Durham and District Sunday Football League
NTL League Cup
2nd Round

Witton Gilbert Glendenning Arms  0   -   5   Hetton Lyons C.C.

Thursday 29th January 2009 the Lyons moved into the third round of the League Cup at the expense of the Witton side who had graciously given up home advantage to play under lights at Eppleton, Hetton fielded a changed side from the weekend, 7 changes in all, only Roulston, Watson, Ruddy and Finch kept their places with Liddle, Walklate and Irvine returning along with Canavan, Lowther, Graydon, the Lyons handed Leon Carling his first appearance of the season and over the 90 mins he coped with all witton could throw at him in fact it was Carling who opened the scoring when he headed home an Ian Watson cross, Hetton were encamped in the witton half all game but failed to take advantage as chance after chance wasnt converted. on another night it might have been a cricket score but Witton rode their luck until the 45min when the Lyons doubled their lead Chris Lowther ran in behind the defence and guided his shot home, in the 2nd half the Lyons made three changes with Roulston, Watson and a tiring Canavan making way for Ainsley, Pearson and Leon Ryan, Stuart Irvine added a third midway through the half and Ruddy a fourth with Graydon topping of his man-of-the-match performance with a goal, a delighted Brad Groves said " it was important to get the game played and to give some of the lads a run-out, I thought that Canna worked very hard and the back lads distribution was excellent" he added " Rasher was exceptional as well he ran the game and witton couldnt live with him"  in all a solid performance Liddle, Carling and Graydon inspiring with Walklate assisting with aplomb, Hetton now play Brandon on Sunday at Spenny's ground in the Alan Smith Memorial Trophy looking to make amends for their League defeat in September

Durham County Avec Sunday Cup
2nd Round

Hartlepool Rovers Quoit   0   -   1   Hetton Lyons C.C.   ( Johnston 40)

This game was billed as a tie of the round, unfortunately it didn't live up to expectations, the clash was a repeat of the 2007 Final which Hetton won 4-0, and on a bitter day in Hartlepool the Lyons again won and progressed through to the last sixteen. Lyons assistant manager Jason Ainsley said " it wasnt a virtuoso performance, sometimes you just have to win ugly and today we did just that" . The only goal of the game came at the end of the first half, Adam Johnston continued his good form with looping shot over the keeper to give the visitors the lead, the pitch and conditions didnt help either side but after both clubs had missed several fixtures the game was played in good spirit, Rovers were reduced to 10 men late on but failed to find a way through the Lyons rear guard with Hyson outstanding, Graydon and Clarke both went close for Hetton in the second half as the score remained 1-0, Hetton have now been handed the task of an away tie to former winners and League rivals Houghton Glendale Social in the third round on the 18th January.

Durham and District Sunday Football League

A. Smith Memorial Trophy 

Thursday 14th August

Hetton Lyons C.C.  7   -   3   Sacriston C.C.

Hetton Lyons were forced to re-arrange their home fixture against Sacriston due to Eppleton's unavailability on Sunday and on a soaking wet night at the colliery in Sacriston the Lyons triumphed 7-3. Captain Jason Ainsley led his troops onto the pitch, among them was debutant Keith Graydon, a summer signing who now plays for Sunderland RCA, the scoring was opened early on when striker Michael Canavan latched onto a cross from Ben Ryan, he beat the defender and the keeper in the air to skillfully head into the roof of the net, it was 2-0 seconds later with Stuart Irvine pouncing on a through ball from Pearson to smash the ball home, Kevin Coates pulled one back for the colliery side 5 mins later before Ben Ryan converted a spot kick from a foul on Canavan, new boy Graydon scored twice before the break to make it 5-1 the latter a fine move with Graydon finding the net from 15 yards and in the second half Canavan completed a hat-trick before being replaced by Greenwell, and although Sacriston scored two more from Yates and Lewis it was over way before then, man-of-the-match Ainsley was delighted with performance and had this to say " i thought we dominated both halfs, our passing was excellent especially on that pitch" he added " it felt good to be back and the lads did very well"  Hetton gave keeper Craig Shields a rare outing as striker and Stuart Brightwell made his long awaited return to the team but sadly in the pre-match warm up the Lyons were forced to make a change with Watson suffering a knee injury, the long season begins as the last left off but it will take a great effort from the squad to achieve the dizzy heights of National and County Champions, one game down and perhaps 52 more to go........... c'mon the Lyons