WEARSIDE LEAGUE
by MALCOLM PRATT
 
Houghton  Town  were very much the under-dogs when they met Scarborough Town  in the  Monkwearmouth Charity Cup. The Seasiders have  taken the Wearside League by storm,  scoring  25 goals and conceding just four but Steve Patton's  side  took them to the wire.
 
Two  goals  in the opening 26 minutes by Matthew Brown and Joel  Ramm,  however, meant  that  there was no giant-killing act but Houghton will take heart from  a stirring performance.
 
Silksworth  have  made  their best start in three years and  progressed  to  the next stage with victory over Hartlepool.
 
Shaun  Smith  was an early marksman but when Sean Ross converted  a  44th-minute penalty  for  Pools, the outcome was wide open. Gary Tyzack came up trumps  when he pounced on a rebound five minutes from time.
 
Ryhope  CW  defeated  New Marske following a five-goals thriller.  Robert  Jones struck  from  the  penalty  spot in the 20th minute  and  David  Newby  restored parity, converting a Michael Patterson cross before the interval.
 
Newby  cut  in  from the right and fired into the far corner of the net  on  the hour  and  soon  afterwards completed a superb hat-trick with  another  clinical finish.
 
New  Marske  though  rallied and when Shaun Mackin netted,  an  exciting  finale ensued but Ryhope held out.
 
Ashbrooke  Belford  House went down at Guisborough Town HC whose  marksmen  were Jonathan  Sharkey and Russ Spence. Lee Harrison kept the Wearsiders in the  game but the hosts edged home.
 
David  Turner,  Roy  Gordon and Dean Lee led Annfield Plain to  victory  against Boldon CA whose only reply was a Chris Robertson penalty.
 
Coxhoe  Athletic,  the  only  side  without a point,  crashed  4-1  at  Teesside Athletic  despite Peter Bouler, with a cracking 30-yard drive, scoring the  goal of  the  game.  Stuart Poulter, Lewis Woods and James Kesterton, with  a  brace, struck for Teesside.
 
Alex  Strickland (2) and Ryan Rivis were the marksmen as Kirkbymoorside saw  off Cleator Moor Celtic. Keiron McCool claimed a consolation for the Cumbrians.
 
Glen  Walker  rifled  a  hat-trick  and  Aaron  Foley  converted  a  penalty  in Wolviston's  victory  over  Windscale  who responded  through  Dean  Rogers  and Howard Kirkbride.
 
Jarrow  won  the  only league game, defeating Willington at  Hall  Lane.  Martin Scott  fired  the  home  side in front and after  Mark  Pearson  levelled,  Liam Poppleton headed in the winner.