Ferryhill Athletic had the highly unusual situation, reports Chris Orton, of playing their home game in the Washington Aged Person’s Cup against local rivals Coxhoe Athletic on the 3G pitch at the Leisure United Downhill centre in Sunderland, due to the pitch at Dean Bank being frozen.
A host of games were postponed due to the weather this weekend, so it was good to be able to get this match played.
On a bitterly cold day, Ferryhill were dominant from the outset, with the returning Kieran Gillham and Tom Olley adding steel to the side.
New signing Joe Wilson started on the bench.
Just five minutes in, Adam Morland had a chance that went over the bar.
Ferryhill had most of the play, but Coxhoe forced Harvey Gunn into a good save soon after.
Twenty minutes into the half, Morland struck home with a fine headed goal to give the ‘home’ side the lead.
Ferryhill battled throughout, playing good passing football and preventing the opposition from making much progress.
Athletic doubled their lead ten minutes later with another headed goal, this time from Matthew Agar.
The third went in after 40 minutes, with Morland effectively putting the game beyond their rivals while doubling his own tally.
The second half saw more of the same. Coxhoe came out battling, but Ferryhill continued to dominate.
A series of clever substitutions kept Ferryhill fresh and as the floodlights came on they went four up, with a great strike from Agar.
Michael Hogg went close, hitting the bar, before substitute Chris Devine rounded off a five star display against a Coxhoe side that rarely troubled Ferryhill.
The club now progresses to the quarter finals of the competition, with a home tie against Birtley Town Development on a date yet to be decided.
Ferryhill & Chilton's local community newspaper.
