Northside returned to winning ways in the Workington Sunday League, but were given a stern test by the competition’s longest-serving club.
Deer Orchard certainly made a game of it at Hall Park before losing-out 3-2 in a League Cup quarter final.
It was a good, physical game between two evenly matched sides who played good football throughout.
Gary O’Driscoll broke the deadlock for Northside with a shot from outside the area which found the Orchard net.
But it did not take long for Orchard to hit back and they levelled with a great headed goal from Mike Graham.
Northside regained the lead in the second-half when Chad Grisedale was taken down in the box and Callum Killick slotted away the spot kick.
Ethan Heron then had a long-distance strike parried into the path of Killick who knocked-in his second and Northside’s third.
But a tense finish was assured when Orchard were also awarded a penalty and Ben Wright made no mistake.
Grisedale emerged as the man of the match with the youngster covering every blade of grass in an inspiring central midfield performance.
The two sides meet again on Thursday night in a President’s Cup quarter final, again at Hall Park.
Maryport Athletic beat Flimby Social 3-1 in another League Cup-tie but they had goalkeeper Joe Porter to thank for making progress.
Flimby official Darren Wilson said: “It was a master-class from Joe as he pulled off some unbelievable, even world class saves to prevent us reaching the semi-final.
“I’s just like to wish Maryport all the best, and their opponents Sun Inn, when they meet in the semi-final even though we missed out.”
The tie was a classic case of a game of two halves with Flimby switching on in the second-half, creating chance after chance but unable to find a way past Porter.
Joe Hetherington had put Athletic in front, but Lazo Rayner levelled before half-time.
Then despite all the Flimby pressure in the second-half, counter attacking goals from Lewis Mattinson and Ciaran Laverty gave Athletic the win.
As well as the Northside v Deer Orchard game on Thursday there’s also a League game between Dearham Commercial and Sun Inn.
Sun Inn Athletic host Maryport Athletic in a League game tonight.
Scheduled for Sunday: League Cup semi-final – Maryport Athletic v Sun Inn and League: Senhouse Street v Northside.
