BERWICK APPLY THE BRAKES

By Bill Gardner
Premier Division leaders Gillford Park were within two minutes of losing their unbeaten record but finally settled for a 2-2 draw with visitors Shankhouse in the weekend’s only top flight league game. Shankhouse’s Kevin Gustard scored straight from the kick off and then scored his second to give his side a substantial lead at the interval. Even after Matthew Wood got Gillford off the mark on the hour it looked unlikely that they would get anything out of the game. But in the 88th minute Chris Grainger’s leveller rescued the Cumbrians.

The only game in the First Division saw lowly Berwick United entertaining table-toppers Stocksfield who kicked off boasting a hundred percent record. But the Borderers stunned their visitors by beating them 2-0 and recording their own first league win of the campaign. After an hour of stalemate Paul Wood gave Berwick the lead and Stocksfield found it hard going in their search for an equaliser. They didn’t manage and were killed off ten minutes from the end when Wood bagged his second goal for the jubilant hosts.

In three previously postponed first round ties in the Longhorn Hardware League Cup, Harraby Catholic Club and Northbank both made progress but Wallington’s home game against Carlisle City had to be called off once again.

Harraby beat cup visitors Ashington Colliers 3-1 and after Ashington’s Anthony Wright cancelled out Harraby’s opener scored by Jordan Coulthard, the home side had Lee Otway and James Earl on target in the second half. Meanwhile, Harraby’s neighbours Northbank were 2-1 first round victors at home to Killingworth YPC. Andy Rogerson and Mark Worrall claimed Northbank’s goals with Callum Colbeck replying for the Tynesiders.

Six of the twelve second round matches in the League Cup were wiped out but Premier Division sides Heddon, Walker Central and Seaton Delaval cleared their respective hurdles. And Heddon banged in five goals without reply to sink Second Division opponents Newcastle BT at Bullocksteads where their goals were supplied by John Dunn (2), Andrew Shaw, Chris Douglas and Max Turner.
Cup holders Walker Central also ended the hopes of Second Division visitors North Shields by winning 3-0 at Monkchester. Joe Kennedy’s opener came straight after the interval when he raced onto David Dormand’s cross to find the net from twelve yards out.

Only four minutes later the Central’s lead was doubled as Ian Dunn climbed to meet Kennedy’s cross and scored with a close range header. North Shields continued to come under a lot of pressure and on the hour conceded a third goal. When Dean Mitchison’s drive was well saved by the Shields keeper, Dave Thompson reacted quickly to fire the loose ball home from just inside the area.

Seaton Delaval’s progress wasn’t as comfortable however and after a goal-less two hours away to Willington Quay Saints they scraped through 3-1 on penalties. John Fitzpatrick, Phil Hildreth and Terry Goicochea were successful from the spot for Delaval while Glen Johnson was a lone marksman for the plucky Saints.

Other sides from the league’s First and Second Divisions booking third round slots in the League Cup were Wallsend Town, South Shields United and Amble United. Against Rutherford at Gateshead, Wallsend beat the odds to win 3-2 with strikes by Darren Bell, Paul McCutcheon and Alan Errington.

South Shields United pulled off an excellent 3-0 victory against First Division outfit Chopwell in the cup. United rested several key players and still have another five unavailable due to injuries yet they still outplayed and outclassed a team doing well in the division above them.

After a stalemate first half Shields scored within a minute of the changeover when a great cross from Kyle Yorston was neatly tucked away by Karl Kennedy. United’s young guns continued to play some excellent football and in the 63rd minute doubled their lead thanks to a great diving header by Kennedy for his second goal of the game. Almost immediately United struck again and a clever chipped pass from the impressive Mark Davies was clinically despatched by Yorston. And this was another fine performance by South Shields who had Ryan Shave outstanding in a solid defence.

Amble United beat Second Division colleagues Tynemouth United 6-0 in a tie switched to Amble. Darren Riddell claimed four of their goals with the other two supplied by Ross Gair and Calvin Flanigan.

CHARITY CUP – BLYTH RACE TO VICTORY
Four ties in the Pin Point Recruitment Charity Cup went ahead with Blyth Town, Red Row Welfare, Ponteland United and Whitley Bay ‘A’ all making progress.
Blyth Town, at home to Seaton Burn, won 5-2 with Joe Race – recently released by Hartlepool – completing a hat-trick. But at the interval Seaton Burn were leading 2-0 thanks to Rob MacDonald’s spot kick and another goal for Chris Baker.

Blyth got their act together after the break and Race scored three times to put them in front for the first time. His first goal was set up by Jeff Fuller and his second by Danny Beresford. And the hat-trick was achieved when Race’s cross landed in the net after a deflection off a visiting defender. In the 70th minute Mark Waugh claimed Blyth’s fourth goal from the penalty spot and with a minute to go Lee Middleton completed the scoring with his tremendous 25-yard drive into the top corner.
Red Row Welfare, currently propping up the First Division table, have brought some new signings on board and impressively beat higher-ranked cup hosts Hebburn Reyrolle 3-1. Ben Lavender’s first half opener for the Welfare was cancelled out by Hebburn’s Ray Oshin but the Northumbrians soon rallied. Lavender’s second goal put them in charge again and just to make sure Ryan Cordiner was also on target.

Percy Main’s interest in the league's Charity Cup competition was ended by hosts Whitley Bay ‘A’ and they were beaten 3-1 in an exciting tie at Hillheads. The Main's cause wasn’t helped by the absence of injured front runners Joe Betts and Jon McEnaney but top scorer Mick Freathy proved a handful for the Bay defence while new signing Pierre Coiffait's second half introduction troubled Whitley with some colossal throw-ins reminiscent of Stoke City's Rory Delap.

The home side asked the early questions as Craig Smith's free kick was palmed away by Rob Rodgerson in the Villagers goal while Mathew Speedie's looping header just cleared the crossbar. And the deadlock was broken on the quarter hour when Dean Porter, who once turned out for the Villagers, got the home side off the mark from the edge of the area.

Fifteen minutes later Whitley doubled their lead as Daniel Iredale's deep cross was steered home by Porter from close range but Percy Main rallied. And after Jon McEnaney went close, home goalkeeper Tom Kindley saved Michael Freathy's close range effort. Action continued around the Whitley goal as Freathy brought a point blank save from Kindley and Jason Ritchie saw his deflected shot strike the woodwork.

After the break Percy Main’s Tony Browell sent his diving header just wide while his goalkeeping colleague Rob Rodgerson had to be alert at the other end, saving another Porter effort with his feet. The visitors threw themselves an 83rd minute lifeline when Jason Ritchie's free kick was headed home by Ian Graham. But Whitley skipper Gavin Hattrick sealed his side's victory with a strike three minutes into stoppage time.

In a delayed preliminary round game, Ponteland United beat Premier Division colleagues Murton 2-1 at the Leisure Centre Ground to prolong their Charity Cup interest. Liam McIvor scored both of United’s goals with Murton’s single reply coming from Karl Garside. And United’s first round visitors will now be Gosforth Bohemian Garnett.