Match reports submitted to the gazzette, League and Cup

In the 2nd round of the Alex Woodcock cup Pac Builders met Nook Utd in what turned out to be a very close encounter indeed. Pac took an early lead through Adam Thompson, and then just before half time Brian Orton leveled for the Nook. The second half saw both teams pressing for a winner but two excellent saves from Nook keeper Shawn Newbrooke kept his side in it. The game was finally decided on penalties and Nook?s Paul Trosh was the unfortunate man to miss the vital penalty as Pac went through 4-3 in the penalty shoot out.

Jarrow Ellison came out on top in a thrilling cup tie against Hebburn Iona both teams played decent football despite a heavy pitch. Iona held the lead at the break through a Gary Baxter header. Ellison soon leveled early in the second half through Johnny Turner. The same player then made it 2-1 with a great strike after good work from Stuart Lane. Iona leveled again when Baxter got his second, with the game heading for extra time substitute Liam Garthwaite was tripped in the box and another Ellison substitute Dave Foster made no mistake from the spot. Iona then threw everything at the Ellison goal in a last ditch effort to get level but a great double save by Gary Thorius saw Ellison through.

In the A division Ship and Vets Reunited remain the only unbeaten teams at the top of the division. A hat trick from Niq Quinn helped Ship to a comfortable 6-0 win against Boldon FC, this being their eighth victory out of nine starts. The other goals came from Mal Green, Jason Pease and Karl Nolam. Vets Reunited picked up their seventh victory from eight starts with a 2-0 win over a much improved Jolly Steward side thanks to goals from Graham Brash and Paul Darling.

In the B Division The Robins failure to win cost them top spot, the 1-1 draw with Boldon Wheatsheaf meant that they failed to join The Bridge at the top. The Robin Hood should have really won this game, certainly having enough chances to bury Boldon Wheatsheaf.
The Robin took an early lead with a great finish from Stevie Stephenson who was set up by good work from striking partner Aaron Todd. Stevie Stephenson returning from an injury sustained in a previous bruising encounter with Boldon Wheatsheaf looked lively but a lack of match practice could have been the cause of him missing two guilt edged chances. David Mullen produced a man of the match performance in the heart of the defence for The Robin Hood. In fact the whole Robin defence played well but again the old failing of conceding a late goal from a set piece was the Robins undoing when they allowed Graeme Smith to score from a free kick just outside the box. Lee Dean the Wheatsheaf?s keeper had a tremendous game for his team had fully deserved the star man award.