Durham Sunday League: Matty Magic show rocks Buffs as Houghton Town make good cup progress

Both teams played good football, but Town pipped their Premier rivals with a well-taken brace from the lively Matty Weirs. Matthew Soulsby replied, while Joe Calvert was Houghton’s star man.

Sedgefield St Edmund’s won well, 3-1 at Sacriston Cricket Club, for whom John Harrison hit the opener after a rare mistake by keeper Carl Morris. Steven Bagshaw, Graham Kime and John Maddison netted as Saints dominated the second half. Marc Bladen was the hosts’ top man.

Burnside WMC handed out a hammering to neighbours Houghton Wild Boar All-Stars in the Castle Insurance Alan Smith Memorial Trophy.

Max Stoker capped a man-of-the-match display with a well-taken double – including a rasping opening goal – as Burnside ran out 6-0 winners, though they were kept at bay until the 24th minute.

Despite some good goalkeeping by stand-in keeper Steve Tunstall, individual errors proved costly as Grant Craig, Callum Munro, Craig Ellison and sub Shaun Dixon also netted. David Banks was best for Boar.

Sherburn Village demolished Ushaw Moor Cricket Club 6-1, with their top-flight quality telling against a determined visiting side.

Man of the match James Ellis led the way with a double, with Tom Young (2), Daniel Johnson and Steven Forster also netting. Jamie Gregg struck the opener for Ushaw, whose top performer was Michael Abson.

Pelton Crown finished 5-3 winners in a fantastic, end to end D&P Trophies Knockout Trophy tie at Bishop Middleham, with Liam Mitchell their five-goal star. Pelton led, but Shane Bowmer hauled Bishop level by half-time.

Two Mitchell goals, completing his hat-trick, early in the second half saw Crown go 3-1 up, but Bowmer’s second and a Jonny Smith strike levelled it up again. Crown, though, won it with two late Mitchell goals as both sides went for a winner in the rain.

Michael Hoyle shone for Crown, with Gareth Hamblin top man for Middleham.

Grange Villa WMC rocked Third Division leaders Hetton New Inn with a 5-1 win.

Daniel Hill led the way with a fine double, including a delicate chip for 4-0, supported by Mark Greener, Dean Turnbill and Alex Stebbings, heading his first goal for the club, with Joe Murray man of the match.

Villa were ahead inside five minutes and led 3-0 at half-time. Jordan Hay fired the reply.

Houghton Chilton Lodge exited 2-1 at High Handenhold Bird Inn.

Tom Illingworth hit Bird’s opener, but Adam Hinde equalised. Extra time looked certain, but, two minutes from time, a speculative effort was fumbled by keeper Martin Armstrong and Dan Watkins tapped the winner into an empty net. Shane Swift starred for Bird.

Chester Garden Farn RAR progressed in the Stepy’s Coaches President’s Trophy, with a 6-1 rout of Durham Bede Lodge SC.

Bailey Hunter and Ryan Johnson had Garden Farm 2-0 up in 15 minutes, with Kieron Allison and Johnson making it four by the break.

Sub Stuart Thompson got one back for Bede Lodge, but Johnson, completing his hat-trick, and Hunter saw the home sides through in style.

Jordan Gibson shone for Garden Farm, with Alex Wilson best for Bede.

Durham County overwhelmed Lumley Snooker Club 6-0 to reach the quarter-finals. Dominant County enjoyed Bradley Hird’s clinical hat-trick, while Dan Rooney, Robson Brown and sub Stanley Ogunsuyi also got on the scoresheet.

Lambton Lions pipped Third Division hosts Sedgefield SC 2-1, thanks to Ben Goodwin and and own goal. Liam Murray starred for Lions.

Brandon Sports Club ran out comfortable 4-0 winners at Langley Park, but they were made to work hard for long periods. Langley held out for half an hour, until Andrew Morris opened the scoring.

Oliver Graham’s deflected long-range strike doubled the lead, then Michael Fort volleyed home from a corner and Jay Balfour’s shot from outside the area flicked off a defender’s boot and found the corner of the net to make it 4-0.

Framwellgate Moor WMC were good 4-2 winners at Washington Cross Keys.

First Division leaders Hilda Park came through a testing tie at league colleagues West Rainton, winning their JD Taxis Guards Cup game 2-1 to reach the quarter-finals.

Jamie Gordon, with a cool finish for the winner, and Stephen Clifford did the damage, after Scott Redmayne put Rainton in front, following a slip by keeper Lee Henderson. John Horn shone for Rainton.