ALNWICK & DELAVAL ARE RAPID CLIMBERS

By Bill Gardner
Premier Division pacesetters Gillford Park had their match away to defending champions Walker Central postponed but still have a two-point lead in pole position with games in hand of all their closest rivals.
Challengers Seaton Delaval and Alnwick Town secured maximum points, leapfrogging over several of their rivals to go joint second. Only beaten once in their last five outings, Alnwick were convincing 3-0 winners away to Heaton Stannington. Heaton's slide down the table continued as the Town's Ben Keenan punished them with his hat-trick.

Delaval won only their second game away from home with a 2-1 verdict at Cramlington Town but needed a late winner to see off their hosts. Cramlington trailed to Connal Reed's opener but Stuart Heppell got them back on terms with ten minutes to go. Only five minutes remained when John Fitzpatrick weighed in with Delaval's winner.

Only four points are separating the top seven clubs in the Premier Division with teams like Heddon, Shankhouse, Harraby Catholic Club, Peterlee Town and Walker Central hoping to get to grips with the current leaders.

Heddon slipped up on Saturday however and were beaten for the first time this term at their Bullocksteads based. They lost out 2-1 to an impressive Newcastle University side which has won four of its last five games. Top scorer Dave Kewn and Will Deledicq netted for the Students in the space of two second half minutes and Heddon's single later reply came from John Dunn.

Peterlee Town had followed a five-match winning sequence with three straight defeats before Shankhouse's visit to Eden Lane. The two sides were content with a share of the spoils from a 1-1 draw. John Pearce ended 76 minutes of stalemate with his opener for Peterlee but with four minutes to spare Shankhouse levelled through Kevin Gustard.

In their bottom of the table battle with bottom rung visitors Wark there was a vital 3-1 victory for Blyth Town, only their second on their own patch. Jeff Fuller opened the scoring for Blyth immediately after the break, converting a through ball from Chris Taylor. Matt McLoughlin equalised for Wark in the 84th minute but it wasn't all over however. Blyth secured all three points with strikes in 88 and 90 minutes by Aaron Hicken and Chris Taylor. Hicken's drive went in off the crossbar when he was sent clear by Oliver Cowie and Taylor netted from just inside the box following good work by Chris Lisle.

Carlisle City were 3-2 losers at home by Aspatria in the Cumberland Senior Cup while Harraby Catholic Club went down 2-1 to Cheshire visitors Poulton Victoria in the Northern Counties Senior Championship. Meanwhile, in the second round of the Durham FA Trophy, last season's winners Murton bowed out, beaten 5-2 by visitors Simonside SC. But Gateshead Rutherford made progress and in a 1-0 victory over Ebchester Consett Reserves their scorer was Stephen Tumelty.

DIVISION ONE – CUMBRIANS SURPRISE WHITLEY
Only three league games beat the weather in an already restricted First Division programme and leaders Whitley Bay 'A' spilled a couple of points. At Hillheads the Bay lost their hundred percent home record and could only draw 2-2 with mid-table opponents Northbank. Still seeking a first win on their travels, the Cumbrians produced a sound performance which produced two goals for their regular scorer Mark Worrall. In reply Jonathan Kew and Simon Reay scored for Whitley.

Whitley Bay's lead at the top of the division was trimmed to only a single point by Stocksfield who have three useful games in hand. With a hundred percent records in seven starts the Tynedale outfit had to work hard for their 3-2 victory at home to Wallington. Despite being in the lower half of the table, Wallington had Tom McPherson and David Featherstone on target and gave their highly-rated hosts a torrid time. In the end however Stocksfield just edged it to claim the points. Running onto Ben Pearson's pass Tom Finnerty scored his first goal for the club to open Stocksfield's account. Their second goal was put away by Cairns Kettles who headed home Bruce Vause's cross at the back post and from Graeme Watson's perfect cross Phil Murray headed in for the home side's vital winner.

In their last seven games Chopwell Officials have picked up five wins and a draw and almost unnoticed have been creeping up on the current leaders. And they slipped quietly into third spot after beating visitors Percy Main 2-1.

On the quarter hour mark Chopwell opened the scoring Gareth Powell squared to Rowland Lee who fired past the unsighted Rob Rodgerson in the Percy Main goal. But parity was soon restored as Chris Lau slid the ball through to Joe Betts who managed to scramble the ball past home keeper Graeme Clark at the second attempt.
With twenty minutes to go Chopwell countered in deadly fashion as Glen Caygill's corner, only half cleared by the Villagers' defence, fell kindly to Mark Fitzpatrick who rifled home a 30-yard thunderbolt via the crossbar to restore his side's lead.

DIVISION TWO – SHIELDS NUDGE AMBLE OFF THE TOP
Two games – Tynemouth United versus Newcastle BT and Wideopen & District versus Amble - were washed out in the Second Division but another four got the go-ahead. And South Shields United replaced Amble United in pole position.

While former table-toppers Amble had an idle Saturday, South Shields took full advantage and extended their unbeaten run to six games by beating visitors Benfield Chemfica 2-1. Colin Cooney netted for Chemfica but they're still waiting for their first points away from home after Kyle Yorston bagged a brace for their hosts.

With third-placed Wideopen & District also out of action Stobswood Welfare improved their standing, moving up into fourth spot following their 2-1 victory away to Whitley Bay Town. The Bay produced a brave performance considering they had Lee Savory sent off after half an hour. The Welfare's match-winning marksmen were Michael Hogg and Chris Graham with Garry Milburn replying for the plucky losers.

Stobswood's fellow-newcomers Forest Hall also continued their climb up the table with a 2-1 win at home to Wallsend Town. Ryan Arnott opened the scoring for the Town but his gal failed to prevent his side's fourth consecutive defeat. Kevin Baldwin came on as substitute to bang in both of Forest Hall's goals.

Wallsend Boys' Club seem to have lost their winning habit, sharing six goals and the spoils with visitors North Shields Athletic in a mid-table clash. Kyle Moffatt, Andy McBride and Stephen Forster supplied the Wallsend goals. Glen Churchman (2) and Matthew Donkin scored for the Shieldsmen who have now won three and drawn one of their last five games.

NFA MINOR CUP – HEXHAM KNOCK OUT HOLDERS
As usual the weather has meant that Northumberland Minor Cup matches are being played in instalments but three more Northern Alliance sides managed to book places in the third round of the county's biggest competition.
Hexham, fourth from bottom in the Alliance's Second Division, caused a sensation by winning 3-1 at home to last season's cup winners Shilbottle CW. Darren Dobson gave Hexham a lead which was doubled by Ian Strachan before the break. Strachan's second strike put the home side in an unassailable position and Alan Wallace's successful spot kick for Shilbottle was purely cosmetic.

Cullercoats coasted through with an 11-1 victory at home to Newcastle Rushworth & Diamonds. The Diamonds lost their sparkle as incessant Cullercoats pressure was rewarded with goals for Steve Hart (4), Craig Deighton (3), Sean Smith, Joe Elliott, Stewart Wright and substitute Femi Akinbolu.

Willington Quay Saints made progress by beating cup hosts Bellingham 4-1 and had David Gibson and Gareth Pugh on the mark to give them a clear lead at half time. Pugh scored his second straight after the changeover and, after Graham Teasdale hit back for the home side, the winners' tally was completed by Glen Johnson who scored from the penalty spot.
Three other ties with Northern Alliance involvement were wiped out for the second week running and rescheduled for this Saturday. Killingworth YPC and Seaton Burn are at home to respective opponents North Sunderland and Whitley Lodge Baptist Church while Newcastle East End are away to Red Star Benwell.