Last updated 13:47, Monday, 29 September 2008

Bosch Power Tool Challenge Cup: Gillford Park 3 Peterlee Town 2: Gillford Park played hosts to Peterlee Town in the opening round of The Bosch Power Tools Challenge Cup making only one change from last weeks line-up when Liam Hodgson came in for Tyran Taylor.

And they took an early lead after being awarded a third-minute free kick.

Steve Skinner lifted a high ball into the danger area and as the visiting keeper and two of his defenders failed to clear the danger it gave Ian Johnstone the opportunity to force the ball over the line for the opening goal.

Peterlee then had a good 10-minute spell of pressure David Howe and Nathan Liddell went close to snatching an equaliser but the home side put together a good attacking move down the left in the 19th minute to score a second goal when Matthew Wood gained possession before volleying home from close range.

Then in the 24th minute, the visitors got back into the tie with a stunning free kick from Liddell from the edge of the area when he bent his shot around the defensive wall and beyond the despairing Jack Twentyman.

The persistence of Chris Grainger on the half hour mark restored the two-goal advantage for Gillford when his deep cross was not properly clear. And when the loose ball fell back to Grainger he somehow managed to poke the ball past two defenders and the keeper and give his side a 3 – 1 lead they held at the break.

Striker Damien Gee had the ball in the net for Peterlee on the hour mark but the effort was ruled our for an offside infringement, but in an identical move after only another 60-seconds on the clock gave Gee his chance again and this time his goal was adjudged to be legal.

Gillford Park’s rewarded for a thrilling victory is another home tie against current cup holders and derby rivals Harraby Catholic Club that is due to be played in mid-November.

Gillford Park: Twentyman, Thompson, Addison, Hodgson, Butler, M. Armstrong, M. Wood, Johnston, Skinner, Grainger & Moffat. Subs: J. Wood, D. Armstrong, Riding, Short, & G. Armstrong.

Harraby CC 3 Carlisle City 0

Local rivals Harraby Catholic Club and Carlisle City lock horns in the opening round of the Challenge Cup Tie.

And it was the home side who started the brighter when a Lee Otway cross in the first minute caused panic in the City defence when Peter Cawson poked the ball towards his own goal but keeper Jordan English reacted to push the ball over the bar.

City replied when James Burton saw guesting Workington keeper Aaron Taylor tip his close range header from a corner over the bar, then Marc Shiel and Ashley Combe went close for the home side.

Mike Swift was able to open the City defence in the 27th minute with a measured pass into the path of Otway who broke clear to send a shot from the edge of the area across the keeper for the opening goal and give his side a slender lead at the break.

With only two minutes on the clock after the restart Harraby doubled their advantage when Otway broke down the right to feed Rob Bainbridge who confidently drove home from within the area.

James Earl produced a cracking goal in the final stages when the City defence only half cleared a long ball allowing Earl to look up and volley over English into the top corner from fully 30-yards from goal.

Harraby CC: Taylor, Ellis, Combe, Wallace, Coulthard, M. Swift, B. Swift. Earl, Otway, Bainbridge & Shiel. Subs: Rogers, Routledge, Broom & Lamonby

Carlisle City: English, Simpson, Watson, Foster, Nichol, Burton, Kelleher, Cummersky, Heath, Cawson & Bell. Subs: Amato & McDermott.