Willington shock Hebburn with victory in Durham Challenge Cup

Durham Challenge Cup First Round

Willington 3-2 Hebburn Town

Gash 23,42,86 L Storey 11,13

A Vincent Gash hat-trick caused a cup upset as Northern League Division 2 side Willington beat Division 1 leaders Hebburn Town 3-2 at Hall Lane last night.

After a poor start, Hebburn were 2-0 up with two goals from captain Louis Storey in the space of two minutes but Vincent Gash scored two before half time so the sides were level at the break.

Gash put the game to bed four minutes from time.

In the 11th minute, the Hornets took the lead through Storey who linked up well with Olly Martin before drilling the ball past the ‘keeper in the bottom-right corner.

Two minutes later, Storey struck again with an impressive volley past ‘keeper Carl Robinson.

In the 23rd minute, Willington were back into the game when Jack Donaghy lost the ball to Craig Ruddy who squared it to Gash and he buried the ball in the bottom-left corner.

Hebburn nearly made it three in the 32nd minute when Robbie Spence’s shot on the edge of the box was just kept out by Robinson.

10 minutes later, the hosts equalised when Adam Storey’s shot was saved by Andrew Jennison before Gash put away the rebound.

Gash nearly got his hat-trick in the 58th minute but he headed wide on the end of Storey’s free kick.

Willington were then awarded a penalty in the 67th minute when Ewan Simpson brought down a winger in the box.

Gash’s penalty was saved however to the right.

Willo finally got what they deserved in the 86th minute when Gash placed the ball past Jennison on the end of a great cross from the right.

Hebburn rushed for an equaliser, and came incredibly close three minutes later when Donaghy’s header on the end of a corner hit the crossbar and Simpson’s effort from the rebound went over.

Willington will face Sunderland in the next round of the competition.

Willington: Robinson, Taylor, Seymour, Lawler, Cooper, Storey, Wren, Bailey, Forster, Ruddy (Marshall 88), Gash.

Booked: Lawler and Bailey

Subs not used: Cummings, Marquis, Claydon, Green.

Hebburn Town: Jennison, Groves, Donaghy, Carson, Simpson, Spence, Storey (capt), Robson, Wright (Richardson 72), Suddick (Armstrong 63), Martin.

Booked: Simpson

Subs not used: Lough and Dibb-Fuller.

Attendance: 98

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