Durham Sunday League: Burnside's magic Max factor proves too much for Pelton Crown

Burnside WMC made it six wins out of six in Division Two to climb to sixth place in the table, inspired by a goal to remember.
Rolls-Royce (blue) score against Willow Pond in last week's Over-40s League clash. Picture by Kevin BradyRolls-Royce (blue) score against Willow Pond in last week's Over-40s League clash. Picture by Kevin Brady
Rolls-Royce (blue) score against Willow Pond in last week's Over-40s League clash. Picture by Kevin Brady

Burnside ran out 6-1 winners at Pelton Crown, leapfrogging their hosts with the convincing victory.

Yet Crown struck first, Scott Simpson firing home, and they squandered a couple of good chances to extend their advantage.

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Burnside roused themselves, levelling with a fabulously outrageous bicycle kick from man of the match Max Stoker, a goal which drew admirers from the home side, who called it “probably the best best goal I have seen on a Sunday morning, a brilliant Andy Carroll-like overhead kick from the edge of the 18-yard box into the top corner, with power.”

Stoker went on to complete his hat-trick in the second half, with Callum Munro and two-goal Craig Ellison also on target. Keeper David Hartley shone for Pelton.

Ushaw Moor Cricket Club closed within a point of third-top Durham Bede Lodge SC with a 2-0 home triumph.

Dominant Ushaw Moor took a first-half lead when Michael Abson finished from close range after Jonny Hodgson, playing against his former team, forces a save from visiting keeper Gary Askew, who could only parry it to Abson.

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Bede improved on the restart, but the makeshift home defence stood firm and the cricketers sealed victory when Jon Hodgson used his physique and fended off defenders’ challenges to double the lead from the tightest of angles.

Mark Burnham shone for Ushaw Moor, with Alex Wilson best for Bede.

Durham County moved 13 points clear at the top after winning a tremendous match 2-1 at second-placed Chester Bar 18Seven.

Star man Joe Kerry and Alex Graham scored with free headers from corners to guide County to a 12th win in 14 league games.

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Michael Jones headed a consolation for Bar 18Seven, whose star man was Allen Robson.

High Handenhold Bird Inn secured an entertaining 3-3 draw at home to Bishop Middleham.

Dan Cormack, star man Jonathan Swift and Shane Swift notched for Bird, with David Redfern and Jon Steel, who converted a pair of penalties, responding. Philip Best was Middleham’s top performer.

Houghton Town’s Premier Division title hopes were rocked by a second successive defeat, 3-1 away to defending champions Pelton RAOB.

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Star man Joe Calvert struck for Houghton, but Cameron Nichol’s double and a Jack Honour strike steered Buffs home.

Chilton WMC came from behind to move clear of trouble with a 2-1 victory at fourth-bottom Brandon Sports Club.

The scrappy affair was eventually won by a disputed penalty, Stephen Ferguson causing chaos and a handball offence leading to star man Nicky Pickford coolly despatching the spot-kick.

Gavin Mudd gave Brandon the lead in the first half, but Chilton rallied and sustained pressure paid off in the final 20 minutes, levelling with David Gibson’s stunning strike into the top corner.

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Sedgefield St Edmund’s stayed three points clear at the top after outgunning visitors Waldridge Park 4-0.

John Maddison, Paul Wilkinson, Calum Johnston and man of the match Joe Peel guided Saints home after a goalless first half.

Sherburn Village edged a 2-1 victory at Sacriston Cricket Club.

It was a must-win game for the bottom club, who dominated early on and when ahead with a peach of a free-kick from Graham Embleton, which gave keeper Tom Curry no chance/

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Tom Young and, in the final few seconds, Gaz Dodds sealed a turnaround win for Sherburn, with Nick Marley running the show.

Houghton Chilton Lodge slipped to the foot of Division One after losing 3-2 to relegation rivals Pelaw Grange Dogs.

Pelaw enjoyed a bright start and went ahead when star man Bri Allen controlled the ball well and finished into the bottom corner from outside the box.

Chilton Lodge were close to a leveller with a brillant effort from distance, but the ball hit Corey Lennox’s bar.

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Pelaw soon doubled their lead, with David Jeffers finishing clinically after a good move which started from right-back.

Jeffers added another with a brilliant finish into the top corner for 3-0.

Dan Thompson pulled one back, robbing Paul McNally on the edge of the box and rounding the keeper to slot home.

In the second half, star man Ross Meenaghan made it 3-2 late on, but the visitors managed to see out the game for only their third league win, leapfrogging Lodge.

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Washington Cross Keys defeated New Brancepeth WMC 2-0, with man of the match Phil Marriott and Liam Young bagging the goals.

Keeper Philly Pouton was outtsanding for Brancepeth in keeping the score down.

Ferryhill Dynamoes and Hilda Park shared the spoils in a 2-2 draw.

Dynamoes had the better of the first half, but Hilda rocked them when a through ball found Stephen Clifford and he slotted the ball past keeper Ryan Farley for the opener.

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The game turned on its head as Jonathan Mason and sub Andrew Agar put Ferryhill in front, but Jamie Gordon converted a penalty to level it up again.

Geoff Halliday stood out for Hilda, with Vinny Gash top man for fourth-top Ferryhill.

Ferryhill Celtic enjoyed an easy 5-0 victory over Coxhoe Red Lion to stay second, with Peter Robson firing a double.

Luke Thompson, Jonny Agar and Liam Pearson all got in on the act, with Anthony Phillipson star man.

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Man of the match Michael Hall fired a treble as table-toppers Lambton Lions demolished Witton Gilbert WMC 8-0.

Jack Young (2), Ben Goodwin, Joe Rutter and Andrew Jackson also got on the scoresheet. Keeper Paul Reid shone for Witton.

Second-top East Rainton edged home 3-2 against Gateshead Last Orders.

Star man Jon Grant, OIllie Hotchkiss and James Wood did the damage.

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Grange Villa secured a 3-0 victory away to Durham Rangers to stay third.

Mark Greener made the breakthrough, receiving a fine pass from Ben Jefferson and cutting inside to slot home.

Micky Gray quickly doubled the lead, meeting a Darryl Laws cross with a neat half-volley into the bottom corner.

Gray then completed a killer five-minute spell by striking again, when Rangers failed to clear a corner.

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Rangers had a 36th-minute penalty well saved by visiting keeper James Davidson, who also kept out the rebound.

Bearpark had to scrap for a 2-1 home win over lowly Durham Buffaloes Head, which moved them into fifth place.

Carl Brown and Dylan Crooks grabbed the vital goals, sandwiching Paul Field’s sweet solo effort. Wayne Gardner starred for Buffs, with Paul Green best for Bearpark.

Sedgefield SC secured a 4-2 success at Ouston Juniors to climb into second place, behind leaders Dubmire WMC, in the Third Division.

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Nathan Morley hit both Ouston goals when they were four down.

Dubmire were 2-1 victors at Bowburn thanks to Paul Coxon’s brace.

Lumley lost 3-0 at Pittington in a feisty game which kept the referee busy throughout.