KEEPER INJURY TAKES EDGE OFF ALNWICK WIN

26th September
By Bill Gardner

Alnwick Town extended their unbeaten run in the league to nine games as their 4-1 victory away to Cramlington Town left them four points clear of chief rivals Ponteland at the head of the Premier Division table. The league leaders had beaten Blyth Town 1-0 at St James Park in midweek with midfield dynamo Kevin Elliot scoring their vital 34th minute goal. Under pressure from a couple of Blyth defenders he managed to slip the ball past keeper Scott Earle from just inside the area. Ian Herron was Blyth’s most dangerous player but spurned a chance to get his team back on terms before half time.
Three days later the Alnwick lads followed up with the 4-1 success away to Cramlington Town. Cramlington’s Chris Ridgway cancelled out James Swordy’s early opener for Alnwick but the visitors had Chris Moffat and Scott McMullen on target to give them a clear lead at half time. Ten minutes after the interval Alnwick keeper Michael Armstrong was stretchered off with a leg injury but Tom Vickers completed the winning tally in the 75th minute.

Ponteland United kept tabs on Alnwick by also retaining their unbeaten league record and claiming their fifth win on the trot, 2-1 away to Blyth Town. Jonathan Mann’s 100th senior goal gave Blyth a 40th minute lead. John Dunn equalised for Pont on the hour mark and also claimed United’s winner with ten minutes to go amid strong appeals for offside by the home side.
While defending champions Harraby Catholic Club were on County Cup duty Percy Main took advantage and leapfrogged over the Cumbrians into third place thanks to their 1-0 victory away to Gateshead Rutherford.

It may have been different if Rutherford’s Robbie Frame had not shot wildly over from an early Michael Jeffares cross. But the Main also had their moments and from a Jason Ritchie flag kick Dean Ellis volleyed only inches wide.

Percy Main keeper Rob Rodgerson then did well to keep out a downward header from home striker Dave Loughlin and the first half ended goal-less. With wind assistance after the break Percy Main began to flex their muscles with Dean Ellis, Michael Bowman and Pierre luc Coiffait, who fired against the woodwork, all going close to ending the deadlock.

With mounting Percy Main pressure a win was looking inevitable for the visitors but they had to wait until the 80th minute for their winner scored by Ashley Smyth. A long through ball from Pierre luc Coiffait sent him on his way and he finished with a low drive under home keeper David Bebbington.
Equal on points and now sharing fourth spot with Harraby, Shankhouse and Heaton Stannington are both showing signs of improvement. And Shankhouse were 2-0 winners at Murton where their hosts have been difficult to beat this term. Murton contributed to their own downfall by presenting their visitors with an own goal opener and the lead was then doubled by Lee Gustard.

Heaton Stannington have been unbeaten in their last three outings but were restricted to a 1-1 draw on their visit to Ashington Colliers who had just won two league games on the trot. Five minutes before the interval Michael Hogg put the Colliers in front but straight after the change-over Jason Bates got Heaton back on terms.

Stocksfield, with player Phil Murray in temporary charge of team affairs following John Wilson’s decision to step down as manager, were beaten 2-0 at home by Seaton Delaval. The visitors hadn’t won in the Premier Division since the first day of the season but gathered the points quite comfortably in this encounter. Stephen Howes ended 57 minutes of deadlock in Delaval’s favour and they coasted after Steve Anderson scored their second goal fifteen minutes from the end.
Wark’s home game with Walker Central was postponed due to waterlogging but Carlisle City and Harraby Catholic Club were in productive action in the Cumberland Senior Cup. Carlisle hammered cup visitors Parton United 8-0 with goals by Jamie Heath (hat-trick), Carl Murphy (2), Robbie Mather (2) and James Hartley. Harraby however needed extra time to secure a 2-1 win away to a young and useful Warwick Wanderers outfit. Their goals came from Matthew Thompson and Daniel Balmer.

DIVISION ONE – FIRST POINT DROPPED BY WHITLEY
With a surviving hundred percent record Hebburn Reyrolle are still in pole position in the First Division, two points ahead of nearest rivals Whitley Bay A with the same number of games played. But visitors Morpeth Sporting Club gave the table-toppers a tough time before being narrowly beaten 2-1. Simon Jacobs gave Reyrolle an interval lead but after 75 minutes his strike was cancelled out by Morpeth’s Martin Stanley. Only ten minutes remained when Ray Oshin slotted in the Hebburn winner.
Meanwhile at Hillheads Whitley Bay dropped their first points of this campaign and were held to a 1-1 draw by Gosforth Bohemians.
Beaten only once this term, Amble United are determined to hang onto the top two’s coat tails but have a six-point gap to bridge to keep their promotion plans on track. They assisted their cause again with a 3-0 victory at home to North Shields Athletic. All of the Amble goals came in the closing fifteen minutes of an otherwise close encounter and were scored by Darren Riddell, Sean Taylor and Josh Hay who netted right on the final whistle.

Fourth-placed Cullercoats slipped up and their four-match unbeaten run was halted by their 2-0 defeat at home by Newcastle East End. The East Enders had just lost four league games on the trot but took advantage of a poor performance by their hosts. Only a minute after the kick off they were fired in front by Ian Graham and in the final minute of the first half Craig Pleasant was on target to double their lead.

Newly-relegated Heddon are inching up the table, having won three of four most recent games. Away to Peterlee Town who had bowed out of the Durham Challenge Cup in midweek Warren Fisher’s lads looked very competent and ended up as 3-1 victors. David Potts and Kevin Urwin netted in the first half for Heddon and after Daniel Reid got the Newtowners off the mark Potts scored his second for the visitors to wrap up the points.

Still with no win to their credit, Chopwell Officials seem to have solved some of their recent problems and were good enough to limit in-form visitors Berwick United Ultras to a 1- 1 draw. Chopwell’s scorer was Dale Gibson and Dan Cornish replied for the Borderers.

Wallington secured their first home win by beating strugglers Forest Hall 5-1 at Scots Gap where they were three goals up at the interval thanks to John Paxton (2) and Justin Millican. Kyle Reardon then weighed in with Wallington’s fourth goal and after a token reply from the Hall’s Scott Parker the home side’s winning tally was topped up by Chris Martin. Unhappily for Forest Hall they are continuing to struggle in this division and are still seeking their first league point.

Stobswood Welfare had lost five successive games before entertaining Newcastle University but manager Tony Mather’s promise of a change of fortunes for the Welfare could soon be brought to fruition. They produced a much better performance to win 2-1 with both of their goals claimed by Adam Shanks. James Swainston replied for the Students who, on this form, won’t be expected to regain their former Premier Division status.

DIVISION TWO – WALLSEND TOWN IN SEVENTH HEAVEN
With eighteen points each to their credit, current leaders Wallsend Town and second-placed Newcastle Chemfica are heading the Second Division table. With three useful games in hand and a hundred percent record in six league starts Wallsend are holding all the early season aces and they dealt out a 7-0 lesson to hosts Seaton Burn. Leading 4-0 at the half way stage the Town proved unstoppable and the goals flowed freely from Craig Burke (hat-trick), Derek Graham, Mick Rankin, Sean Reid and Alex Downey.

Newcastle Chemfica have won four of their five home games to date after beating latest visitors Swalwell 6-2 and settling into second spot. Steve McLaughlin scored four of Chemfica’s goals against Swalwell with the others tucked away by Gareth Davies and Liam Naulls. Chris Smith and Adam McVickers netted for the losers who remained in the top half of the table.

Despite their run of successes Chemfica will still be looking over their shoulder at the likes of Tynemouth United, Cullercoats Custom Planet and newcomers Simonside SC and Red House Farm, all of whom are sharing third place with games in hand.

While Tynemouth were lying idle the other three all picked up maximum points to maintain their challenge and Simonside SC claimed an emphatic 6-1 home win against Wideopen & District whose single reply came from Nick Jefferson. Shaun Edwards was a match-winning hero for Simonside, bagging five of their six goals with the final tally completed by Lee Ditchburn.

Cullercoats Custom Planet were also in goal-hungry mood away to Willington Quay Saints and emerged as 5-3 victors in a real thriller. Drawing 2-2 at the break, the Planet had Martyn Hepple (2), Martyn Evans, Mark Henderson and substitute Andrew Gray on target. Michael Beever, Andrew Macbeth and Ian McCartney scored for the Saints who are still seeking their first home points.

Red House Farm were perfectly happy with their more modest 4-2 win at home to Amble who have lost all of their away games this term. Paul Newton-Eddy (2), Shaun Forster and Chris Mann were the Farm’s marksmen with Amble replying in vain through Sean Palmer and Jordan Giles.

Wallsend Boys Club were 3-0 down at Hexham to goals by Scott Robson (2) and Curtis Harvey but recovered to snatch a 3-3 draw. Rob Haney, Gary McGarrigal and Ben Pollock hit back for the Boys Club who could easily have picked up another two points for their second half performance.

Cramlington United hoisted themselves up three places and away from the basement by drawing 1-1 with visitors Newcastle BT who had Dan Sherliker putting them in front in the first half. A great Lindsay Collinson free kick salvaged a point for United.

Still without a win, Whitley Bay Town stayed put on the bottom rung after losing 3-1 at home to Northbank Carlisle. The Bay’s lone marksman was Andrew Laird and they were overshadowed by the Cumbrians whose goals were tucked away by Scott Thompson (2) and Andrew Rogerson.