Barnard Castle 0
Hetton Juniors 2
BARNEY were left ruing missed chances after unbeaten visitors Hetton Juniors headed back to Wearside with all three points.
The hosts created enough clear cut opportunities to have the game wrapped up by half time.
Rob Dixon hit the bar from close range with the keeper beaten, while a Dan Lowther piledriver from 30 yards out also clattered off the woodwork.
At the other end, with regular keeper Ollie Wilkinson out injured and skipper Phil Merryweather also missing, a makeshift backline coped well.
Stand-in keeper Richard Borrowdale pulled off the save of the half, showing his reactions are as good as ever and the defender in front of him dealt with Hetton’s efforts to pass their way through and round them.
However, a mistake midway inside the Barney half gave possession away and a couple of quick passes saw the Hetton centre forward through and his shot gave Borrowdale no chance as the visitors were a little fortunate to lead 1-0 at the break.
In a feisty second half, the visitors then doubled their lead from 35 yards out and put an end to Barney’s hopes, which were not helped by Lewis Robinson’s sending off for two yellow cards and defender Tom Merryweather’s ten minute spell in the sin bin for dissent.
This defeat leaves Barney ninth in the table and ten points behind league leaders Belmont who have played two more games than Hetton.
Hetton lie second but do still boast a 100 per cent record and must be favourites for promotion this season.
Barney has no match this weekend and will use the time to regather themselves and prepare for a strong run of fixtures before Christmas.
Ebac Northern League
North Shields 0
West Auckland Town 0
WEST were unable to take advantage of playing with an extra man for an hour after Shields’ Brad Chsiholm saw red for swinging out at Gary Brown.
In fact, West had keeper Nick Liversedge to thank on more than one occasion for ensuring parity with a couple of excellent saves.
In truth, chances were few and far between at both ends as the points were shared.
This week, West were in action again on Tuesday night when near neighbours Bishop Auckland were the visitors to the Wanted Stadium.
Crook and District League
EVENWOOD Town followed up their excellent County Cup win with a 4-0 victory against Howden Australian in the league.
The win means Evenwood are one of three teams on six points in a league with just six teams competing this season.
The leaders remain Middlestone Moor, who have lost just one of their five fixtures.
In a quirk of the fixture list, Evenwood host Howden again the Saturday before the teams meet for the third time in three weeks on October 28 in the Auckland Charity Cup.
Darlington Sunday Morning Invitation League
STAINDROP Wheatsheaf’s form is definitely on the up after the side recorded its third win in a row.
They ran out 5-2 winners against Grey Horse, thanks to two goals from Dan Hull and one apiece from Lewis Robinson, Adam Goodfellow and Tom Merryweather.
Merryweather also took man-of-the-match honours.
Gainford Cross Keys had a difficult morning, suffering a 4-1 loss at Ferryhill Celtic.
Ben Moore scored Gainford’s consolation and Mark Harding was man-of-the-match.
Toft Hill lost out to the odd goal in five at Newton Aycliffe Roundhouse.
