Peterlee Sunday League: Hetton Fox and Hounds pipped in thriller as Horden Cricket Club seal cup final date

The cricketers won a thrilling seven-goal semi-final against Hetton Fox and Hounds 4-3, thanks to a brace from Aaron Watson, plus goals from Ali Shah and star man Shaun Bentley.

Acre Rigg Celtic produced a below-par performance as they lost 3-0 to Peterlee Hearts in the other semi..

On a sodden pitch, missed opportunities cost the Celtic dearly, as Hearts took their chances through Dave Kember, Steven Freeman and Andrew Jones.

Anthony Hall shone for Hearts, with Matty Pattinson top man for Rigg.

Easington Lane WMC enjoyed a hat-trick from leading scorer Jai Young as they secured a final place in the Cyril Dunn Memorial Cup, defeating Murton New Hesledon 7-2.

John Quarmby, Stephen Francis, Elliott and Kevin Woods also got in on the act, with Dave Parry bagging both consolations for New Hesleden.

Horden CW Supporters and Dawdon Welfare Park both reached the Tommy Burrell Memorial Cup semi-finals.

Jack Pounder stole the show for Horden with a four-goal salvo as they relished a surprisingly comfortable 8-2 victory at Seaham The George.

Further goals from Bob Taylor (2), James Connor and substitute Charlie Saliki saw the Supporters Club cruising through, with Adam Wallace and Darren Ruddock replying.

Steven Hobkirk shone for George.

Dawdon Welfare Park were taken to a penalty shoot-out before progressing at the expense of battling Easington HMS Victory.

The match ended all square, 2-2 after extra time, before Dawdon won 3-1 on penalties.

Warren French and Ryan Douglas netted for Victory, while Jonathan Hodgson and substitute Craig Price hit Dawdon’s goals past man of the match keeper James Dunn.

Nick Milburn was Dawdon’s top performer.

There will only be five league clubs in the last 32 of the Durham County Sunday Cup, after Shotton Comrades lost 4-2 in a penalty shoot-out against Pelaw Grange Dogs.

The match ended all square at 1-1, with Jak Hanson on target for Comrades.

Pelaw will host fellow Durham Syunday League side Grange Villa in the next round.

Seaham Marlborough won 4-3 at Easington Southside to leapfrog their hosts into second place in Division One.

Matt Billyard, Josh Broom and Michael Taylor notched for Southside, but Ryan Martin (2), Lewis Wilkinson and star man keeper Jack Patton gave Marlborough the edge.

Leaders Peterlee Oaklands had no answer to the strength and goalscoring power up front when they succumbed to a first league defeat, 6-0 at rampant Hetton Social.

In the Second Division, goals from Michael Bayles, Sean Pratt, Tom Bell and sub Tom Burdon were not enough for Peterlee Central Club, who went down by the odd goal in nine to Grangetown WMC.

Jack Barnes fired a treble for newcomers Grangetown, backed by Bradley Young and John Smith, with Danny Dixon man of the match.

Substitute Chris Hall’s double and an effort from Carl Stephenson paved the way for Haswell Oddfellows Arms to beat New Seaham Westlea 3-2 to move up to sixth place, only four points off top spot.

Terry Armstrong was Haswell’s star man.

Peterlee Catholic Club crashed to their first Premier Division defeat when they lost 4-3 in a thriller against much-improved Murton Colliery.

Stephen Turner, Ryan Pinder, David Gordon and John Hutton steered Murton home, with Martyn Blenkinsop star man.

Luke Wallace hit a hat-trick in vain for Catholic, whose top performer was Jake Slater.

Easington CIU climbed to fourth place with an impressive 5-2 win at Peterlee Helford United.

Gary Shaw and Andrew Lonsdale were both on target for Helford, but they slipped to a first league defeat as rampant CIU enjoyed Liam Adamson’s hat-trick and a Thomas Goundry brace.