Castle hope to put Village Cup blow behind them (From Durham Times)

Castle hope to put Village Cup blow behind them

9:23am Saturday 2nd August 2008 in News

CASTLE EDEN take on Dawdon tomorrow in the 2008 Frank Lees Rose Bowl final at Ryhope (1.30pm start).

They expect to do so with a full squad, although they have to bounce back after the agony of last Sunday’s National Village Cup quarterfinal exit.

But a frenetic weekend of action against Dawdon should banish the blues as, before the cup clash, the pair lock horns in the league with doublechasing Castle having to do the travelling.

However, they will come up against a determined Dawdon – it is 30 years since the club last won a league cup final so there could not be a bigger incentive.

And they have received a massive boost with the return this week of Shoaib Akhtar who had been plying his trade this season with Ryton in the NTSL, a spell that included his much publicised six sixes in an over feat.

It has been confirmed that Akhtar will play in both matches this weekend so the underdogs will be hoping for a dose of similar magic from their former player. As well as Akhtar, Liam Gustard is brought into the team with Luke Pinder and Craig Scurr absent.

With just five games to go leaders Murton have an unchanged side for their home match with Washington. The visitors have Stephen Cuthbertson and Dan Talbot back in harness and new signing Charlie Ryan is expected to make his league debut.

Ian White comes into the Ryhope side who play at Easington, the home team welcoming back Mark Race, Jason Moses and Paul McGhee – regular first-teamer Michael Armstrong is away.

In the remaining games Bill Quay, minus Eddie Covell and Craig Falcus, draft in Mark Campbell and Graham Hudson for the visit of Silksworth who have Jordan Crake and Glen Davison playing. Paul Smailes is wedding-bound whilst Malcolm Nicol is away.

Seaham Park have a few absentees for their home game with Peterlee – Andrew Worthy is working and Shaun Hauxwell and Chris Varley are in sunnier climes. Andrew Docherty and Asim Akhtar are brought in, as too is 14 year-old Thomas Ferguson for his first team debut.