Football: Kirkbymoorside out of Monkwearmouth Cup (From Gazette & Herald)

Football: Kirkbymoorside out of Monkwearmouth Cup

1:51pm Wednesday 5th September 2012 in Sport

Kirkbymoorside were edged out of the Monkwearmouth Cup after losing a nine-goal thriller to visitors Darlington CB thanks to Christian Holliday’s late strike.

Hampered by eight absentees, manager Alex Strickland was forced to make his first start of the season, but on a positive note Johnny Brown was back and looking sharp.

After a cagey opening few minutes the hosts started to batter the visitors and it was no surprise when Uhi Ehima tricked his way round the last defender and slotted past goalkeeper Michael Thraves to open the scoring after 28 minutes.

But within two minutes Darlington levelled through Daniel MacLachlan. This stung the hosts, whose Sarjo Cham was brought down and got up to convert the penalty. Brown and Henry Kwami also both went close.

The second half saw Kirkby caught napping, McLachlan netting his second. Back came Kirkby for Matthew Bower to head them in front, but the same player then side-footed past his own ’keeper, Tim Hodgson, for 3-3.

Strickland went close from 30 yards before defender Alex Oxendale, incensed a foul was not given in his favour, barged over a rival to concede a penalty which Hookway converted.

Man-of-the-match Chris Rhodes rifled in an unstoppable drive to restore parity only for the visitors to break clear and snatch a winner from Holliday. There was even time for a confident penalty appeal by the hosts to be waved away.

The cup exit followed on from an undeserved 2-0 home defeat in the Wearside League to Stockton.

Kirkby had the bulk of the play and created several changes but they fell to sucker punches either side of half-time from Max Craggs and Tom Atkinson.