Kelly Read Cup – Preliminary Round
Dunston 1 -2 Old Boys United
Old Boys returned back to cup action this Sunday as they travelled to near neighbours Dunston. Tony Sewell tried his luck with a free kick only to be denied by a fantastic save by the home keeper but Old Boys keeper Brandon Doherty, not wanting to be out done by his opposite number, also pulled off a fantastic save to keep the game goalless. It took a bizarre Adam Gardiner corner to break the deadlock when the wind took his corner all the way in making it 1-0 to Old Boys at the break.
From the restart it didn’t take Dunston long to level the game. With extra time looming Tony Sewell managed to go one in one on one with the Dunston keeper before slotting the ball home to restore Old Boys lead with minutes remaining. Dunston kept trying to break the Old Boys back four down but unfortunately for them they had no luck with the game finishing 2-1 to the visitors.
Wishing Well Cherry FC 2-3 Heighington FC
Heighington travelled to Division One side Wishing Well Cherry looking to put the mauling they suffered the previous week in the League behind them, but with both sides struggling for numbers it was never going to be a classic. The away side travelled with a bare 11 players whilst Cherry were without a good few of their stronger players.
The visitors opened the scoring somewhat against the run of play, a less than fully fit Greg Brown beating the offside trap and finishing neatly to mark his return from injury. The hosts were soon level, the referee awarding a penalty following a challenge from fullback James Broughton. The resulting penalty was despatched past stand-in goal keeper Ollie Stirk who usually plays as a centre back. That concluded the scoring in the first half.
The second half continued in much the same fashion as the first with Cherry applying most of the pressure with Heighington happy to sit back and look for the quick counter. The hosts pressing paid off on the hour mark with central midfielder Aaron Bee finding the net from the edge of the area for 2-1. The visitors were still well in the game however with the pace of winger Craig Good troubling the home defence on a number of occasions. As the game neared its conclusion a second goal from Brown levelled things up at 2-2 before the game swung again. Brown raced through onto a long ball before he was tripped in the area. It was a certain foul but the home side were upset that an offside flag in the build up was ignored by the referee. The penalty stood however with Good tucking it away for his 2nd goal of the season. The game finished 2-3, with Heighington advancing to the next round.
Division Three
Mareham United 2-6 Ruston Sports FC
Ruston’s made the long trip to Mareham United to try to make it three wins in a row, but were chasing the game early on when a looping free kick evaded Ruston’s keeper Ashley Franklin who’s head appeared to still be at Meadow Lane from the previous day! Ruston’s were trying to force their way back into the game but it was the home side who doubled their lead when an excellent through ball was rounded off with a calm finish.
Following the goal the game got fairly scrappy but the visitors were thrown a life line just before half time when Timmie Mann picked out Jack Willan from a corner and the big centre half headed home. After getting themselves together at the break Rustons emerged a different side and Timmie Mann found Pete Dickinson who calmly equalised.
Ruston’s were flying forward and Sam Joyce found Dickinson again moments later with the front man doubling his tally for the day with another calm finish. Joyce also got himself on the score sheet moments later when Sam Wade picked him out on the edge of the box with the Ruston’s captain hammering home on his first start since his return from suspension.
The flood gates had opened by this stage and it was soon five as the game came towards its finale with centre half Paul Norris netting his fourth of the season, driving home from close range. In the dying minutes striker Dickinson sprung through before finding Sam Joyce who collected his second to round off an impressive away win.
The Ruston’s man of the match went to Sam Wade this week with the left back excelling through the whole 90 minutes.
Division Four
Fva Jerusalem Reserves 1 – 2 The Blue Lion
The Lions started the better of the two teams grabbing an early goal in the 7th Minute courtesy of a tidy finish by skipper Tom Hirons. After playing the better football for the first 35 minutes Jerusalem took control of the game and grabbed themselves a well deserved goal when they made the most of a poor Lion clearance.
The second half was a great half of football with both teams going close. The teams both controlled patches of the game but as the game drew to a close the Lions had the second wind to provide the better chances of the two teams and six minutes from time Tom Hirons grabbed a late winner giving The Blue Lion their second league win in 2 games. This represents a remarkable turnaround in their development as they failed to register a single point last Season when they were debutants to the League.
They now have a 100% League record so far this season and they will look to keep that going for as long as possible in this, their record breaking Season!
Ian Stephenson