TOW LAW TOWN FC
HOME FIXTURES RESULTS SENIORS TEAM JUNIORS TEAM MATCH REPORTS CLUB INFO HISTORY SOCIAL CLUB SPONSORSHIP MERCHANDICE DOWNLOADS LINKS CONTACT US		MATCH REPORTS Whitley Bay (2) vs (0) Tow Law, 1st November 2011 Tow Law gave a very good account of themselves in the first half against FA Vase winners Whitley Bay before succumbing to a 2-0 defeat. But only some bad luck in front of goal and some excellent work by the Bay keeper prevented Lawyers, bouyed by their recent win over Sunderland RCA, from getting on the scoresheet before a healthy mid-week crowd at Hillheads. David Fitzpatrick had an early chance to open his account for Tow Law, but his shot was parried by Kyle Hayes in the home goal. At the other end Stephen Robinson fingertipped a header from Bay goal machine Paul Chow over the bar, one of many outstanding saves the Tow Law keeper would be called upon to make,. In the early stages Tow Law looked far from overawed against their illustrious opposition who now call Wembley their second home, but on 25 minutes the visitors failed to clear from a corner and BAy defender Chris Reid opened the scoring. A further blow struck Lawyers when David Fittzpatrick hobbled off injured to be replaced by his twin Mark. But a fine spell of pressure before half time could have seen Tow Law draw level. With Mark Nixon, Ian Davison and Greg Halliday combining well down the left, Nixon had two fierce shots well saved by Hayes. Then from a corner Steve Tobin headed agonizingly wide before the interval. In the second half Lawyers failed to match their enterprising play of the first 45 minutes, surrendering possession far too cheaply, although Mark Fitzpatrick did see one cross-shot go close to embarassing Hayes. At 1-0 the visitors always had a chance of rescuing a point, but 20 minutes from time a long punt by Hayes was converted at the other end by Chow to seal the points for the home side. Teams: Whitley Bay. Hayes, McFarlane, Pounder, Williams, Coulson, Reid, Scroggins, Kerr, Dale, Chow, Bell. Tow Law: Robinson, D Fitzpatrick (M Fitzatrick), Anderson, McGuinness, Tobin, Robson, Pottnger, Thompslon, Nixon, Halliday (Scott), Davison. South Shields (3) vs (1) Tow Law, 27th September 2011 A LATE goal from Matty Scott was all Lawyers had to show for a spirited performanceon the coast. Unfortunately when Scott headed strongly home from a left wing cross with around 10 minutes remaining it was far too late to affect the outcome of the game. And Tow Law will be bitterly disappointed to have lost to fellow strugglers South Shields. Yet the Mariners looked the far likelier winners throughout, and banked a 25th minute lead through striker Andrew Barclay. The home team thought they had scored again when an effort was disallowed for off-side, but Tow Law's record of conceding close to half time continued when David Southern floated a free kick past visiting goalkeeper Stephen Robinson. Tow Law did try hard to fight back into the game in the second half, but when an Andrew Thompson free kick was collected by the home goalkeeper he quickly switched play and Alex Benjamin was left to race clear to fire past the exposed Robinson for goal number three. With Greg Halliday playing his first game for Tow Law for something like six months the Lawyers did look a more potent force up front, and deserved the late effort from Scott. At least it got them off the mark after firing blanks in the previous three games and when Halliday regains full match fitness, hopefully better times may lie ahead for a team struggling already to avoid relegation for the first time in their history.. TEAMS South Shields:Ball, Smith, Rokeby, Scope, Kirkup, Brabbs, Southern, Barclay, Benjamin, Ramsey, Chaplin. Tow Law Town: Robinson, L Thompson, D Fitzpatrick, Hewitson, Tobin, Robson, Morris, A Thompson, Scott, Halliday, Hamilton Tow Law (0) vs (3) Dunston, 21st September 2011 TOW LAW were no match for a strong Dunston side once the visitors took a ninth minute lead. Slack defensive play in the middle allowed Andy Bulford to feed Michael Dixon who gave Stephen Robinson in the home goal no chance with a fierce right foot shot. When Tow Law tried to retaliate an Ian Davison free kick was deflected over the bar, with the referee surprisingly awarding a goal kick. Then a Dunston defender pinched the ball off Lee Hamilton's toes when he was shaping to shoot. Lawyers forced two successive corners without threatening the visiting goal, while at the other end the impressive Bulford sent two promising efforts wide. But just as it looked as if Tow Law would go in at half time trailing by a single goal - a platform for a fightback in the second half - Bulford struck a hammer blow with a fierce left foot volley after a cross was only half cleared, seconds before the whistle. To their credit Tow Law continued to fight back at the start of the second half and Andrew Thompson saw a close range effort blocked after good work by Lewis Harrison. Thompson then had a free kick saved by the Dunston goalkeeper. But at the other end the visitors frequently threatened and Dixon sent a close range header wide when he should have hit the target. Veteran substitute Steve Preen replaced Anthony Hume and he soon made his mark at the near post when he neatly back headed a free kick from the left over Robinson into the Tow Law net for goal number three on 85 minutes. TOW LAW: Robinson, Harrison, Davison, Henderson (Hewitson), L Thompson, D Fitzpatrick, M Fitzpatrick,(S Thompson), Scott, Hamilton, Waters (Turnbull). DUNSTON. Connell, Pickering, Galbraith, Cattanach, Swailes, Herron, Shawo, Dixon, Hume (Preen), Bulford (Craggs), McAndrew. Tow Law (0) vs (2) West Auckland, 17th September 2011 TOW LAW may be struggling near the foot of the table but they more than matched their high-flying near neighbours for much of this game. Player boss Ian Davison reckons the Lawyers resutls will pick up when key players return from injury and he may well be right. For it was an injury ravaged side which still managed to let West know they had been in a game. The visitors should have scored in the first minute when Adam Nicholls blasted a clear chance over the bar, but afterwards Lawyers began to exert pressure of their own. An effort from Andy Thompson cleared the bar, Derek Waters also came close and Lee Hamilton had an effort saved. A great run by Matthew Scott on 15 minutes saw him create an opportunity for himself only to shoot widely over the bar. Mark Nixon twice came close to putting his side ahead before the interval, but the score remained goalless. In the second half West Auckland introduced striker Mattie Moffatt from the bench in place of defender Ross, and the switch provided the visitors a dangerous attacking option. Nevertheless Nixon could have opened the scoring for Tow Law with a fierce left foot effort parried wide by the goalkeeper. On 77 minutes the visitors took the lead in controversial fashion. Moffatt was allowed to race clear down the right despite claims of a foul on a home player. He cut inside the area before he crossed to Daniel Hindmarsh whose shot was handled on the line by Lee Hamilton. The result was a sending off for the impressive Hamilton and a penalty which Moffatt duly converted. The goal knocked the stuffing out of the home team and after Hindmarsh had rattled the woodwork another substitute, Michael Rae, raced clear on 89 minutes to score number two with a fierce right foot shot. TEAMS : Tow Law: Robinson, Harrison, Davison, Henderson (S Thompson), L Thompson, Fitzpatrick, Waters, A Thompson, Nixon, Scott, Hamilton. West Auckland: Bell, Ross,(Moffatt), Preston, Gibson, Stephenson, Wilson (Young),Banks, Brown, Francis, Hindmarsh, Nicholls (Rae), Stokesley (1) vs (2) Tow Law, 7th September 2011 Tow Law finally got off the mark in their seventh start to theseason when beating whipping boys Stokesley,. But it was a close run game for long periods with the home side - who had conceded eight at Consett a few days earlier - leading at half time. Stokesley had one time boy wonder Nathan Porritt in their ranks, playing at number 10. The youngster, still only 21, was the subject of a BBC Panorama programme five years ago which showed an agent offering the teenager to other clubs without his parent club, Middlesbrough's permission. He is now trying to ressurect his career at Stokesl.ey, and his silkly skills looked out of place in an otherwise mundane first half. Slack defending early on allowed a Stokesley striker a clear shot at goal, but Stephen Robinson in the visiting goal was alert to push the ball past the post. Tow Law were prominent attacking down the right with fullback Lewis Harrison joining in the attacks at every opportunity. From one such foray Lawyers won a corner which player manager Ian Davision took left footed from the right. The cross was met by defender Michael Robson but his header sailed harmlessly wide. With just a minute remaining of the first half a Tow Law attack came to nothing on the edge of the Stokesley penalty area, and Andy Thompson lost possession in midfield. The ball was quickly pumped upfield to the unmarked Daniel Jones who chipped Robinson to find an empty net. Lawyers almost retaliated instantly when a fierce shot from Mark Nixon flew past the post but at half time the home side were leading 1-0. Things looked bleak for Tow Law against a side which, as well as losing eight to Consett had been beaten 15-0 at Bedlington, but fortunately for the small band of Lawyers diehards the team emerged in the second half looking more determined. After just 10 minutes Harrison raced clear and fired past the Stokesley keeper to equalise. The goal lifted Tow Law and following approach play involving Jake Henderson and Davison the ball fell kindly for Thompson to race clear despite appeals for offside and fire Tow Law 2-1 ahead on 60 minutes. Nixon twice came close to extending the lead as Tow Law finished the game well on top, allowing fans to forget their team's dismal first half performance. Teams: Tow Law: Robinson, Harrison (Pottinger), Davison, Henderson, Anderson, Robson, Waters, Thompson, Nixon, Hamilton (Scott), Hall (Morris). Stokesley: Hutchinson, Roe, Rowbotham, Brown, Duffy, Upton, Melvin, Foley, Jones, Porritt, Turner. Consett (4) vs (1) Tow Law, 29th August 2011 A HARSH penalty on the stroke of half time did Tow Law no favours after they led for most of the first half. Lawyers began brightly and Marc Nixon created space for himself inside the Consett penalty area only to have his shot saved by Barry Poskett, one of several ex Tow Law players in the Consett ranks. But the visitors were not to be denied, and on 10 minutes Lewis Harrison and debutant Dave Fitzpatrick combined to send Matt Scott clear to calmly chip over Poskett into an empty net. Scott could have had a second when he ran clear but Poskett ran out to beat him to the ball. Consett rallied and defender Carl Piecha fired one drive against the bar, but it looked as if Tow Law would go in at half time one up until Lewis Teasdale tumbled theatrically in the box. The referee awarded a spot kick which Michael McKay fired home. Lawyers bad luck continued when the impressive Jake Henderson had to be substituted through injury early in the second half. Lee Innes came on to play up front with Nixon dropping into midfield. They created a decent chance when Scott cut inside only to have his shot saved. Consett raced to the other end and a fierce shot from Marc Walton put them 2-1 ahead. A Nixon cross just eluded Innes when a touch would have levelled the scores. Instead McKay completed his hat-trick, scoring with a close range effort on 62 minutes and then a cheeky back heel in the closing stages. Teams CONSETT: Poskett, Bell, Brown, Blanford, Peicha, Tobin, Burrell, Teasdale, Walton,(Eccles), McKay,Robson. (Dickman). TOW LAW: Robinson, Harrison, Davison, Henderson (Innes), Anderson, Robson, Fitzpatrick, Thompson, Nixon, Scott, Hall. Tow Law (1) vs (3) Shildon, 27th August 2011 AFTER the midweek mauling at home to Bishop Auckland, and with a team decimated by injuries, many Lawyers supporters feared the worst when high flying Shildon visited on Friday night. But although the result was disappointing, Tow Law gave their supporters a display to be proud of. They took the game to the Railwaymen from the start and Matt Scott and Lee Hamilton combined dangerously up front. From one Scott lay off Hamilton sent a shot screaming inches wide, then midfielder Jake Henderson had a decent effort well saved by Keith Finch in the Shildon goal. Hamilton created another decent opening for himself but his shot again screamed wide. It was compeltely against the run of play when the dangerous Warren Byrne fired the Railwaymen ahead on 21 minutes, giving Stephen Robinson no chance with a close range shot. On the stroke of half time Matt Scott raced through only to be felled by Finch, but the goalkeeper only received a yellow card when he recovered from injury. Derek Waters fired the resultant free kick over the bar. Tow Law almost equalised soon into the second half but Finch saved well from a Hamilton header. On 60 minutes Byrne shot home from close range to give the visitors a two goal lead. Still Shildon battled forward and a great run by Scott ended with his shot being saved. A free kick by Craig Price put the Railwaymen three up. But Tow Law at least scored a goal their build up play deserved when Hamilton raced clear and calmly lobbed Finch with seven minutes remaining. Tow Law: Robinson, Harrison, Hall, Henderson, Anderson, Robson, Pottinger, Waters, Hamilton, Scott, Morris (Dial). Tow Law (1) vs (2) Marske (FA Cup), 21st August 2011 NEWLY promoted Marske United beat Tow Law for the second successive Saturday, this time in the Extra Preliminary round of the FA Cup. During the first 45 minutes it looked as if the Lawyers were suffering from a hangover following their mid-week drubbing at Benfield. Marske were quicker to the ball, while the Tow Law defence failed to get to grips with the aerial power of centre forward Benn Thompson until he limped off just before half time. By that time Lawyers trailed by one goal, when the ball was headed across to the unmarked Chris McGill who nodded home from close range mid-way through the first half. Tow Law almost conceded a second when the dangerous Karl Charlton beat goalkeeper Stephen Robinson but the ball rebounded to safety from an upright. Charlton also fired wide when presented with another acceptable chance as Tow Law failed to clear their lines. The second half produced a marginal improvement, and Jon Hewitson was desparately unlucky not to equalise for Lawyers on 48 minutes when his pile-driver from 30 yards rebounded from the post with the Marske goalkeeper nowhere near. But three minutes later Marske went 2-0 up when Charlton scored from close range with Robinson again left exposed. A free kick by Andy Thompson squeezed past friend and foe alike into the Marske net to give Tow Law their first competitive goal of the season on 70 minutes. Centre half Luke Thompson was a hair's breadth away from connecting with an Ian Davison free kick in front of goal. Had he connected an equaliser would have been invevitable. Matt Scott also turned inside the box but saw his shot comfortably saved as Tow Law poured forward, with substitute Lewis Harrison prominent in an unfamiliar left wing position. But when Craig Skelton broke away for the visitors and rounded Robinson before seeing his shot rebound off the underside of the ba a third Marske goal had looked on the cards. Despite the late escape Lawyers were still left to rue another early cup exit TEAMS: Tow Law: Robinson, Hewitson, Hall (Harrison), Watkinson, (Hamilton), L Thompson, Robson, Waters (Henderson), A Thompson, Scott, Nixon, Davison. Marske: McDonald, Seaton, Gamble, Ormerod (Donachie), Roberts, Wheatley, Gell, Cochrane, Thompson (Skelton), McGill, Charlton (Brunskill). Newcastle Benfield (5) vs (0) Tow Law, 17th August 2011 THE one consolation for Tow Law following this drubbing is that they got their visit to Newcastle Benfield out of the way early in the season. Last year they were on the wrong end of an identical score-line, while the previous season they lost 6-0 in the east end of Newcastle. And to be fair, the outcome was never in doubt once Benfield defender Phil Lumsden met a right wing cross unmarked to power a header past Lawyers goalkeeper Stephen Robinson on 20 minutes. With Jon Hewitson and Andy Thompson prominent in mid-field, Tow Law briefly threatened an equaliser. But a disputed penalty for an infringement which most spectators did not see, resulted in Benfield going two up on the half hour mark when Michael Chilton converted the spot-kick with ease. A third goal followed before the interval after a defence splitting move resulted in Andy Hirst heading past the exposed Robinson. Tow Law threatened to make a game of it in the early stages of the second half, and some good approach play involving Ian Davison, Hewitson and Thompson resulted in Mattie Scott powering in a shot which was tipped past the post by the Benfield goalkeeper. The resultant corner came to nothing, and within a minute Robinson was again left horribly exposed by inept defending to allow Shaun Bell to rifle home goal number 4. A fifth was added soon afterwards and Lawyers were left dead and buried. Team: Tow Law: Robinson, Harrison, Davison, Watkinson, Anderson, Robson, Hewitson, A Thompson, Scott, Dial, Hamilton. Newcastle Benfield: Grainger, Turnbull, Patterson, Antony, Leighton, Lumsden, Mann, Bell, Hirst, Chilton, Dodsworth. Tow Law (0) vs (1) Marske, 13th August 2011 LAWYERS openinbg game of the season ended in heartache when a last minute goal by Marske sub Craig Skelton deprived them of a deserved point. Only four mintues earlier it had looked as if Tow Law would open their season with a win, after Jon Hewitson burst into the penalty box only to see his cross handled by a visiting defender. Andy Thompson took the resultant penalty, but Marske goalkeeper McDonald saved diving to his left. Relieved by the let off, a pin point pass by Cochrane sent Skelton racing clear of the home defence to fire past the advancing Stephen Robinson in the home goal. For Tow Law Luke Thompson, Gary Anderson, Gary Mackay and Mark Nixon all made competitive debuts. All aqcuitted themselves fairly well, although the home side rarely looked like troubling a strong Marske defence. The most potent danger came from pinpoint corners delivered by player manager Ian Davison. Both Nixon and Michael Robson saw headers scrambled clear from his corners. Nixon had another effort blocked close to the line after turning well to create an opportunity for himelf. At the other end Robinson was called upon to make some excellent saves to deny Marske forwards, with the lively right winger Jones a particular threat. Tow Law play the same opponents today (SAT) in the FA Cup and will be hoping for a better result. TEAMS Tow Law: Robinson, Hewitson, Anderson, Mackay (Harrison),. L Thompson, Robson, S Thompson, A Thompson, Scott, Nixon, Davison. Marske: McDonald, Seaton, Gamble, Ormerod, Robets, Waller, Jones, Cochrane, Brunskill, McGill, Charlton.