips was called into action a couple of time when the Mandale broke away. The Sheraton was up to the task with 15 minutes to go Ash Hauxwell finally got away from Jamie Poole long enough to flick one past Gary Poole in a crowed box for 3-2. The Sheraton were putting the pressure on the Mandale and it was turning out to be a rearguard action with the odd break away from the Mandale, it was just a question of could the Sheraton get another goal before full time Ash Hauxwell had a great chance on his right but missed Martin Slater missed a header from a corner and there was a big shout for a penalty when Martin Slater when down in the box after a tackle from behind pole axed him. The Mandale held on and were happy to hear the full time whistle go it was a great game by two of the best teams in the first division and Kevin Blackburn was top draw as the man in the middle.

Last weekend saw the first preliminary round of the Durham Sunday Cup with a number of sides from the league were involved these included Stockton West End who travelled to Hartlepool Engineers. Stockton West End started at a fast pace and they took the lead after five minutes when Steve Brown chipped the keeper. The game then settled down with both sides having good chances to score then just before half time the Engineers levelled the score with a five yard tap in. In the second half West End began to take control of the game and the Engineers keeper having to make good saves from both Brown and Martin. On the hour mark Cassidy then scored a second to make it 2-1 to the visitors and on 77 minutes Martin wrapped the game up for a good win for West End.

Rosegale N.&S.A. bounced back after a disappointing start to the season scoring eight goals without reply against Durham Cup opponent Greatham. A hat trick for Danny Earl and Dean Bell and a brace for Mark Lilley was the difference between the sides.

The Eagle met at home on Sunday in the first preliminary round of the Durham Cup against Hartlepool DPM Carpets.  An exciting closely matched game left both teams level at full time (1 – 1 with Rob Hughes scoring for the Eagle).  DPM Carpets came out on top into extra time bagging a further two goals although The Eagle pulled one back with the away team scoring an own goal.  The Eagle bravely fought back to leave a tense final few minutes until DPM Carpets secured the win with a final goal to leave the score 4 - 2.

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Picture from The Eagle v Hartlepool DPM Carpets (Durham Sunday Cup)