Saturday March 6th
Northern League Division 1
Dunston UTS 0- 0 Spennymoor
League leaders Spennymoor Town were held to a goalless draw at high flying Dunston on Saturday despite creating the better chances of the two teams throughout the ninety minutes.
Manager Jason Ainsley was boosted by the return of striker Gavin Cogdon to the starting line up, and a debut was handed to on loan Hartlepool United frontman Matty Tymon. Fit again trio Michael Rae, Anthony Peacock and Craig Ruddy were all named on the bench along with Ian Dixon and super sub Chris Lawther. Moors started the much brighter side against Dunston, who, started the day in second place and unbeaten in their last ten games, when first schemer Craig Hubbard fired straight at Dunston keeper Liam Connell from distance, then moments later Connell spilled a powerful Keith Graydon drive but then recovered to claw the ball away from the onrushing Chris Emms. Tymon was twice brought down by Michael Laws after turning smartly which saw the Dunston defender become the first of five home players to enter Referee Kevin Raine’s book.
At the other end, Michael Dixon volleyed wide when a corner landed at his feet on the edge of the area, then Terry Galbraith watched his 20yd free kick sail over the woodwork, but it was Spennymoor who looked the more dangerous side going forward on a sticky surface, and were denied by a controversial linesman’s flag as they thought to have opened the scoring midway through the half. Hubbard’s precise cross was flicked home by Tymon and the celebrations were cut short by the offside decision. Moors were still hot on the heels, and after Graydon’s free kick was well held by Connell, Moors missed a gilt edged chance to open the scoring on the stroke of half time when Emms broke into the box and he picked out the unmarked Cogdon, but the strikers touch brought the ball kindly into the path of the Dunston keeper and the chance went.
The second half was pretty much the same as the first, with Spennymoor pressing for the opener and Dunston happy to sit back and defend in numbers and when the opportunities arose try to catch an attack minded Moors out at the back. Sub Neil Tarrant had the best chance for the home side late on in the half but his angled shot was easily saved by Craig Turns. Midfield dynamo Lewis Dodds saw a rasping drive blocked for a corner, then Connell again saved Dunston when he blocked with his foot from a Tymon shot inside the area. Tymon headed over before he was replaced by Rae in the first change by Boss Ainsley.
After Emms saw a weak free kick hit the wall, Cogdon then perhaps should have done better when Laws got in the way of his shot from close range and then Paul Stephenson’s shot on the turn when a corner was only half cleared was hacked off the line by Dunston defender Mark O’Bern. Peacock and Lawther were both on the field trying to carve open the strong Dunston defence, although Hubbard’s superb run saw him take the ball past two Dunston players and lift the ball over for Lawther who saw his shot blocked by home defender Laws. The full time whistle came with both sides extended their unbeaten runs and Spennymoor’s lead at the top of the Northern League 1st Division is now down to nine points with Whitley Bay winning their home game against Horden. Moors, however, remain unbeaten in the league since October which stretches back twelve games. Next up is a derby game with arch rivals Bishop Auckland on Tuesday night.
Line-Up: Craig Turns, Kallum Griffiths, Chris Mason©, Lewis Dodds, Paul Stephenson, Stephen Capper, Craig Hubbard, Keith Graydon, Matthew Tymon(Michael Rae), Gavin Cogdon(Chris Lawther), Chris Emms(Anthony Peacock).
Tuesday February 16th
Northern League Division 1
Chester – le – St 0-1 Spennymoor
Ten man Spennymoor Town – ahead with a superb Craig Hubbard strike midway through the first half – withstood late pressure after sub Ian Dixon was sent off for his second bookable offence to secure their 23rd league win of the season and stay 15 points clear of second placed Whitley Bay at the top of the skilltrainingltd Northern League 1st Division.
Moors boss Jason Ainsley handed a debut to Mark Sheeran in attack, while another new boy Calvin Smith was named among the substitutes. Kenny Boyle was unavailable while the necessary paperwork was not completed in time for on loan Hartlepool United frontman Matty Tymon to make his debut. Moors were still without Gavin Cogdon, Michael Rae, Chris Lawther, Anthony Peacock and Carl Beasley, however, Craig Ruddy recovered and was named on the bench. Karl Richards made his first start for four months in midfield. Moors started the much brighter side, and the lively Chris Emms looked the most dangerous in the final third but Moors failed to trouble the Cestrians custodian despite playing the better of the football between the two sides. Chester, on the other hand, started to gain confidence and after a rare mistake by Stephen Capper, the league’s leading scorer Nathan Fisher got away but his shot was well saved by Craig Turns. Fisher then saw his 25yd free kick held comfortably by Turns.
Moors had the ball in the back of the net when Hubbard tapped home an Emms cross but the linesman’s flag was up for offside. Moments later, Fisher then had another chance when he ran onto a long throw but Turns did well to save low down to his right. The deadlock was broken in the 24th minute when the impressive Hubbard dribbled around the Chester defence to supply a superb left foot finish into the bottom corner of Cestrians keeper Ian Aitken’s net. New signing Sheeran then cut inside but shot tamely at Aitken, and Hubbard headed a Capper cross over the top following a good move. Turns saved another Fisher drive before Keith Graydon’s shot went high over the woodwork from Capper’s quickly taken free kick.
Graydon was replaced at the break for Smith who was making his first appearance after joining from Dunston UTS the night before. The second half continued in the same vein as the first, with both sides struggling to make an impact and neither keeper rarely troubled as Spennymoor’s Lewis Dodds broke from midfield but pulled his shot wide, sub John Toft crossed for Sheeran to head back across the face of goal which was cleared and at the other end, Fisher hit a 35yd free kick well wide and two quick corners in succession, the first saw sub Dixon clash heads with Chesters Andy Armstrong and return to the field sporting a headband, were cleared comfortably by the Moors defence.
Dixon was then the centre of attention when he was cautioned and then with just five minutes remaining received his marching orders for another rash challenge, and then it was all hands to the pump for the 10 men of Moors as Chester piled on the pressure but couldn’t break through a backline of Moors bodies who were marshalled superbly by Paul Stephenson and captain Chris Mason thoughout.
Line-Up: Craig Turns, Kallum Griffiths, Chris Mason©, Lewis Dodds, Paul Stephenson, Stephen Capper, Craig Hubbard, Keith Graydon(Calvin Smith), Mark Sheeran, Chris Emms(Ian Dixon), Karl Richards(John Toft). Subs Not Used: Craig Ruddy, Simon Bishop.
Att: 148
Saturday February 13th
Northern League Division 1
Spennymoor 2-0 Bedlington
Spennymoor extended their lead at the top of the skilltrainingltd Northern League First Division to 15 points with this comprehensive victory over high flying Bedlington Terriers in front of another 300 strong crowd at The Brewery Field. Moors victory, however, came at a price as they lost prolific strike duo Gavin Cogdon & Michael Rae to injuries in the first half and both are expected to remain sidelined for a minimum of a month which will be a big blow for the club as the pair have notched a staggering 36 goals in all competitions this season.
Manager Jason Ainsley was already without Anthony Peacock, Craig Ruddy, Carl Beasley, Tommy English and Gary Pearson through injuries for this game, but Spennymoor got off to a good start with early spells of slick football played on a heavy surface. The deadlock was broken in the 14th minute when super sub Chris Lawther – who replaced hamstring victim Cogdon – latched onto a through ball by Chris Emms to drill a low shot past Terriers’ keeper Paul Newton from just inside the area. The impressive Lewis Dodds, then released Craig Hubbard who advanced into the Terriers half but Richard Flynn produced a fine tackle before the visitors enjoyed good spells of possession but failed to test home keeper Craig Turns.
Moors then doubled their lead on 35 minutes with a well worked goal. Emms and Stephen Capper combined to set up Hubbard on the edge of the box who turned to lash home an unstoppable shot into the top corner of Newton’s net. Rae then hobbled off to be replaced by Karl Richards.
Terriers were then awarded a free kick just outside the penalty area but skipper Stuart Elliott drove his effort high over Turns’ goal. Ex Moors striker Anthony Shandran the showed neat footwork and strength but Chris Mason blocked his shot and Jamie Poole pulled his shot wide. In stoppage time at the end of the first half, sub Richards and Terriers’ Michael Hedley collided with a clash of heads which delayed proceedings despite Carlisle referee Andy Backhouse eventually blowing for the interval with both players still receiving treatment on the field.
While Richards returned to start the second half, unfortunately for Terriers Hedley was unable to and was replaced by Peter Snowdon. Inside the opening exchanges, Terriers had a golden opportunity to reduce the deficit when a Ben Christiensen cross picked out Shandran at the back post but Turns came to Spennymoor’s rescue with a superb point blank save. The second half petered out into a battle as the pitch cut up badly, and the only highlight came when Dodds broke away in the closing minutes and his chip saw Newton get back to slap the ball over the bar. Capper then fired over a 22yd free kick with time running out.
The full time whistle came and today Spennymoor showed that not only can they play the most attractive football in the division, but they can also grind out a win on a heavy pitch against good opposition and time will tell if the hole missing in attack will be missed for the next few weeks of the season.
Line-Up: Craig Turns, Kallum Griffiths, Chris Mason©, Lewis Dodds, Paul Stephenson, Stephen Capper, Craig Hubbard, Keith Graydon(John Toft), Michael Rae(Karl Richards), Gavin Cogdon(Chris Lawther), Chris Emms. Subs Not Used: Ian Dixon, Simon Bishop.
Att: 310
Saturday February 6th
Northern League Division 1
South Shields 1-3 Spennymoor
Chris Lawther came off the bench with to inspire Spennymoor to victory and send The Moors twelve points clear at the top of the skilltrainingltd Northern League First Division with this victory over nine men South Shields at Filtrona Park. Sub Lawther’s neat header with just three minutes left on the clock was no more than Moors deserved and then the super sub raced away to set up Gavin Cogdon who gleefully wrapped up the win in stoppage time after Cogdon cancelled out an early Shields goal in the first half.
Boss Jason Ainsley made two changes from the side that beat Ashington eleven days ago with goalkeeper Craig Turns returning and Michael Rae replacing Chris Emms. Shields named former Spennymoor keeper Niki Lawson – who had made nine appearances for the Moors this season. The opening exchanges on a sticky pitch saw both sides go at each other with plenty of gusto, with little quality in the final third. Shields’ Craig Ellison was the first home player to go into Washington Referee Danny Markham’s book for a reckless challenge on Anthony Peacock. South Shields, however, drew first blood when they opened the scoring on 10 minutes. Jonathan Wightman crossed from the right and when Moors’ defender Kallum Griffiths failed to clear, Tony Coe was on hand to give Turns no chance with a first time shot from close range.
Moors rallied, and twice Lawson kept the lead intact with blocks from Peacock and Cogdon. Rae got away before cutting inside and rifling a shot that went high and wide and Craig Hubbard shot tamely at Lawson as Moors dominated possession. Parity was deservedly restored on the half hour mark when Peacock did extremely well to pick out Cogdon who turned quickly to fire a shot into the far corner of Lawson’s goal, much to the delight of the travelling support. Hubbard had a golden opportunity to put Spennymoor into the lead but unselfishly pulled the ball back which was eventually cleared by the Shields defence. The home side thought they had regained the lead when Wightman buried a shot only for the Assistant’s flag to be raised for offside.
The second period was littered with fouls, in a stop start affair which the referee failed to stamp his authority on the game due to the unsavoury challenges going in by the home side. This was addressed in the latter stages of the half as Shields were reduced to nine men after goalscorer Coe and captain Lee Paul Scroggins were sent off within ten minutes of each other. Moors’ slick football continued on a badly cut up pitch but found a resolute rearguard in front of them. Cogdon hit the side netting, Lewis Dodds shot wide meanwhile at the other end a Craig Tate shot whistled over Turns goal and Griffiths produced a last ditch block in a two on one situation.
Moors persistence finally paid off, with time running out on the clock, when the excellent Stephen Capper’s cross from the left was met by sub Lawther who glanced his header into the bottom corner of a full stretched Lawson’s net. Moors did have a minor scare when Shields won a corner and Keith Graydon cleared off the line but the three points were wrapped up in stoppage time as Shields sent keeper Lawson up for another flag kick and as Moors cleared and broke away Lawther teed up Cogdon who had the simple task of walking the ball into the net to send the Moors fans into euphoria.
Line-Up: Craig Turns, Kallum Griffiths, Chris Mason©, Lewis Dodds(Chris Emms), Paul Stephenson, Stephen Capper, Craig Hubbard, Keith Graydon, Michael Rae(Chris Lawther), Anthony Peacock(Karl Richards), Gavin Cogdon. Subs Not Used: John Toft, Ian Dixon.
Tuesday January 26th
Northern League Division 1
Ashington 0-1 Spennymoor
Spennymoor Town extended their lead at the top of the skilltrainingltd Northern League first division title to 9 points with an excellent victory over third place Ashington on Tuesday night at Woodhorn Lane. Moors’ third game in six days following a six week break of adverse weather saw them rack up their 20th league win in just 25 games thanks to a second half goal from sub Michael Rae.
Manager Jason Ainsley made three changes to the side that defeated Horden C.W. at the weekend with goalkeeper Simon Bishop handed his second start of the season ahead of the injured Craig Turns, Kallum Griffiths came in for Carl Beasley and Keith Graydon replaced John Toft in midfield. Craig Ruddy, who picked up a hamstring injury at Norton was still absent from the squad.
The early exchanges belonged to Spennymoor with livewire Gavin Cogdon warming Ashington keeper Karl Dryden’s hands with a shot from outside the area. Craig Hubbard then fired tamely at Dryden following good interlink play with Anthony Peacock. Cogdon then had Dryden scrambling across his line to push his shot around the post. Ashington came into the game, and when captain Chris Mason saw his clearance rebound off Scott Blandford the Ashington schemer wriggled away only to be hauled down and following a delay the referee booked Mason and awarded a free kick on the edge of the area when the vociferous home crowd were looking for a straight red. Keith Douglas’ drive deflected off the well positioned wall and bounced wide of Bishop’s right hand post.
Moors still continued to break in numbers with Stephen Capper overlapping down the left hand side with Chris Emms, and Peacock, Graydon, Hubbard and Lewis Dodds dictating play it looked only a matter of time before the deadlock was broken. Emms firstly saw a shot blocked after he picked up the pieces inside the area then Capper’s inswinging free kick took a deflection from a home defender and flashed inches wide. Emms then fired low which Dryden saved well before Moors were denied a blatant penalty when Peacock was tripped by Liam Atkin inside the area. Cogdon’s mazy run saw him chopped down on the edge of the area and Capper’s weak set piece failed to trouble Dryden who positioned himself well as the half came to a close.
Moors replaced Emms at the break and replaced him with top scorer Michael Rae, and it took the prolific striker only five minutes to open the scoring following two corners in succession. The latter brilliantly delivered by Capper which was flicked on by Graydon for Rae to direct his header into the top corner from close range.
Spennymoor still looked the most dangerous going forward, meanwhile at the other end Bishop was a mere spectator and with Paul Stephenson marshalling the Moors defence well the omens were in Spennymoor’s favour. As the half wore on, Moors had two golden chances to double their advantage when Hubbard’s endeavour paid off to run from midfield with the ball only for his shot to flash past the far post past a full stretch Dryden. Rae also went close when he drilled a shot again past the upright before Ashington put on some pressure. Blandford broke from midfield but shot over, then Bishop did well to collect a low rasping drive from Andrew Carr from outside the area. Both sides used their three substitutions, and in the end Moors held out comfortably to move nine points clear of second placed Whitley Bay who lost to Dunston UTS. Ashington, who stay third, are eleven points adrift of Moors.
Line-Up: Simon Bishop, Kallum Griffiths, Chris Mason©, Lewis Dodds, Paul Stephenson, Stephen Capper, Craig Hubbard, Keith Graydon(Ian Dixon), Gavin Cogdon, Anthony Peacock(Karl Richards), Chris Emms(Michael Rae). Subs not used: John Toft, Craig Turns.
Att: 234
Saturday January 23rd
Northern League Division 1
Spennymoor 4-2 Horden
A superb hat-trick from Gavin Cogdon sent Spennymoor Town six points clear at the top of the league with this routine win over lowly Horden Colliery Welfare at The Brewery Field.
Moors didn’t start too well, but remained in control of proceedings and perhaps should have opened the soring when Craig Hubbard – against his former club – broke from midfield and weaved his way into the area but Craig Snowdon cleared his chip over keeper Craig Shields from the line. At the other end, powerful frontmen Chris I’Anson and Andrew Shingleton posed the threat to the Spennymoor defenders but failed to trouble home keeper Craig Turns. Moors took a well deserved lead on 19 minutes when Stephen Capper exchanged passes with Anthony Peacock to pull the ball back for Cogdon who sidefooted into the net from the edge of the six yard box.
Both sides lost their respective captains to injuries when first Horden’s Neil Guttridge left the field to be replaced by Paul Atkinson, then Carl Beasley hobbled off and was replaced by Ian Dixon. The visitors only had to wait four minutes to restore parity when Moors failed to clear and the ball fell to youngster Liam Beeston who curled a fine effort from the edge of the area into the far corner of Turns’ goal.
Horden’s joy was shortlived, however, when man of the match Cogdon put Spennymoor back into the lead moments later with a brilliant shot from outside the area into the bottom corner and it looked as if the league leaders were going to turn on the style, as Peacock was denied by a one handed save by Shields who did well to get down low and push his shot around the post, then soon after Hubbard headed straight at Shields from a deep cross by Capper. Moors had a scare when I’Anson was well placed but fired well over the top, then Turns blocked a Shingleton shot when the Horden striker wriggled his way past Chris Mason.
Early in the second period, Spennymoor had a golden opportunity to extend their lead when John Toft broke away but shot straight at Shields from inside the area. Horden then were denied by another save from Turns who denied Shingleton in a one on one situation, before Spennymoor finally, and deservedly, went 3-1 up as Cogdon was tripped by Snowdon in the area. Wearside referee Warren Broadbent pointed to the spot and Capper stepped up to rifle in the penalty. The three points were wrapped up minutes after when Cogdon’s mazy run ended in the striker’s 15th goal of the season as he finished brilliantly and topped it off with a celebration at the visiting technical area which the referee cautioned Cogdon and Micky Rae soon replaced him in attack.
Horden – to their credit – were not finished and pulled a goal back when sub Atkinson’s free kick picked out Mark Nicholson who planted a superb header into the top corner from 18yds. Moors closed the game out with over 20 minutes to go without really testing Shields, and were untroubled at the other end to rack up their 19th league win of the season and complete a league double over the financially struggling visitors.
Line-Up: Craig Turns, Carl Beasley(Ian Dixon), Chris Mason, Lewis Dodds, Paul Stephenson, Stephen Capper, John Toft, Craig Hubbard, Gavin Cogdon(Michael Rae), Anthony Peacock, Chris Emms(Keith Graydon). Subs Not Used: Karl Richards, Chris Lawther.
