Football round-up
Barnard Castle FC..........................4
Coxhoe Athletic FC..........................1
Barnard Castle put up a solid performance on Saturday to defeat Coxhoe Athletic 4-1 at the Tens Field.
Striker Daniel Hull took the limelight with two goals in front of the home crowd.
Consistent performer Harrison Saunders opened the scoring after just five minutes, before Rob Dixon doubled the lead to head into the break in a comfortable position.
Coxhoe were able to get a goal back and it quickly became a nervy affair. The weather conditions did not encourage free flowing football with gusts of wind meaning any ball above head height was a huge gamble.
Hull was able to put the game to bed with two goals in succession to relieve any tension for home supporters.
Hull is beginning to solidify himself as the side’s most prolific finisher. He’s taken a while to enjoy a prolonged run in the team, but he is showing how deadly he can be in front of the sticks.
With Barney looking for a consistent 20 goal-a-season striker, he may be the man to fill those boots.
Barney will need to utilise their full squad over the next few weeks with a congested fixture schedule that begins at home today (Wednesday) to Ferryhill Athletic, 6.30pm kick off.
Sam Alexander
Crook and District League
EVENWOOD Town will play two cup finals in the space of a week after overcoming Howden Australian in the semi-final of the South Durham Bowl.
Having already booked their place in the final of the Auckland Charity Cup against Willington WMC on Tuesday, April 30, the side will face Middlestone Moor in the Bowl final on Wednesday, April 24. Both games will be played at Bishop Auckland FC’s Heritage Park ground.
In Saturday’s semi-final, Evenwood always held the edge but it was only later in the game that their dominance paid off in a 6-1 win.
Gareth McMahon bagged a hat-trick, Rob Worth scored twice and Chris Howe added the other.
Middlestone Moor will probably go into the final as favourites, but Evenwood will be hoping to go one better than last year when they were runners-up.
Ebac Northern League
WEST Auckland Town’s penultimate league game of the season ended with a 3-1 home win against Carlisle City.
There was little between the teams in the first half until West’s Josh Scott opened the scoring two minutes before the break.
Carlisle hit back ten minutes into the second half and it wasn’t until the introduction of Nathan Greenwood that West restored their lead.
Adam Mitchell was the provider as Greenwood drove the ball into the bottom corner. With a minute remaining, Greenwood added his second and West’s third to secure the points.
West conclude their league programme with a trip to Whitley Bay on Saturday before heading to the Stadium of Light in Sunderland to take on Whickham in the final of the Durham Challenge Cup on Wednesday, April 24.
Darlington Sunday Morning Invitation League
STAINDROP Wheatsheaf ran out 6-2 winners on the road at Crook Town Rangers.
Dan Hull scored a hat-trick and Harrison Saunders added another two, Joe Hall rounded off the scoring.
Gainford Cross Keys were undone by Bishop Auckland Henknowle Manor, losing 4-1 at home.
Adam Peart scored for Gainford and Ben Moore was judged man-of-the-match.
With the weather relenting (temporarily) Middleton Wanderers welcome Darlington Shuttle and Loom to the upper dale.
An entertaining game saw Middleton run out 3-2 winners having led 3-0 at half time.
It was a high scoring affair at Toft Hill where the hosts went down 6-3 against Darlington Spraire Lads and Lasses.
Stuart Laundy
