North-East Football Live: Saturday, March 9 (From Darlington and Stockton Times)
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North-East Football Live: Saturday, March 9
Updated 11:42am Sunday 10th March 2013 in Football
This live event has finished
11:41am
6:28pm
Sam Garvie was Shildon's hat-trick hero as the Railwaymen progressed to the semi-finals of the FA Vase with a 4-1 win at Ascot United.
Shildon had been struggling to name a team due to injuries, but Garvie's treble plus one from Jamie Owens kept the Wembley dream alive.
Former Billingham Town striker Owens put Shildon ahead before Garvie struck twice to make it 3-0.
Ascot pulled one back, but, in front of an attendance of 780, Garvie added another to set up a two-legged semi-final against Tunbridge Wells, with the first leg away, to be played on March 23 and 30.
The other semi-final will Spennymoor Town face either Guernsey or Walsall Wood, whose sixth round tie kicks-off a 7.45pm this evening.
4:58pm
Bristol City 2 Middlesbrough 0
Boro now three points off the play-offs and have dropped to ninth after another below-par showing, this time at Ashton Gate.
Goals from Albert Adomah and Steven Davies were enough to do the damage. It's difficult to see how Middlesbrough can turn things around in the final nine games to finish in the top six.
4:57pm
Hartlepool United 0 Yeovil Town 0
Have to say that's two more vital home points dropped for Pools.
They lost their way in the second period and it looked like the game would slip away from them.
But they recovered and Antony Sweeney really should have won it when he was put through, but tried to put the ball the wrong side of keeper Marek Stech.
With their other rivals at the bottom losing - bar Portsmouth who beat Bury - it's a missed opportunity.
4:52pm
QPR 3
Sunderland 1
They might have taken the lead, but Sunderland have ended up on the wrong end of a heavy defeat at the hands of the Premier League's bottom club.
On this evidence, you could see QPR staying up. God knows what will happen to Sunderland....
4:48pm
QPR 3
Sunderland 1
(Jenas 90)
It's all over now as Sunderland concede a third goal.
This one was very similar to QPR's second. Wright-Phillips crossed from the right, Vaughan headed clear, and Jermaine Jenas was afforded far too much room as he cracked in a fierce strike from 20 yards.
4:47pm
Boro have struggled throughout. With the exception of Dyer there has been very little to take out of this from a positive view.
Bristol City two up with five left, as Main goes close at one end and has penalty appeal waved away.
4:29pm
QPR 2
Sunderland 1
(Townsend 71)
Sunderland fall behind with 19 minutes left as Andros Townsend scores a cracker.
Fletcher's defensive header went straight to the midfielder, who controlled it adeptly before dispatching a dipping half-volley into the bottom left-hand corner of the net.
4:24pm
Hartlepool 0 Yeovil 0
65 mins in, still not a lot to report. Double sub for Pools - Howard and Monkhouse for Poole and Luscombe.
4:14pm
QPR 1 Sunderland 1
First sub of the day means a change of formation for Sunderland.
Danny Rose replaces Danny Graham and goes to left-back. Jack Colback pushes into midfield and Sessegnon will play in the hole behind lone striker Fletcher.
4:13pm
Bristol City 2 Middlesbrough 0, Davies 53
Another sloppy goal. This time the ball played behind the back four by Pearson, Davies had too much time and picked out Steele's bottom left corner.
4:08pm
George Friend has been taken off at the break. Andy Halliday has a chance to prove he deserves to start the next game.
Boro have 45 minutes to try to save this game - and potentially a further drop down the Championship table.
3:49pm
Bristol City 1 Middlesbrough 0
Albert Adomah's excellent opener in the 33rd minute is enough to separate the teams at the break. Boro need more going forward if they are to get something from this.
3:48pm
Hartlepool 0 Yeovil 0
Few chances overall. Paddy Madden smashed against the underside of the bar, James Poole curled a shot wide.
Other than that, it's cold.
3:47pm
QPR 1 Sunderland 1
Sunderland had a five-minute purple patch after they scored, but the rest has been all QPR.
The hosts' goal might have been fortunate, with the ball deflecting into Remy's path, but it's impossible to claim they don't deserve to at least be level.
3:35pm
Bristol City 1 Middlesbrough 0, Adomah 33
Albert Adomah, the man Mowbray would love to sign, has curled in a terrific left-foot strike to put Boro behind.
It stemmed from three separate mistakes from Friend, McManus and then McDonald.
3:34pm
Hartlepool 0 Yeovil 0
Half an hour gone, not a lot to report to be honest. Plenty of loose balls from both teams.
3:32pm
QPR 1
Sunderland 1
(Remy 30)
Sunderland were only ahead for ten minutes, but they can count themselves somewhat unlucky in terms of the manner of QPR's equaliser.
Andros Townsend drilled in a hopeful shot from 25 yards, but the ball deflected off John O'Shea's boot straight into the path of Loic Remy, who casually slotted home.
3:28pm
Middlesbrough struggling to make progress going forward, but are restricting Bristol City to long range shots so far.
Mowbray needs more from creative players.
3:28pm
QPR 0 Sunderland 1
This is a completely different game now that Sunderland have taken the lead, and the visitors might have added a second when Danny Graham could only head over after Chris Samba's slip enabled him to meet Larsson's cross.
3:22pm
QPR 0
Sunderland 1
(Fletcher 20)
Somewhat against the run of play, but Sunderland have claimed the lead thanks to a classic counter-attacking goal rounded off by Steven Fletcher.
The Black Cats broke from their own half after clearing a QPR free-kick, with Fletcher's backheel releasing Sessegnon down the right.
His cross was driven back across goal by Adam Johnson, and Fletcher was on hand to stab the ball home from the edge of the six-yard box.
3:17pm
Hartlepool 0 Yeovil 0
Bright start from Pools. James Poole curled wide from 20 yards in a busy opening.
Pools kicking towards the Town End first half, and you won't miss Yeovil in their flourescent kit. They've got Dan Burn at the back, the ex-Darlington centre-half. He's a big unit it's fair to say.
3:10pm
QPR 0 Sunderland 0
QPR have been much the brighter side in the opening ten minutes here at Loftus Road.
Junior Hoilett dragged an early shot just wide of the target, and the winger is already causing problems with his pace down the left-hand side.
Sunderland's defenders are also struggling to keep tabs on the movement of QPR striker Loic Remy.
3:01pm
QPR vs Sunderland
We're under way at Loftus Road with Sunderland lining up in the anticipated 4-4-2 formation. QPR also 4-4-2 with Zamora and Remy in partnership up front.
2:52pm
Sammy Ameobi is missing nursing a hamstring problem. Not thought to be serious, but that's why he is not in contention.
If Boro do line up three at the back, Boro need Dyer and Friend to be at their very best. I'm hopeful ... famous last words.
2:46pm
Away from the games involving the North-East teams, there's been a major upset in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup with Wigan winning 3-0 at Everton.
Wigan at Wembley eh? Simply underlines how badly the North-East's big two have underperformed in the cup competitions recently.
2:43pm
QPR vs Sunderland
It can't have been in evidence very much this season, but there's a real sense of optimism amongst the home fans here at Loftus Road after last weekend's win at Southampton.
They sense QPR can pull off a great escape and avoid the bottom three this season, and they're targeting the visit of Sunderland as one of the games that could help them do it.
As for the Black Cats? They start today six points above the relegation zone - a comfortable enough margin, but not one that allows for much room for error in a game like this.
2:36pm
It's actually shaping up like Middlesbrough could play three at the back. So more changes from Mowbray. That will add steel to the middle.
2:36pm
Hartlepool United v Yeovil Town.
As expected, Nathan Luscombe for Jack Baldwin is Pools' only change. Same formation, with the team pretty much picking itself.
Ten games to go, minumum of seven wins (probably) needed for Pools to stay up. A big ask - this game and Tuesday's at Oldham will go a long way to deciding their fate.
HARTLEPOOL UNITED: Flinders; Austin, Collins, Hartley, Horwood; Humphreys, Luscombe, Walton; Franks, Poole; Wyke. Subs: McHugh (gk), Monkhouse, Sweeney, Rutherford, Holden, James, Howard.
YEOVIL TOWN: Stech; Ayling, Webster, Burn, McAllister; Foley, Upson, Edwards, Dawson; Madden, Hayter. Subs: Hinds, Blizzard, Williams, Stewart, Young, Ralph, Fletcher.
Referee: David Webb (Stanley)
2:30pm
Team news in from Ashton Gate. Jonathan Woodgate and Kieron Dyer both return for Middlesbrough, but Sammy Ameobi is missing from the match-day squad.
It is difficult to call how Boro will line-up, but based on the last two outings it could be a 4-4-2 with Marvin Emnes and Scott McDonald up front.
It's a big game for Boro. Three points much-needed to revive stuttering play-off hopes. Bristol City, though, are unbeaten in five at home despite sitting bottom of the Championship.
BRISTOL CITY (4-5-1): Heaton; Moloney, Nyatanga, Fontaine, Cunningham; Kelly, Kilkenny, Elliott, Pearson; Stead, Davis. Subs: Gerken (gk), Baldock, Howard, Wilson, Anderson, Adomah, Bates.
MIDDLESBROUGH (4-4-2): Steele; Bailey, Woodgate, McManus, Friend; Carayol, Williams, Smallwood, Dyer; Emnes, McDonald. Subs: Leutwiler (gk), Ledesma, Hines, Halliday, Main, Reach, Miller.
2:30pm
QPR vs SUNDERLAND
Full teams at Loftus Road:
QPR (4-4-2): Green; Bosingwa, Samba, Hill, Fabio; Park, Townsend, Mbia, Hoilett; Zamora, Remy.
Subs: Murphy (gk), Onuoha, Jenas, Wright-Phillips, Granero, Mackie, Bothroyd.
SUNDERLAND (4-4-2): Mignolet; Gardner, O'Shea, Bramble, Colback; Sessegnon, Larsson, N'Diaye, Johnson; Fletcher, Graham.
Subs: Westwood (gk), Bardsley, Rose, Kilgallon, Cuellar, Mangane, Vaughan.
2:22pm
QPR vs Sunderland
The early team news from Loftus Road is that Sunderland will be unchanged from the side that drew with Fulham last weekend.
Danny Rose returns to the substitutes' bench after recovering from injury, but James McClean is not part of the squad as he is suffering from an illness.
Full teams soon....
12:30pm
South Shields versus Dunston UTS has become the latest Ebac Northern League game to be postponed.
Full list of postponements:
DIVISION ONE
Bedlington Terriers v Billingham Town
Consett FC v Spennymoor Town
Darlington 1883 v Guisborough
Newton Aycliffe v Ashington
Norton & Stockton Ancients v Bishop Auckland
Penrith v Newcastle Benfield
South Shields v Dunston UTS
Sunderland RCA v Hebburn Town
DIVISION TWO
Birtley Town v Horden CW
Chester-le-Street v Northallerton Town
Darlington RA v Stokesley Sports Club
Esh Winning v Whickham
Thornaby v Jarrow Roofing
Washington v Morpeth Town
12:04pm
MATCHES POSTPONED. Three more Northern League games added to the postponed list:
Bedlington Terriers v Billingham Town
Birtley Town v Horden CW
Darlington RA v Stokesley Sports Club
11:32am
MATCH OFF: Sunderland RCA v Hebburn Town
A waterlogged pitch means that Sunderland RCA's home game with Hebburn has become the sixth Northern League game to be postponed today.
11:30am
MATCH OFF: Penrith v Newcastle Benfield
Newcastle Benfield's match at Penrith has been postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.
It has become the fifth Northern League game off today. Also off is:
Consett v Spennymoor Town
Darlington v Guisborough Town
Newton Aycliffe v Ashington
Norton & Stockton Ancients v Bishop Auckland
10:52am
MATCH OFF: Newton Aycliffe v Ashington
Newton Aycliffe's match at home to Ashington has been postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.
10:50am
MATCH OFF: Norton & Stockton Ancients v Bishop Auckland
Bishops' match at bottom-of-the-table Norton & Stockton Ancients has been postponed due to waterlogged pitch.
10:49am
MATCH OFF: Consett v Spennymoor Town
The at Belle Vue today has been postponed due to snow. Meanwhile, there will be a pitch inspection this morning at Newton Aycliffe ahead of their game with Ashington.
10:44am
Darlington's next scheduled Saturday match at Heritage Park is on March 30 against Sunderland RCA, by which point it'll have been almost five months since their last home game on a Saturday.
They haven't played at Heritage Park on a Saturday since November 3, a 3-1 win over Whitley Bay.
10:36am
MATCH OFF: Darlington v Guisborough Town
Today's Darlington match against Guisborough Town at Heritage Park has been postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.
The game was due to be Quakers' first on a Saturday at home since November.
4:12pm
QPR subs: Fabio, Green (gk), Onuoha, Townsend, Mackie, Tarrabt, Jenas.
Sunderland subs: Kilgallon, Colback, Westwood (gk), Cuellar, McClean, Vaughan, Mangane.
Team News: QPR keeper Julio Cesar is a doubt with the dead leg which forced him off against Southampton last weekend. Tal Ben-Haim (hip) and Bobby Zamora (ankle) are also doubtful.
Danny Rose has recovered from hamstring trouble and is in line to slot straight back in to the Sunderland defence. Matt Kilgallon has also overcome illness and has travelled. There is still no skipper Lee Cattermole (knee)
Referee: Michael Jones (Chester)
Odds: H 6/5; A 12/5; D 9/4
It’s a fact: Queens Park Rangers have not beaten Sunderland since a 1-0 win at Loftus Road in 1991 – a season when they did the double.
Comment by Paul Fraser: This could be one of the games of the day. QPR are desperate for points and Sunderland will need to react to the home side’s approach. 2-2
4:10pm
Newcastle subs: Ben Arfa, Ameobi, Alnwick (gk), Perch, Anita, Haidara, Obertan
Stoke subs: Sorensen (gk), Whitehead, Palacios, Cameron, Owen, Adam, Jones.
Team News: Fabriccio Coloccini (back) and Ryan Taylor (knee) are again ruled out along with No 1 goalkeeper Tim Krul (ankle) and deputy Steve Harper (knee). Ben Alnwick will continue to deputise on the bench for current shot-stopper Rob Elliot. Striker Papiss Cisse returns after illness.
Stoke have former Newcastle striker Michael Owen available again after a hip injury. Matthew Etherington (back) is also likely to slot straight back in after injury. Defender Robert Huth is still suspended.
Referee: Andre Marriner (Walsall)
Odds: H 5/6; A 27/10; D 19/5#
It’s a fact: Stoke’s only away win this season was a December success at West Brom courtesy of former Sunderland midfielder Dean Whitehead’s winner.
Comment by Richard Mason: Three months ago, Newcastle’s paper-thin squad would have struggled with a post-Europa League game but they have enough to fettle Stoke. 2-1
4:09pm
Bristol City subs: Gerken (gk), Bates, Kilkenny, Howard, Davies, Adomah, Baldock.
Middlesbrough subs: Leutwiler (gk), R Williams, Smallwood, Haroun, Ledesma, Emnes, Main.
Team news: Bristol City boss Sean O’Driscoll is set to stick with his switch to a lone centre-forward after the ploy resulted in a goalless draw with Brighton in midweek. Ryan Taylor (collarbone) and Richard Foster (Achilles) are both unavailable because of injury. Boro boss Tony Mowbray will not risk Justin Hoyte (hip) or Lukas Jutkiewicz (ankle) despite the pair returning to training this week. Jonathan Woodgate, Andre Bikey and Stuart Parnaby are all unavailable.
Referee: Graham Scott (Oxford)
Odds: Bristol City 13-8, Draw 5-2, Draw 9-5
It’s a fact: Boro are going to have to make history if they’re to secure promotion as they have already lost 16 games this season. No side has ever gone up from the Championship having suffered 16 defeats.
Comment by Scott Wilson: Bristol City might be bottom of the league, but their recent home form is extremely strong and Boro will not have things their own way at Ashton Gate. 1-1
