Crook and District League
IT was a good weekend for the dale’s three Saturday sides.
Bowes FC ground out a hard-fought cup win, while vital league points were secured by Glaxo Rangers and Evenwood.
In the quarter-finals of the Alan Britton Cup, two first half goals from Callum Tallentire set Bowes on their way at Ferryhill.
Billy Snaith pulled one back for the hosts, but Bowes held on for the win.
They join Darlington Travellers Rest, Heighington and Shildon railway in the semi-final draw.
Glaxo Rangers took a good step forward to ensuring first division safety with 4-0 win against Wear Valley.
At the start of the game, Rangers were just three points clear of the drop zone with games running out.
Rangers took the lead thanks to some neat football. Liam Foster, in his new role as target man up front, held the ball up and laid it back to brother Johnny whose shot was blocked, but Jamie McDougall was on hand to slot home.
Rangers took this narrow advantage into the second half and it wasn’t long before they extended the lead, McDougall adding his second after good work from James White and Adam Dent.
Glaxo lost centre half Kevin Maughan to a head wound while he was challenging at a corner with Bobby Lumsdon coming on to take his his place alongside Joe Lee.
Johnny Foster then made it 3-0 after some good link up play with Adam Lee-Shield.
Man-of-the-match Jamie McDougall then completed his hat-trick thanks to a great assist from Adam Lee Shield.
With Heighington drawing, Rangers are now five points above the drop zone with two league games to go.
With the second division now reduced to just seven teams, Evenwood kept their title hopes alive with a 6-2 win away at Darlington GSOB.
Scott Duggan scored twice while Chris Howe, James Brack and Ashley Murphy also got their names on the score sheet.
However, the highlight was an unstoppable 40-yarder from centre half Luke Bannister.
Wear Valley Sunday League
A LIAM Blighe hat-trick proved the undoing of Bowes FC’s Sunday morning outfit as West Auckland Tunns left Tensfield with all three points.
Mark Parvin and Tyler Thompson also scored for Tunns in a 5-2 win.
Callum Tallentire replied with both of Bowes’ goals.
The result leaves Bowes fifth in the first division and a mid-table finish to this season’s campaign looking the most likely outcome.
In the second division, there was a hat-trick for Toft Hill’s Andrew Bowes in his side’s 6-0 thrashing of bottom club BA Snooker.
Anthony Bowes, Nigel Beckley and Richard Burn added the others.
The win keeps Toft Hill on course for title, two points behind Newton Aycliffe Big Club but with five games in hand.
There was disappointment for both Gainford and Staindrop, who suffered home losses.
Gainford went down to the league leaders 4-1, Craig Edwards adding another to his season’s tally for the hosts.
Gareth Walton scored for Staindrop but North Bitchburn Red Lion ran out 2-1 winners.
In the division one cup semi final, West Auckland The Club booked a place in the final with a 5-2 win. Goals came from Anthony Lee (2), Ben Collinson, Connor Lowes and Gareth McMahon.
Other results
Division 1: Willington Queen’s Head 2, BA Sports 3.
Division 2: Bay Horse 0, NA Sports 2; BH Blues 4, Spennymoor Ash Tree 4; Darlington RA 4, Kirk Merrington Half Moon 3; NA Gretna 2, Wearhead United 0.
Heart Foundation Cup: Witton Park 3, Darlington Albion 3 (Witton Park won 5-4 on penalties); Dubmire WMC 1, Middlestone Moor MA 3.
