When I watched these two sides play each other just 14 days ago, it was quite a competitive game until Wheatley Hill took control in the second half. With little else on tonight, and this being only three miles away from me, I was always going to go. Mind, I missed the bus and so had to walk. I ended up walking back too! Wheatley Hill are one of the best sides in the Durham Alliance this season. Although they don’t have the infrastructure and probably finances, they would be ale to compete in the Wearside League on the pitch. They play some decent stuff and I’m sure they would have a reasonable season if they were in the Wearside League. Two weeks on Wednesday, they play their final league game of the season against Sunderland Hall Farm Glasshus. Hall Farm are two points ahead of Wheatley Hill so it is all going down to that one game. A win for Wheatley Hill will see them win the league. They’re in another cup final on Wednesday coming when they play Bishop Auckland Reserves at Seaham Red Star.

I arrived right on kick-off and it was evident that Blackhill were going to struggle tonight. They only had eight players and lined up with the globally recognised system of 5-5-1! When in possession, they seemed to play a more attacking 4-2-1.

It was quite sunny throughout but the bitter wind made it difficult for both teams and they was a light flurry of snow at one point in the second half.

However, they struggled from the off as Wheatley Hill dominated. After wasting numerous early chances, the deadlock was eventually broken when a deflected long-range effort found the net to put Wheatley Hill in front.

A second was to follow only 60 seconds later as good football worked the ball to Jack Hart who finished well.

At this point, I went to get the ball out of a tree with quite a few thorns. I eventually got it, but I also had a thorn in my head with blood dripping from it and numerous scratches on my face.

Wheatley Hill added a third in the 34th minute and the referee blew for half-time after 40 minutes. Blackhill & Ebchester were working hard but there was no way they could find any joy. The hosts could have had six or seven come half-time and you had to feel for the Blackhill & Ebchester players who kept plugging away.

Wheatley Hill seemed to take their foot off the gas in the early stages of the second half and 18 minutes in, Blackhill worked the ball to their lone forward who struck an effort which came back off the post. I would have loved to have seen it pick out the corner for their sake!

Normal service was resumed five minutes later when another deflected effort beat the Blackhill ‘keeper to make it four and a fifth followed two minutes later. A corner was swung in and a header looked to be a comfortable take for the ‘keeper but his defender sneaked in to head it backwards and divert it past the goalkeeper to make it five.

A fine strike made it six 27 minutes into the second half and the referee called time after half an hour of the second period.

That made it a 70 minute game; something which is allowed if both sides agree to it.

Full-time: Wheatley Hill WMC 6-0 Blackhill & Ebchester

Next up for me is Spennymoor Town vs Nantwich Town tomorrow.

Admission: Free

Attendance: 20

Programme: No

Referee: Terry McMenam