Over-40s League: Blue House seek one more win to clinch Third Division crown

Blue House will be crowned champions of Division Three if they win at lowly Sedgefield Black Lion tomorrow.
The Philadelphia Over-40s (red/black) v Hartlepool Stag & Monkey (green/white) at Herrington CW last Saturday.The Philadelphia Over-40s (red/black) v Hartlepool Stag & Monkey (green/white) at Herrington CW last Saturday.
The Philadelphia Over-40s (red/black) v Hartlepool Stag & Monkey (green/white) at Herrington CW last Saturday.

The Wearsiders are 16 points clear after beating Woodhorn Lane 3-0 in midweek.

The Philadelphia are level with second-top Wallsend Winstons, albeit having played a game more.

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Phili beat Hartlepool Stag & Monkey 4-2 to keep up their promotion push in an entertaining game, an own goal clinching victory after Stag hit back from two down to level, while Winstons hit goals galore to thump Boldon Colliery Tavern 8-0 and Willow Pond 10-2.

Rolls-Royce crushed Houghton Cricket 5-1, while Willow Pond drew 2-2 with Hedworthfield Red Hackle. In midweek, Oddies pipped Hackle 2-1 and Wingate Cons edged a 2-1 victory at Houghton Cricket.

Penshaw Catholic Club forced a 2-2 midweek draw with fourth-top Tudhoe Black Horse to stay ninth in the Premier Division, while third-bottom South Shields lost 3-1 to Marden to stay deep in relegation trouble, with their rivals all having games in hand.

In Division One, Wearmouth CW’s wait to clinch the title was put on hold by a postponement.

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Easington CIU won 4-1 at Dubmire, St Mary’s College climbed out of the bottom two with a 4-1 victory at Coxhoe Red Lion and bottom club The Milbourne Arms lost 2-0 at Ferryhill Greyhound.

Second-bottom Pelton Crown lost 4-1 at Consett in midweek.

Seaham Marlborough completed their Second Division campaign in top spot, following a hard-fought 2-1 win over Blakelaw SC, their 18th win 26 games.

Thornley Celtic, though, need just two points from their final four matches to take the title after winning 4-0 at Hartlepool Catholic Club in midweek.

Hartlepool Catholic also crashed 5-2 to South Shields Catholic Club, in the only other game to get the green light last weekend.

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A first-minute goal set up Shields and, despite twice being pegged back to level, they ran out convincing winners in atrocious conditions.

Wearmouth Old Boys drew 1-1 at Ivy Legends to boost their hopes of avoiding the wooden spoon in Division Four.

They are a point behind Hartlepool Greenside with a game in hand.

Third-bottom Oddfellows Arms lost 4-2 to third-top Durham County Strollers, who also beat Stanley Ball Alley 2-0.

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Colonel Prior were beaten 3-2 by visitors Pelton Newfield to stay fourth-bottom.

Trimdon Vets and Billingham Vets served up a 1-1 draw, Gary Duffie’s opener for the visitors quickly cancelled out.

Cramlington Burton House won the first silverware of the season, beating Tudhoe Black Horse 4-2 in the Robson Pattison Cup final at Wearmouth CW.

The pitch has undergone extensive refurbishment and the new drainage system was put to the test.

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Great credit must be given to all the committee and ground staff, particularly Chris Hall.

Tudhoe dominated early on and led when Malcolm Anderson netted on the follow-up after Cramlington’s keeper parried a shot from the left.

The Northumberland side levelled from a set piece, with central defender Craig Melrose beating the keeper, but Tudhoe restored their advantage, Steve Carter scoring, and missed a good chance for 3-1.

Chris Wall hauled Cramlington level again with a fine strike.

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The second half belonged to Cramlington, but Tudhoe continued to play their part in an entertaining final.

Charlie Storey was about to be substituted but got a reprieve and, within 20 seconds, fired home a rocket shot from outside the box to put Cramlington 3-2 up.

Man of the match Aubrey Rutherford capped his performance with an individual goal, receiving the ball on the edge of the area and taking on several defenders before beating the keeper and completing the scoring at 4-2.

Dubmire WMC face Heaton Stannington in tomorrow’s Alan Spedding Cup final at Wearmouth CW (10.30am kick-off).