Wearside League: Moody saves the day as Silksworth CW consolidate fourth place

Silksworth CW boosted their hopes of a top-four finish by holding firm for a point in their match of the day away to Boldon CA.
Sunderland West End (red and white) line up a shot in Saturday's clash with Wolviston.  Picture by Tim RichardsonSunderland West End (red and white) line up a shot in Saturday's clash with Wolviston.  Picture by Tim Richardson
Sunderland West End (red and white) line up a shot in Saturday's clash with Wolviston. Picture by Tim Richardson

Adam Bell scored first for Boldon on 17 minutes, when he lobbed goalkeeper Joe Clayton, but Silksworth equalised 10 minutes later, Stephen Moody firing home to level matters at 1-1.

Neither side could find a winner in the second half, leaving Andrew Stobbart’s Wearsiders in fourth place, five points ahead of Boldon, who have two games in hand.

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Dan Martin was outstanding for Silksworth, with Tom West top man for Boldon.

Sunderland West End suffered a surprise first defeat of 2017 when lowly Wolviston edged a close-fought battle 2-1 at Ford Quarry.

Andrew McGirr’s header and a tap-in from Ross Eaglesham had Wolviston in command in the first half.

West End responded with a goal just before half-time, through Matty Halliday’s close-range effort, but the visitors held firm in the second half to claim all three points.

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West End are back in action on Wednesday night, with a trip to Harton & Westoe CW before entertaining Redcar Athletic on Saturday.

Coxhoe Athletic are in terrific form and are up to sixth position, after a 3-1 win away at bottom club Harton & Westoe CW.

Harton’s chances were rocked early on as their keeper, Daniel Hebden, was sent off for handling the ball outside the box in trying to deny a goalscoring opportunity, and Coxhoe did not look back.

Ross Morrow put the Beechfield Park side in front in the 15th minute, but Harton equalised with a Cory Fenwick header.

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Morrow scored his second just before half time and Kyle Morris added another in the second half, it was 3-1 and a comfortable win in the end for Athletic.

Table-toppers Jarrow ran out 2-0 derby winners at home to South Shields Reserves.

But the Perth Green men left it late before securing their 22nd win in 28 league games.

A close-fought first half ended goalless, before Shields had a couple of chances in the second half to rock Jarrow.

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The home side, though, finally took the lead 15 minutes from time when Jonny Hirst shot home from outside the box, arrowing into the bottom corner of the net.

Jarrow sealed all three points with a second goal in the 87th minute, with Josh Allen producing a good finish, again from outside the box.

That took Dave Bell’s men nine points clear of Richmond Town and Redcar Athletic, though, crucially, the Yorkshire side – whose game at home to Windscale was postponed when the Cumbrians’ bus to the game broke down – have four matches in hand.

Third-top Redcar Athletic saw their title hopes hit hard by a 3-2 lossat home to Darlington 1883 Reserves.

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Darlington, up to ninth in the table as they maintained their impressive run, scored first through Joshua Smith, but Adam Preston cancelled it out.

Nathan Stevenson restored the visitors’ lead and then made it 3-1 on 62 minutes, courtesy of a superb free-kick.

Prolific marksman Andy Jennings fired home an 89th-minute penalty to give Redcar a late lifeline, but the Quakers held on to extend their impressive run.

Leam Rangers beat Annfield Plain 2-1, coming from behind at the Hilltop Ground to move up to 11th place in the table.

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Aaron Wilkinson fired Annfield in front, but Nathan Bailey’s header levelled it up and the winner came on 67 minutes when Joe Hunter beat goalkeeper Tom Chrostowski at the near post.

Prudhoe Town were no match for Cumbrian hosts Cleator Moor Celtic, who kept up their fine run of results with a comprehensive 4-0 victory.

Tom Mahone, a brace from Callum Birdsall and Ryan Newbrook’s late goal were more than enough to see off Prudhoe.

Hartlepool slipped to seventh place, behind Coxhoe, after their trip to Stokesley SC was postponed.