The North-East’s top ten goals of the season

Whether it has been Hatem Ben Arfa’s unpredictability and brilliance or the less likely appearance of a defender crashing in a drive from distance, every one of the region’s teams have scored a few contenders for goal of the season.

Northern Echo Sport has come up with its own top ten and now it’s time for you to let us know which one you think was the best of the lot. Voting ends at midnight, Thursday, May 8. The winner will be revealed in Saturday’s paper.

VOTE FOR YOUR FAVOURITE

By Phone: Call 0901 221 adding the four digits under the goal of your choice.  For example if it was 0009 you would like to vote for simply dial 0901 221 0009.

By Text: Send your text to 80360 starting with NEGOAL leave a space, followed by the four digits under the goal of your choice.

Texts cost 25p plus your normal operator text charge. Voting lines close 08/05/2014 at 23:59:59pm. For Full terms visit http://www.newsquest.co.uk/terms. Service Provided by Newsquest Media Group. Customer Service 0207 998 0549.

STEPHEN THOMPSON
Bamber Bridge v DARLINGTON
August 20, 2013
VOTE: 0009

THE bulk of Stephen Thompson’s 27 goals came from outside the penalty area and many were contenders for goal of the season, though none were hit quite as sweetly as his first of the season. It came in Darlington’s second game of the campaign, when the playmaker picked up possession 30 yards from goal, dribbled forwards struck a venemous effort over the goalkeeper and underneath the crossbar to make it 3-0.

HATEM BEN ARFA
NEWCASTLE v Fulham
August 31, 2013
VOTE: 0010

THE Frenchman has been banished to the sidelines in recent months, but he showed his class earlier in the campaign with goals in back-to-back games against Fulham and Aston Villa. The pick of his three strikes this season came after chesting down Loic Remy’s searching crossfield pass, Ben Arfa rounded two players before drilling through a crowded area and inside David Stockdale’s top right corner.

GEORGE FRIEND
Nottingham Forest v MIDDLESBROUGH
September 17, 2013
VOTE: 0011

THE full-back has made a big impact going forward for Boro this season, but the pick of his three goals came at the City Ground when he joined in with a freeflowing counter-attack and when Grant Leadbitter rolled the ball in to his path, Friend powered a stunning 22-yard strike which arrowed into the top corner of the net giving Forest keeper Karl Darlow no chance.

YOHAN CABAYE
Everton v NEWCASTLE
September 30, 2013
VOTE: 0012

YOAN GOUFFRAN, standing in the corner surrounded by a couple of blue shirts, picked out his compatriot lurking 25 yards from goal. With no hint of what was to come, Yohan Cabaye took a touch before powering an unstoppable drive inside Tim Howard’s top left corner. It was his first goal of the season after speculation linking him with a move to Arsenal a month earlier before he eventually joined Paris St Germain.

LUKE JAMES
HARTLEPOOL v Plymouth
October 19, 2013
VOTE: 0013

TAKING control of possession in a crowded area around 40 yards from goal, the lone striker raced towards the box and beyond his markers, using his raw pace to burst across the static defenders. As Luke McCormick cut the angle down, James delivered the most astute of finishes through the legs of defender Curtis Nelson and back across the goalkeeper to the delight of the Town End.

FABIO BORINI
Sunderland v NEWCASTLE
October 27, 2013
VOTE: 0014

WITH Newcastle closing in on a draw, a late break saw Ki Sung- Yueng and Jack Colback combine at pace to play a ball up front. Jozy Altidore laid off in to the path of Borini and the Italian striker took over by applying a rasping finish beyond Tim Krul.

ADAM JOHNSON
Fulham v SUNDERLAND
January 11, 2014
VOTE: 0015

THE exciting winger was sensational at Craven Cottage. All three of his goals in the 4-1 win had a touch of quality, but his overlapping run and low strike beyond goalkeeper David Stockdale was the perfect way to finish off Ki Sung-Yueng’s defence splitting pass.

FABIO BORINI
Manchester City v SUNDERLAND
March 1, 2014
VOTE: 0016

THE Italian forward memorably put Sunderland a goal up at Wembley in the Capital One Cup final when he was picked out by a lovely Adam Johnson pass. Borini controlled, brushed off Vincent Kompany before curling inside the far post with the outside of his boot.

BRADLEY WALKER
Southend v HARTLEPOOL
February 18, 2014
VOTE: 0017

WITH Hartlepool United trailing at Roots Hall, the teenager delivered in style just before the hour to earn a point.

A ball was cleared to the edge of the area, Walker used his to chest to control it before unleashing a sumptuous volley across and beyond goalkeeper Daniel Bentley.

JACOB BUTTERFIELD
MIDDLESBROUGH v Birmingham
April 8, 2014
VOTE: 0018

HE has been in and out of the side but justified his inclusion against the Blues with a stunning finish. The midfielder allowed Jozsef Varga’s throw to bounce across him, shaped his body as he turned to face goal and then struck a beautiful volley high over the goalkeeper.