Stockton Town advance into the last eight of the Durham Challenge Cup with a penalties victory over Hebburn Town.
Words by Jordan Clarke
Photo by Harry Cook
Stockton Town 1-1 (4-3) Hebburn Town | 4th November 2025 | Durham Challenge Cup
Nathan Harker was the hero of the shootout, denying two spot kicks to help the Anchors advance after Josh Scott’s goal was cancelled out late on by Robert Briggs.
Michael Dunwell made four changes to Saturday’s team, with Vinnie Steels, Michael Sweet and Stephen Thompson moving into the starting lineup, and Lewis King returning to midfield after a couple of weeks out.
Stockton started the game very brightly, and found the lead after only eight minutes of action when Michael Sweet’s cross was nodded in by the high-rising Josh Scott for his eighth goal of the season.
The Anchors nearly had a second a few moments later, when Adam Nicholson dragged a shot along the ground which had to be well blocked as it headed into the bottom corner.
Hebburn were nearly level, when Liam Murray created space for himself at a tight angle and struck the woodwork with a thunderous effort.
Murray had a number of half chances throughout the first half, but nothing to really trouble Nathan Harker in the Stockton goal, and the Anchors went into the break one-up.
Half-time: Stockton Town 1-0 Hebburn Town
Kevin Hayes had a good look at goal early in the second-half, drilling a strike towards goal that was pushed well away by Dan Cameron.
The Hornets were reduced to 10 men in the 63rd minute, as a corner waited to be delivered and Jack Foalle was adjudged to be overly aggressive to a Stockton player whilst trying to get in front of his marker.
Cameron was called into action again to deny a well-hit effort by Hayes, again pushing away the danger.
10 minutes from the end, Hebburn were level after another strange moment, when the assistant referee raised the offside flag against Robert Briggs, who casually slotted past Nathan Harker, but as the goalkeeper waited to take the resulting free-kick, the referee overruled the decision and awarded the Hornets the goal.
Youngster Jaedon Faulkner, who came on in the second half, had a great chance to win it in stoppage time, dragging a shot wide from the edge of the area in acres of space.
Stockton fans thought Michael Sweet had won it in the seventh minute of stoppage time, when he found the ball at his feet a few yards away from the goal, but his effort was incredibly kept out by Cameron and the tie went to penalties.
End of 90: Stockton Town 1-1 Hebburn Town
Lewis King and Roberts Briggs both found the target with their opening efforts, but Michael Sweet lifted his penalty high with the Anchors second spot kick.
Ethan Wood couldn’t take advantage of that though, as his strike was well saved by Nathan Harker.
Jaedon Faulkner calmly scored his high-pressure penalty, as did Liam Murray, Amar Purewal, Matthew Elsdon and Kevin Hayes, leaving Gary Martin to take the crucial kick for Hebburn.
But the forward saw his strike stopped by Nathan Harker, who wheeled away in celebration as the Anchors advance into the quarter-finals.
