PONT GO CLEAR

29th August

By Bill Gardner
Ponteland United, sharing the Premier Division’s pole position with Percy Main in midweek, emerged as clear leaders thanks to their 3-1 home win against Walker Central. A youthful Walker squad kept United on their toes but strikes by Scott Fenwick (2) and Harry Tulip gave the home side their fourth win on the trot. Liam Mulligan hit back in vain for the Central.
Percy Main maintained their unbeaten record but spilled two points in their 2-2 draw with Seaton Delaval at Wheatridge Park. The person the Main had to thank for this result was central defender Tony Browell who scored his fourth goal in as many matches.
The game turned out to be an evenly matched contest between two useful sides and it was the Main who took the lead midway through the opening half. Pierre-Luc Coiffait headed deftly past home keeper Dave Harrington from a flag kick.
After 26 minutes Steve Anderson got Delaval back on terms with his unstoppable equaliser giving Phil Hogg in the Percy Main goal no chance. This goal acted as a spur for Seaton Delaval who started to take control and they took the lead when Stephen Howes beat Hogg with his clever shot on the turn.
Only three minutes after the break Tony Browell rescued the Villagers, heading clinically home from Malcolm Morien’s well-taken corner kick. A draw was probably the right result although the Main had to rely heavily at times on the defensive skills of keeper Hogg and Mickey Haley, both of whom were outstanding.
After this minor hiccup Percy Main are now sharing second spot with up-and-coming Alnwick Town who are also still unbeaten following their 3-0 victory over visitors Murton. After Ben Keenan bagged himself an early brace for the Northumbrians they were presented with an own goal by Murton to complete their tally before the break.
Killingworth Sporting and reigning champions Harraby Catholic Club are continuing to show early promise and are only three points behind current leaders Ponteland. Both won again to keep the pressure on and Killingworth were worthy 3-1 winners at home to Carlisle whose bright start is now only a memory. All three of Killy’s goals were claimed by Liam Callaghan with Stephen Bell replying for the losers.
At home to Cramlington Town, Harraby found themselves trailing to first half goals scored by Jordan Watson and Dave Atkinson but everything changed after the break. Mark Worrall got the Cumbrians off the mark and then Cramlington had a player red-carded.
A controversial penalty for a handling offence on the line was then awarded to Harraby and after the visitors were reduced to nine men Mike Swift scored from the spot. It was then all over for Cramlington and late goals put away by Harraby’s Stuart Moffat and Worrall finalised the score at 4-2.
After leaking five goals in a midweek defeat at Walker there was some satisfaction for one-time leaders Gateshead Rutherford in their goal-less draw with visitors Blyth Town who had keeper Scott Earle in great form. Blyth had enough chances themselves to clinch the points but in the closing stages Graham Heath and Jonny Mann both wasted opportunities and Mark Waugh headed narrowly over from Richard Orr’s long throw.
Shankhouse are now showing promise, reflected in their 4-1 win away to Ashington Colliers. Two early goals for Michael Bell set the visitors up and, after Simon Cunningham pulled one back for the Colliers, later Shankhouse pressure produced a brace for Dave Dormand.
Heaton Stannington meanwhile have put their slow start behind them and deservedly beat Stocksfield 3-1 at Grounsell Park to climb into mid-table. Jay Bates, Lawrence McKenna and Michael Waggott shared Heaton’s goals with Stocksfield’s single reply coming from Eddie Brazier.
Meanwhile, the draw for the first round of this season’s Northumberland FA Senior Bowl has been announced and the pairings on 9th October will be: Amble United v Ashington Colliers; Alnwick Town v Heaton Stannington; Cramlington Town v Blyth Town; Killingworth Sporting v Ponteland United;
Newcastle University v Shankhouse; Percy Main v Heddon; Seaton Delaval v Wark and Stocksfield v Walker Central.

DIVISION ONE – HEBBURN AND THE BAY ARE NECK AND NECK
Hebburn Reyrolle and Whitley Bay A continued to set a hot pace as joint leaders in the First Division, both with hundred percent records so far. And Hebburn, with a slightly superior goal difference, kept the heat on with a 3-1 victory away to Heddon. All four of the game’s goals were scored in the second half when Ray Oshin (2) and Channon North netted for the winners with Dan Hathaway replying for Heddon.
Whitley Bay were happy with a slightly more modest 2-1 success on their visit to Newcastle East End with their fifth win on the trot being difficult to achieve. Paul King claimed both of the Bay’s goals, his first this season, and Craig Pleasant was the East End’s lone marksman.
The leaders are now five points clear of nearest rivals Cullercoats and South Shields United who are both on ten points. Cullercoats edged upwards with a 3-0 victory away to Forest Hall who are finding things tough after being promoted and are propping up the early table. They had no answer to their visitors’ fire power and were sunk by goals shared by Dave Fairless, Alex Burnett and Peter Bradley.
Having won three of their four previous games, South Shields United could only draw 2-2 at Wallington where their hosts had been stinging from four straight defeats. They came good on this occasion however and both of their goals were contributed by Kyle Reardon. Aristote Guerin scored from the spot to open the visitors’ account and in the 80th minute their equaliser was put away by Gary Newbrook.
Amble United’s hopes of clinching a fourth successive win to improve their promotion prospects were scuppered when their scheduled home game against Chopwell Officials had to be postponed. And Chopwell will be in trouble after failing to take a team to fulfil this appointment.
Peterlee Town have lost only once in five starts to date and that was against current leaders Hebburn Reyrolle in midweek. That disappointment was put behind them and the Newtowners were very convincing 4-0 victors at home to Stobswood Welfare. Andrew Harrison fired them into an interval lead and further goals were then added by Dave Paul, Chris Freeman and Darren Major. The only downside for Peterlee was the sending off of goal-scorer Paul with five minutes to go.
After securing only two points from this term’s first three games, Gosforth Bohemians have won their last two and beat visitors Morpeth Sporting Club 2-1. There was a goal each for Matthew Atkin and Andrew Roberts for the Bohs and Paul Grieveson replied for Morpeth.
Goals for Craig Heugh, Andy Bergen and Paul Wood earned Berwick United Ultras a 3-3 draw with visitors North Shields Athletic as both teams stayed level on points in mid-table.

DIVISION TWO – IT’S TOUGH AT THE TOP
Things are tight at the head of the Second Division table. Four teams – Wallsend Town, Tynemouth United, Newcastle Chemfica and Wallsend Boys Club – all have twelve points to their credit. All four are unbeaten while Wallsend Town and Tynemouth each have the added benefit of a game in hand.
All of the pace-setters won again in their latest outings and Wallsend Town, in pole position on the basis of goal difference, coasted to a 5-0 victory over hosts Wideopen & District who are still seeking their first point. In this top versus bottom clash the Town’s goals were supplied by Declan Graham (2), Ronnie Kay, Ryan Arnott and Craig Burke.
Tynemouth United were equally impressive in winning 4-0 at home to Northbank Carlisle who were in the Premier Division only three years ago. Hoping to be heading in the opposite upward direction, Tynemouth dished out a lesson to their Cumbrian opponents. But they had to wait until the last half hour for their goals scored by Aaron Chalmers (2), Stephen Matthews and Michael Armstrong.
Daniel Jacques helped himself to four of Newcastle Chemfica’s goals in their 6-2 home win against newly-relegated Seaton Burn with Paul Brown and Stephen Spence also on target. Nick Hara netted for Seaton Burn but even an own goal gifted by Colin Cooney couldn’t help them out.
Of the four current joint leaders, Wallsend Boys Club were the least prolific and were rather fortunate to claim a 1-0 verdict away to improving Swalwell. The home side had just won three league games on the trot and once again gave a good account of themselves. They were only killed off in the 85th minute by Andy McBride’s crucial strike for the Boys Club.
Hexham are now only a couple of points behind the pace-setting group and haven’t been beaten since their opening game at Seaton Burn. A 2-1 win at home to league newcomers Red House Farm was impressive considering their opponents’ record. After a goal-less first half Paul Newton-Eddy opened the scoring for Red House. Joe Stewart levelled for Hexham whose second goal tucked away by Tom Phillips settled the issue.
Cullercoats Custom Planet banged in five goals without reply at home to still pointless Amble and their scorers were Tony Fawcett (2), Andy McCartney, Mark Wilkinson and Martin Hepple. And Newcastle BT secured their first win, 3-2 at home to another of the early strugglers Whitley Bay Town.
Simonside S.C. have a very reliable goalscorer in Shaun Edwards who has found the net in every game so far while taking his personal tally to eight already this season. Edwards slotted in another three in his side’s thrilling 6-4 win away to Cramlington United with the others supplied by Andy Hunter, Mick Brown and Sean Flood. United also had a hat-trick exponent in Dean Morgan with their other reply coming from Craig Petrie.