Last updated 17:34, Thursday, 21 August 2008

After finishing a respectable fifth in their first season in the Northern Alliance First Division, Stocksfield F.C are optimistic of challenging for promotion to the Premier Division this season.

Stocksfield 4, Westerhope 1

John Wilson has returned to the club after coaching roles at Jesmond and Jarrow Roofing to take charge of team affairs and several new players have also been added to a talented squad.

Dan Beresford has signed from Blyth Town, Tom Maskell has returned to the club and promising youngsters Tom Finnerty and Dean Brown have also added quality to the squad.

Despite a day of constant rain, Stocksfield got their league campaign under way at home against Westerhope.

Dan Beresford and Dean Brown made their league debuts, while Ben Pearson started in an unfamiliar right wing berth.

Stocksfield got off to a flying start and really should have been a goal up inside the opening minute.

A good attack from the home side forced a corner and Bruce Vause’s delivery almost found the run of Phil Murray at the front post.

The ball broke back to Vause who laid the ball into the path of Beresford but his effort was deflected wide for another corner.

Another driven corner from Vause went straight across the face of goal, with Scott Johnson the closest to getting a touch.

Westerhope launched their first attack from the resultant goal kick and after some good movement and some indecisive defending the ball found its way under Owen Little to give the away side a very early advantage.

Stocksfield, encouraged by their early chances, continued to press and grabbed a deserved equaliser in the 11th minute.

A deep free-kick from Vause put the goalkeeper under pressure, and Dean Brown climbed above everyone to knock the ball into the path of Beresford who showed good goal scoring instincts to bundle the ball into the net.

Six minutes later Stocksfield took the lead when a good team move ended when Paddy Finnerty touched the ball into the path of Vause who drilled a low effort into the corner of the net from just outside the area.

Stocksfield were kept on their toes in defence as some good movement from the Westerhope forward was causing a few problems, but it was the home side who looked like increasing their advantage.

Beresford dropped deep to pick the ball up before releasing Finnerty with a great reverse pass but his cross shot eluded everyone.

Cairns Kettles then headed over a corner and Pearson created an opportunity when his low cross went across the face of goal.

Finnerty showed great strength and quick feet to escape a couple of tackles before attempting a 25 yarder which the keeper nervously watched over the bar.

Westerhope felt aggrieved not to have been awarded a penalty when their winger cut in from the flank and found himself one on one with Little.

The Stocksfield keeper did not appear to touch the ball, and certainly caught the player – but the referee waved play on.

Minutes later Stocksfield rubbed salt into the Westerhope wounds by scoring a third just before the interval.

Beresford flicked the ball over a desperate tackle and showed great pace to get past the next defender before pulling the ball back into Murray’s path.

Murray calmly took control of the ball and rolled it past the helpless goalkeeper.

The second half began in a similar manner to the first with another set piece causing problems and Johnson heading the ball over.

At the other end Westerhope reminded Stocksfield that they could still pose a threat when a free header was nodded wide.

The pitch was rapidly starting to deteriorate and began to look like a November surface rather than an August one.

This made the going tough particularly in the midfield areas but the home side continued to compete and out work their opponents.

Beresford made a run down the left and picked up a pass from Finnerty before cutting inside and firing an effort inches over the bar.

Beresford and Murray then began showboating when a couple of one touch one-twos led to Murray putting the ball narrowly wide.

Pearson then sent Murray clean through but this time the striker hit the goalkeeper’s legs.

Westerhope pushed an extra man forward as they made a late attempt to rescue the game but good interceptions from Tordoff, Johnson and the very impressive Brown kept the score intact.

The scoring was completed when Beresford found the run of Finnerty who had again cut in from the wing.

His touch took the ball into the path of a Westerhope defender who bizarrely hoofed the ball into his own net.

Murray almost added another when his free-kick almost squirmed under the goalkeeper with Johnson ready to pounce on any loose ball.

Substitute Lowdon made a great run down the right and pulled the ball back, Beresford stepped over the ball and Vause smashed the ball high over the bar when he really should have hit the target.

Seventeen- year-old Dean Brown took the man of the match honours for a very assured debut performance but a special mention must go to Murray and Beresford who worked extremely hard up front and looked unplayable at times.