Whitby Benevolent Cup

Lingdale Utd v Grosmont

After a bright start from Grosmont, they took the lead when Kelly chipped the Lingdale keeper from ten yards. Five minutes later Lingdale equalised when Evans crossed the ball into the box, Iseton brought down the ball on his chest and vollied into the net from 6 yards. A clearance from Gibson, in the Lingdale goal, into the opposing penalty area led to a second, Iseton controlling the ball and cleverly chipping the Grosmont keeper. In the 40th minute Iseton had a chance to complete his hat trick but saw the ball go narrowly wide. 5 minutes into the second half a shot from 10 yards by Wood hit a Grosmont defender and rolled over the line, a goal hotly disputed by Grosmont who were convinced the player was offside. Lingdale completed their 4 - 1 win in the 90th minute when, after an indirect free kick, Hodgson passed for Hololob to score with a strong shot which gave the Grosmont keeper no chance

League

Boosbeck Utd v Anchor Inn

Despite kicking against the wind in the first half, Boosbeck continually looked for quick breaks and pressed forward. Crawford and Thompson won the midfield battle, playing the Boosbeck forwards into the game but chances were limited as the Anchor defence played really well and the first half remained goalless. In the second half Boosbeck pressed forward for an early goal and this paid off when a pinpoint cross from Morgan found Winter who volleyed past the Anchor keeper from 12 yards. A rare Anchor attack was broken down by some sterling work of the central partnership of Morgan and Dobson. Boosbeck pressed again and again but couldn't find a way through a strong Anchor defence and the score remained at 1 - 0

Brotton v Staithes Ath

In this top of the table clash Staithes started strongly, pushing the Brotton defence onto the back foot straight away. Brotton had a Scott header cleared off the line in the 5th minute but thrn had their backs to the wall. Ward and Bowes totally dominated the nmidfield for Staithes, always looking dangerous. In the 20th minute a ball was allowed to run towards the back post, Beddingfield got in front of the defender and fired the ball into the top corner of the net to give Staithes the lead. 5 minutes later Smithies' pace took him past the Brotton defence allowing him to net a second. This seemed to spur Brotton on and in the 49th minute following some good football between Ward and Scott, Ward scored with a fierce drive from the edge of the box to put Brotton back into the game. Brotton began the second half well but could still find no answer to the Staithes midfield. Gibson took Staithes further ahead when he ran at the Brotton defence and fired a shot from the edge of the box which bounced under the keepers arms. A 65th minute penalty gave Brotton a lifeline. Despite the distraction of several Staithes players being booked for arguing against the decision, Ward made no mistakes and converted well. Brotton were now looking for the equalise but it was not forthcoming and Staithes came out as worthy winners thanks to a well controlled midfield.

Gt Ayton v Goldsborough

Gt Ayton took early control of the game, keeping the visiting defence under constant pressure, only breakaway attacks by Goldsborough kept Grainge on his toes in the Ayton goal. Ayton's dominance was rewarded after 25 minutes when Long won the ball on the edge of the penalty area, passed to Murray for him to beat the Goldsborough keeper. This seemed to spur Goldsborough into action. The Ayton defence having to withstand sustained pressure on goal. With Grainge handling the ball well the nearest Goldsborough came to scoring was a shot hitting the post. Ayton finished the half with Simpson curling a shot past the post and Milburn firing a free kick which bounced wickedly to Goldsborough keeper, Sanderson, who managed to palm the ball onto the bar. With the game becoming more even Ayton needed a goal to ease the pressure and it came with a little fortune early in the second half, a shot by Murray hit the post and fell for Busbywhose rebounded shot hit a defender on the line, bounced up to hit the bar and drop into the goal.. Ayton had another period of good play but the Goldsborough defence stood firm, Cleaver marshalling his defence well. The rest of the game remained tight with both sides looking to attack, in the end on the balance of play, the chances created by ayton, won them the game.

Highland Laddie v Annandale Hotel

An even start to the game saw both laddie and Annandale looking for openings. A couple of efforts from Rye ans Combellack for the Laddie were matched by a 25 yard drive just over the bar from annandale's Barker. In the 30th minute after a Laddie corner, Comballack cracked the ball home past the hapless Farndale giving the home side a slender lead at the break. The second half saw Annadale pressing more, Garbutt trying to play Booth in from the right but the Laddie defence held firm. A Combellack free kick and a good header from Burns produced 2 good saves from Annandale keeper, Farndale. Then in the 80th minute Annandale found the equaliser when Garbutt down the right played a 1 - 2 with Barker who crossed for Booth to head home. The 85th minute saw Heathcock dismissed as Burns raced clear only to be brough down just outside the Annandale box. Another excellent save from Farndale from the resulting free kick kept the score at 1 - 1

Loftus Ath v Lingdale Tavern

Both teams started well, both defences holding firm. Loftus came close through Whitaker but Moore pulled off a good save. Hood and Wright kept the Lingdale defence tight, Ashbridge and Whitwell did the same for Loftus, the game remaining goalless until 25 minutes into the second half. Lingdale were then awarded a penalty, Breckon scoring from the spot. Loftus battled hard with both Smithies and Dixon coming close to scoring but man of the match, Hood, held the Lingdale defence firm. With 10 minutes to go Breckon picked up the ball on the left and hit a 25 yard left footed shot past the Loftus keeper to make sure of the points.

Emergency Services League

The League took a breather this week, as all teams competed in the League Cup and all matches were completed with two of them requiring penalties to resolve them.

Saints and Tyne and Wear met for the third time this season. In the end it was Tyne and Wear who comfortably won 4-1 and will entertain Easington in the second round as their reward.

Easington got to round two thanks to a 3-1 win over Sedgefield for whom Neil Baker got a consolation goal. Durham HQ and Durham Fire have had their share of close run battled over the years and their tie this year was no different. The teams shared eight goal after extra time and took penalties to resolve the matter. Tony Insall scored all four goals for HQ and yet still finished on the losing side. Colin Jones grabbed a hat trick for the Fire team, with Richie Morgan getting the other. Twice Insall scored only for the Fire Brigade to equalise within a minute. After so many goals, the penalties were a big disappointment and it was the Fire team who kept their nerve to win 3-1. they face the long trip to Langbaurgh as their reward.

Langbaurgh came through their derby game with Stockton by winning 3-1. All their goals were scored by Matt Lymer with Lee Clarke scoring for Stockton. The match was a very close run thing, with Langbaurgh leading by one goal until the last quarter of an hour, as both teams pushed to get the win. Two second round ties were completed and they too produced close results. No more so than the Darlington Newcastle tie. Bottom placed Darlington took title-chasing Newcastle to penalties in a tense goalless match.

Newcastle then won the match with 20-second penalty as the unfortunate Darlington keeper failed to score and Dave Oakes got to take second penalty to secure the victory.

Frankland have been struggling of late but fielded a full compliment plus subs against Derwentside and took the tie 2-0. After a goalless first half Peter Munro gave Frankland the lead midway through the second half. late goals by Keith Smith and Graeme Earle secured the win.