Durham Women vs Birmingham City Women

Considering I had a season ticket for a number of years and watched them every week, it has been quite a while since I was at a Durham Women game. It is also a long time since my last visit to South Shields. I’ll have to get back to watch a Shields game in the not too distant future and hopefully catch up with the good people at the club who were there in the Peterlee days and are still there. Looking back, it’s over two and a half years since I last watched Durham Women too! I didn’t think it had been quite that long. I would have done a new ground on this Wednesday night if possible, but there wasn’t much on. I wouldn’t have minded Everton Women vs Newcastle, but the 19:00 kick-off was probably too early for me getting there, so I decided this one would be the choice, and it had been in the plan for a few weeks.

Durham have gradually dropped off from always being a WSL2 promotion chasing team to currently being bottom of the league without a point. A good number of the players are the same players who have been there for years, but it’s just not working for them now. Hopefully they can turn it around but this game was another one to forget as Birmingham (who haven’t won a game in the WSL but did get a good point vs Arsenal at the weekend) were miles better than Durham.

Full-time: Durham Women 0-5 Birmingham City Women

Next up for me is Greenock Morton vs Ayr United on Saturday.

Admission: £12 adults, £8 concessions (but I used a 50% code provided by South Shields)

Attendance: 630 (definitely looked a lot lower)

Programme: A magazine covering all cup games cost £5 but I didn’t get one

Referee: Adewunmi Soneye

Shildon vs Easington Colliery

Colliers come from three down to draw at Shildon

Easington Colliery came from 3-0 down with 15 minutes to play to grab a point in a 3-3 draw at Shildon on Tuesday night.

Joe Posthill had scored a brace and Jack Blackford was also on the scoresheet to put Shildon three goals up, but goals from James Watson, Ethan Ord and Aiden Stanton all inside the final 15 minutes grabbed a point for the Colliers.

Upon kick-off, Shildon started well, and James Hopkinson in the Easington goal was forced into a save within the opening 70 seconds.

In the 11th minute, Shildon took the lead when Blackford fired home from 12 yards, and Posthill made it two just two minutes later when converting a rebound after an initial effort was saved.

The Colliers already had a mountain to climb. Shildon continued to look the brighter but as the first half wore on, the Colliers grew into it more. Nathan Greenwood fired over in Easington’s first chance, and there were three opportunities for the lively Denny Tapping without any avail.

Despite looking brighter towards the end of the half, the Colliers went into the break two goals down.

Easington started the second half well too, and Tapping forced a smart save from the Shildon goalkeeper in the 55th minute, but a real sucker punch saw Shildon score their third in the 59th minute through Posthill.

At a now very wet Shildon, it was looking like a very leak night, but it all changed in the final 15 minutes.

Firstly, in the 78th minute, Stanton knocked a cross down to Watson who fired home to give the Colliers hope.

Five minutes later, Ord was on the end of a cross the half the deficit, and the Colliers now had real hope.

The comeback was complete with a tidy finish from Stanton in the 88th minute.

Both sides looked for a winner late on, but in truth, the Colliers were more than happy with a point having been three goals down with less than 15 minutes to play.

Full-time: Shildon 3-3 Easington Colliery

Next up for me is Durham Women tomorrow.

Easington Colliery: Hopkinson, Maw, Ord, Kenney (Herron, 46′), Agnew (Stanton, 59′), Taylor, Greenwood, Watson, Hennis (Eltringham, 75′), Tapping (Hird, 86′), Adamson (Pearn, 70′)

No unused subs

Admission: £8 adults

Programme: Online

Attendance: 262

Referee: Christopher Shield

Easington Colliery vs Newcastle Benfield

Colliers pick up three more points against Benfield

Easington Colliery claimed another good three points in a hard-fought 3-1 win at home to Newcastle Benfield on Saturday afternoon.

Benfield led through Promise Nzumba before Nathan Greenwood equalised for the Colliers. Liam Adamson put the Colliers ahead in first half added time, and he added to his tally in the second half with his second and Easington’s third.

On a pleasant afternoon at Easington Welfare Park, it was a relatively quiet start, with only half chances in the opening 15 minutes. Benfield had a couple of headers fail to find the target, while Adamson had three half chances for the Colliers. The first two missed the target, and the third was saved.

In the 17th minute, Benfield went close when a strike crashed back off crossbar, and then Colquhoun for the visitors had a tame effort saved.

Just before the half hour mark, Benfield took the lead. A corner was swung into the penalty area and not cleared, and it eventually dropped to Nzumba who converted from close range.

The Colliers responded by equalising seven minutes later. Reece Kenney’s ball down the right released Greenwood who had beaten the offside trap, and he took aim with a very well struck first time effort from a tight angle which found the far corner.

In first half additional time, the Colliers took the lead. James Watson lifted a cross into the penalty area, and Adamson drilled a difficult first time volley into the net to send the Colliers into the break ahead.

Few chances worthy of note were created in the opening exchanges of the second half. A dangerous Benfield free-kick was fired over the crossbar, and it was only awarded after the referee initially pointed to the penalty spot before changing to a free-kick.

That was about it until the 69th minute when the Colliers created a couple of big opportunities. Firstly, Adamson burst across the edge of the penalty area to create room for himself, but his shot was narrowly too high.

Seconds later, Denny Tapping was released through down the right hand side, but Benfield goalkeeper James Hughes made himself big to save.

With 13 minutes to play, the Colliers doubled their lead as Adamson scored his 24th goal of the season. A ball was threaded through to Adamson who beat the offside trap, and he took the ball round the goalkeeper before firing high into the net.

James Hopkinson was forced into a smart save with five minutes play as Benfield looked to make it interesting, but that proved to be the final chance of the game as the Colliers picked up another good three points to stay top of Northern League Division One.

Full-time: Easington Colliery 3-1 Newcastle Benfield

Next up for me is Shildon vs Easington Colliery on Tuesday night.

Easington Colliery: Hopkinson, Maw, Ord, Kenney (c) (Stanton, 72′), Agnew, Taylor (Eltringham, 61′), Greenwood (Walton, 82′), Watson, Hennis, Herron (Tapping, 54′), Adamson

Unused sub: Pearn

Newcastle Benfield: Hughes, Simpson, Jack Watson, Duffy (Boertein, 79′), Varga (c), Ames, Wilson, Roys, Nzumba, Colquhoun (Lewis Watson, 79′), Small

Unused subs: Morton, Lant, Shane-Stone

Admission: £7 adults, £4 concessions

Programme: £2

Attendance: 170

Referee: Martin Dunn

Workington vs Whitby Town

With Workington playing at the rugby ground this season, it was always going to be one I wanted to get to. Their opening midweek games of the season didn’t work for me, and when I noticed this, I decided to do it given there wasn’t a huge amount of further midweek opportunities. It was around a 2 hour 20 minute trip over to Workington from work, taking the same route as Whitby would for the majority of it, although Whitby had a bit further to travel.

Derwent Park is a nice old stadium with plenty of room despite not being able to go behind one goal. Parts of the terracing behind the goal where fans can go are cordoned off, but there’s still plenty of room for everyone.

Whitby’s side has a few players who were at Boro Rangers last season, and so I was familiar with some of their squad. The visitors were good value for their win despite Workington pulling a goal back late on.

Full-time: Workington 1-2 Whitby Town

Next up for me at the time of writing is Easington Colliery vs Newcastle Benfield on Saturday.

Admission: £15 for adults

Attendance: 582

Programme: Not sure

Referee: Christopher Porter

Legia Warsaw vs Wisla Krakow

Whenever I go to games abroad, I tend to choose a place to go and then see if any football is on. It’s rare I go to a place to just go for the football, and that’s why I tend to end up watching fairly random teams like Zalgiris Vilinius II! However, when Easington had a free weekend this weekend, and with little taking my fancy in this country, I looked at a trip abroad for football. Andorra was taking my fancy as I’ve never been there and there were games on, but accommodation was too expensive. In the end, the decision was Warsaw flying out on Saturday afternoon, Legia Warsaw on Sunday night and fly back Monday evening. We stayed in a capsule hotel the first night which was an experience! You need to be fairly quick to get tickets for Legia Warsaw, but if you are quick, you’ll get them.

The ground is a fairly typical bowl. The most different thing I noticed was that the entrance was in a corner behind one goal, and then we had to walk the full length of the pitch to the corner behind the other goal to get into the stadium.

As for the game, Legia Warsaw edged it and took the three points. Both sides created some good chances, but all the shots were either tame or straight at the goalkeeper or both. The atmosphere was very good and it was another good European tick!

We went to some Polish horse racing on the afternoon before the game too and it was good to tick off a first racecourse outside of the UK or Ireland, although I was a bit sceptical about the quality of racing.

Full-time: Legia Warsaw 2-0 Wisla Krakow

Next up for me at the time of writing is Easington Colliery vs Newcastle Benfield on Saturday.

Admission: 120 zloty but some were cheaper

Attendance: 26,352

Programme: No

Referee: Damian Sylwestrzak

Easington Colliery vs Thornaby

Colliers pick up another three points with Thornaby victory

Easington Colliery picked up another impressive three points with a 4-1 win at home to Thornaby on Wednesday night.

Logan Herron put the Colliers ahead, before Spencer Walker pulled Thornaby level, but second half goals from Liam Adamson (x2) and Nathan Greenwood helped the Colliers climb back to the top of Northern League Division One.

On a windy evening at the Welfare Park, with the wind behind them, the Colliers took the lead in the 18th minute. A pass from the right picked out Herron on the edge of the area, and he took a touch before rifling a shot into the top corner.

The Colliers had a couple of further chances before Thornaby equalised in the 37th minute. A back pass put James Hopkinson under pressure, and his attempted clearance fell straight to Walker. The initial shot hit the post, but Walker was able to get back onto the ball and fire home from close range.

The first half was a fairly level affair, but the Colliers were comfortably the better in the second half.

After a couple of early chances, the Green Army regained their lead in the 53rd minute. A free-kick was lifted into the penalty area where Thornaby failed to clear at the first attempt, and it fell to Greenwood who rifled a first time effort into the roof of the net.

With 12 minutes to play, the Colliers lead was doubled. Great work from Denny Tapping created room for himself to shoot. His effort was parried by the goalkeeper, and Adamson was quickest to react to convert the rebound.

Thornaby hit the woodwork as they looked for a way back into it, while at the other end, the Colliers had further good chances.

The three points were wrapped up with a fourth in the 88th minute. Luke Pearn picked up possession in front of the dugouts, and he carved a pass through to Adamson who charged down on goal before a cool finish made it four-one.

It proved to be another very good win for the Green Army!

Full-time: Easington Colliery 4-1 Thornaby

Next up for me is Easington Colliery vs Newcastle Benfield on Saturday.

Easington Colliery: Hopkinson, Maw (Walton, 89′), Ord, Kenney (c), Agnew, Taylor, Greenwood (Tapping, 66′), Watson, Hennis (Pearn, 80′), Herron (Stanton, 74′), Adamson (Eltringham, 89′)

No unused subs

Thornaby: Taylor, Mills, Gray, Parnaby, Drummond (c), Thompson, McBride (Bell, 79′), Casson, Walker, Pickett (Van Doorn, 71′), Kennedy (Cullen, 84′)

Unused sub: Booth

Admission: £7 adults, £4 concessions

Programme: £2

Attendance: 185

Referee: Isaac Stephenson

Northallerton Town vs Easington Colliery

Colliers hit Northallerton for six

Easington Colliery claimed an emphatic 6-1 win away to Northallerton Town on Friday night.

Despite falling behind to a penalty, the Colliers ran riot with braces for James Watson and Liam Adamson, while Craig Hennis and Nathan Greenwood were also on the scoresheet.

The Colliers started fairly well, and there were a few half chances in the opening quarter of an hour, but halfway through the first half, Northallerton led through a penalty. A foul on Reece Kenney in front of the dugouts went unpunished, and play continued where a challenge in the penalty area won the ball, but the referee deemed it a penalty. Lewis Martin converted the penalty to put the hosts ahead.

Watson had a shot saved as the Colliers looked for a response, but then Northallerton went close with a shot just wide.

In the 44th minute, the Colliers equalised. Great work from Greenwood on the right created him room to cross, and his low ball picked out Watson who finished well.

Two minutes later, in first half injury time, the Colliers took the lead. Patient build up play worked the ball across to Greenwood, and he was equally patient to create a shooting opportunity. When given the opportunity, Nathan picked out the far bottom corner with a tidy finish.

Two goals in three minutes saw the Colliers flip the game on its head and go into the break ahead.

Seven minutes into the second half, the Colliers added a third. Adamson’s shot was pushed onto the crossbar from the goalkeeper, and then the ball bounced around before hitting Hennis, then a defender and then the goalkeeper before going into the net. Hennis was given the goal, but it certainly won’t win goal of the season!

On the hour mark, Northallerton were reduced to 10 when Edward Thomas was sent off for an elbow catching Ethan Ord.

In the 64th minute, Adamson got in on the act. If Easington were to score six, it would be a shock if Liam didn’t have at least one of them! He beat a defender on the left before cutting in to find himself through on goal, and a composed finish slid the ball under the goalkeeper.

Easington’s fifth arrived in the 69th minute when Watson picked up his second of the night with a lovely finish from 20 yards.

Adamson hit the crossbar soon after, and Greenwood had a goal ruled out for offside, before the sixth did arrive in the 84th minute courtesy of a lovely finish from Adamson.

In the end it was a very comfortable win for the Colliers who, at least momentarily, go back to the top of the Northern League.

Full-time: Northallerton Town 1-6 Easington Colliery

Next up for me is Legia Warsaw vs Wisla Krakow on Sunday night.

Easington Colliery: Hopkinson, Maw, Ord (Stanton, 90′), Kenney (c), Agnew, Taylor, Greenwood, Watson (Elliott, 69′), Hennis (Eltringham, 77′), Herron (Pearn, 56′), Adamson

Unused sub: Bott

Admission: £8 adults

Programme: I didn’t get one

Attendance: 247

Referee: Anthony Duffy

Bacup Borough vs Ashville

Having not done a new ground midweek for a few weeks, I fancied one on this free Wednesday. There wasn’t a huge amount of choice, and this stuck out as the obvious one to do. A 20:00 kick-off wasn’t ideal, and it was even less ideal when kick-off was delayed until 20:15. It meant it was after 22:00 when it finished, and I still had a two hour 20 minute drive home! The ground at Bacup has character and plenty of cover/seats. The main stand is bigger than it looks, and it’s a nice old school ground. The most notable part of the journey to the ground was the very steep hill just as you approach the ground, and I went the wrong way a couple of times in Burnley.

Ashville started well in the opening few minutes, but Bacup came into the game, and it was them creating the chances. Just as Ashville looked to be getting more of a foothold of the game, Bacup took the lead in the 29th minute. There looked to be a foul in the middle of the park, but play continued and a Bacup strike from 20 yards beat the keeper who tried to save with his legs. Ashville complained but to no avail.

Bacup doubled their lead in the 62nd minute. A ball was pulled back from the byline on the right to find their number 9, and he took a touch before slotting into the bottom corner, and the same man made it three with a more impressive finish three minutes later.

Full-time: Bacup Borough 3-0 Ashville

Next up for me is Northallerton Town vs Easington Colliery on Friday night.

Admission: £7 adults, £4 concessions

Programme: Not sure

Attendance: 91

Referee: Samuel Sutton

Pie, chips and gravy: £5

Easington Colliery vs Jarrow

Colliers progress in Durham Challenge Cup

Easington Colliery booked their spot in the last 16 of the Durham Challenge Cup with a 1-0 win at home to Jarrow on Tuesday night.

Craig Hennis’ 85th minute strike proved the difference between the sides as the Colliers battled against a Jarrow team unbeaten in Northern League Division Two.

Upon kick-off, it was a quiet opening 10 minutes with both sides looking to get a feel of the game.

The first chance fell the way of Luke Pearn in the 11th minute when he beat two defenders on the left before getting a shot away, but it was comfortable for the Jarrow goalkeeper.

A minute later, James Hopkinson produced the first of two very good saves in the first half to deny Jarrow. Lutfur Karim was released through for the visitors, but Hopkinson made himself big and produced a very good save.

Reece Kenney, Liam Adamson and Nathan Greenwood all had half chances for the Colliers as the first half wore on, but none of them could trouble Kieran Hunter in the Jarrow goal.

In the 27th minute, Hopkinson produced his second good save. This time, it was Luca Nelson was had been released through on goal, but Hopkinson was once again on hand to produce a very good save.

Shortly after, at the other end, the Colliers created their best chance yet. A diagonal ball picked out Adamson who had beaten the offside trap to race through on goal, but his shot darted just wide of the far bottom corner.

Adamson and Dan Maw had further chances come and go towards the end of the first half, and it was goalless at the break.

Six minutes into the second half, Jarrow went close. An initial shot was deflected for a corner, and the resulting corner was headed wide.

Adamson, Greenwood and Hennis all created half chances as the Colliers continued to plug for an opener, and the Green Army were looking better in the second half. The first half was tight, but the Colliers were starting to get a good grip of the game as the second half wore on.

With 20 minutes to play, Pearn shot narrowly wide from the edge of the penalty area, and then Ethan Ord could only direct a header wide with 15 left.

The winning goal arrived with just five minutes of normal time to play. A good move from the Colliers worked the ball out to Adamson, and he drove towards the byline before pulling the ball back across the face of goal where Hennis was left with a simple finish.

The Colliers managed the remainder of the game well, and there were half chances for substitutes Logan Herron and Denny Tapping, but a single goal was enough to win this one.

Full-time: Easington Colliery 1-0 Jarrow

Next up for me is probably Bacup Borough tomorrow.

Easington Colliery: Hopkinson, Maw, Ord, Kenney (c), Taylor, Hennis (Elliott, 90+4′), Pearn (Agnew, 76′), Watson (Herron, 68′), Stanton (Tapping, 46′), Greenwood, Adamson

Unused sub: Haslam

Jarrow: Hunter, Maher, Nelson, Willis, Hudson (c), Honour (Whittle, 88′), Siyanbola, Bainbridge (Lowes, 90+1′), Nelson, Karim (McRoberts, 75′), Simpson (Bada, 66′)

Unused sub: Bisset

Admission: £7 adults, £4 concessions

Programme: No

Attendance: 132

Referee: Ryan Moore

Easington Colliery vs North Shields

Colliers beaten by North Shields

Easington Colliery were beaten 3-2 at home to North Shields on Saturday afternoon.

Dan Maw scored a brace to put the Colliers ahead after Nelson Ogbewe put the visitors ahead, but second half goals from Ogbewe, Dan Wilson and Adam Forster gave the visitors the three points.

One forced change was made to the Easington team with Liam Cooke making way for Dan Maw, with Denny Tapping moving out to the wing and Maw playing through the middle.

Upon kick-off on a pleasant afternoon at the Welfare Park, it was a quiet start, with no early chances.

Ben Sampson and Jordan Lashley both shot wide for North Shields as the first half wore on, but that was all the action for the opening half hour.

North Shields took the lead in the 37th minute. Possession was given away in a very dangerous area, and the visitors punished the Colliers by working the ball across to Ogbewe who tucked a simple finish into the net.

Just four minutes later, the Colliers were level. An attack down the right found Tapping who beat the full back and then crossed to find Maw. Dan found room to shoot and picked out the top corner from 18 yards.

Another four minutes later, Maw scored his second to put the Colliers ahead. It was more good work from Tapping to beat two on the right, and his low ball across goal find Maw whose good first touch set him up and he blasted the ball into the net from close range.

The Green Army led at the break.

It was a game of something happening every four minutes as North Shields equalised four minutes into the second half. The ball was worked across to the unmarked Ogbewe who charged down on goal before slotting home.

The Colliers responded well to North Shields’ equaliser, and there were half chances for Liam Adamson and Maw before a big chance fell the way of Brad Hird. Adamson drilled a low ball into the six yard box looking for Hird, but he couldn’t adjust his feet in time.

Tapping then had a shot saved, before Hird had the ball in the net in the 70th minute only for it to be ruled out. The goalkeeper dropped an initial shot and Hird pounced to convert, but the referee deemed there to be a foul on the goalkeeper. Very harsh.

With just over 15 minutes to play, North Shields took the lead as Wilson’s header looped over James Hopkinson.

The Colliers pushed forward in search of an equaliser, and a huge chance arrived in the 87th minute. Dylan Elliott’s long range strike was palmed by the goalkeeper, and Ryan Taylor was first to react, but his rebound blazed over the crossbar.

With Easington piling players forward, North Shields scored a fourth on the break through Forster, and they headed back up the A19 with all three points.

Full-time: Easington Colliery 2-4 North Shields

Next up for me is Easington Colliery vs Jarrow on Tuesday night.

Easington Colliery: Hopkinson, Agnew, Eltringham (Greenwood, 78′), Hennis, Ord, Taylor, Tapping (Elliott, 83′), Kenney (c) (Pearn, 63′), Stanton (Hird, 63′), Maw, Adamson

Unused sub: Nelson

North Shields: Elliott, Suddick, Wanless (Turnbull, 46′), Forster (c), Sloan, Anderson, Lashley, Sampson, Wilson (Mason, 78′), Holmes (Harmison, 61′), Ogbewe (Hall, 81′)

Unused sub: Lish

Admission: £7 adults, £4 concessions

Programme: £2

Attendance: 225

Referee: Daniel Forbes