HEDDON CURE TRAVEL SICKNESS

By Bill Gardner
Gillford Park retained their three-point lead at the head of the Premier Division despite dropping their first home points. Still unbeaten, the Cumbrians were restricted to a 2-2 draw by Cramlington Town with both of their goals put away by Michael Riding. Cramlington had Kieran Parsons and Steve Elsey on target and deserved their share of the spoils.

With Harraby Catholic Club on county cup duty they were nudged out of second spot by Heddon who secured their first away win. After drawing four of their last six games on their travels the Heddon lads beat Peterlee Town 1-0. Team manager Paul Callan and secretary Billy Banks deserted the Newtowners last week and John Dunn’s 40th minute winner for Heddon was another blow.
Following a slow start to this campaign, last season’s champions Walker Central are finally firing on all cylinders. A week after knocking West Allotment Celtic out of the Northumberland Senior Cup the Central were impressive 6-1 victors away to Ponteland United to hoist themselves up into fourth place.

Walker had knocked Pont out of the League Cup only a fortnight earlier and they were soon on course for a double. Ex-Ponteland player Paul Gardiner opened their account with his long range effort following John Campbell’s corner kick.

On the half hour the visitors’ lead was doubled when Dave Thompson netted from a chance created by Campbell and there was no respite for embattled Ponteland. Shortly before the break they conceded a third goal as Thompson struck again with a thundering 18-yard drive.

After the break United regained some composure but they came under the hammer again midway through the half. Walker’s Campbell scored twice in the space of eight minutes. His first goal was set up by Ian Mills and his second by Chris Bannon.

With two minutes to go the Central’s tally was topped up by David Dormand who finished well after racing onto Ben Miley’s through ball. And only seconds remained when Dean Gate claimed a token reply for the home side.

Seaton Delaval and visitors Heaton Stannington had both been going through a lean spell before their clash at Wheatridge Park. But Delaval emerged as 3-0 victors to suggest they may be turning things around. Their marksmen, all inside the last twenty minutes, were Stephen Howes, Steve Anderson and Craig Johnson to leave Heaton without a win in their last six league games.
Wark are another side to have gone off the boil in the last month and three straight defeats have dumped the newly-promoted club onto the bottom rung. The damaging run continued and despite having Jack Wanless finding the net Wark ended up as 3-1 losers at home to Newcastle University. The Students wrapped up the points with a hat-trick for leading scorer David Kewn.

A first home win for Blyth Town earned Jeff Orr’s side some breathing space in the basement and they moved up a couple of notches by beating Murton 4-2. Jonathan Mann (hat-trick) and Jeff Fuller put Blyth 4-0 up after only twenty minutes and although Karl Garside and Michael Pittam hit back for Murton before the break they couldn’t make any further headway.

Shankhouse’s home game against Alnwick Town in the Premier Division was postponed along with Carlisle City’s home tie with Aspatria in the Cumberland Senior Cup. But City’s league colleagues Harraby Catholic Club made progress in the competition. They beat visitors Alston Moor Sports Club 6-0 with goals supplied by Rob Bainbridge (3), Lee Otway (2) and Dave Wallace.

DIVISION TWO – SHIELDS THREATEN AMBLE
The weather accounted for the entire league programme in the First Division but the single Second Division fixture got the go-ahead with South Shields United beating visitors Wallsend Boys’ Club 2-0. The result hoisted Shields into second spot, only a point short of current leaders Amble United with both clubs having played ten games.

The normally reliable Kyle Yorston wasted a couple of first ha\lf chances for the home side but a few tactical changes worked out for Shields. Wayne McCamley and Gary Spottiswood kept opponents Wallsend busy and inside a five minute spell Phil Enlund bagged a brace for United.

NFA MINOR CUP – WINNERS. LOSERS & SECOND CHANCES
Seventeen Northern Alliance clubs should have been involved in second round ties in the Northumberland Minor Cup but the weather intervened and six games were postponed. Killingworth YPC, Newcastle East End, Seaton Burn, Willington Quay Saints, Cullercoats and Hexham will be trying again to make progress this weekend.

In the other matches which were played to a finish, nine Alliance sides booked themselves third round slots in the Minor Cup and 2007 winners Amble United were 7-0 victors away to Grainger Park. The Seasiders were three up at half time thanks to Darren Riddell (2) and Paul Brennan and their later goals were supplied by Ross Gair (2), Greg Dance and Bradley Wake.

United’s neighbours Amble Town were also emphatic second round winners and beat cup hosts Gosforth Bohemian Garnett ‘A’ 5-0 with goals shared by Ben Davidson, Craig Jones, Shaun Jobson, James Todd and Nick Moore.

Despite having Ryan Stobbard, Nick Guest and Mark Crow on target at home to Lowick United, Benfield Chemfica bowed out as 4-3 losers with Anthony Murray (3) and Gary Fairbairn scoring for the visitors. But Wallsend Town easily made the cut by winning 6-1 away to Blyth Spartans ‘A’. Darren Bell completed a hat-trick and a long wind-assisted clearance allowed Wallsend’s keeper Ricky Donaldson to get his name on the score-sheet. Alan Etherington and Graham McMillan completed the Town’s tally.

Tynemouth United, on the bottom rung of the Northern Alliance’s Second Division table, claimed their first victory of the season against Minor Cup hosts Craster Rovers. The Tynemouth lads were encouraged by their convincing 7-3 success and four of their goals were tucked away by Mark Carey. They had Steve Clarke scoring from the spot and their other two strikes were by Gareth Lee and Paul Neilson.

In the round’s only all-Northern Alliance clash, Forest Hall – cup winners way back in 1978 – proved too strong for hosts and league colleagues Wideopen & District. Neil Gibson, Michael Sandberg and Thomas Carver all found the net in the Forest’s eventual 3-0 victory.

Newcastle BT, North Shields Athletic, Stobswood Welfare and Whitley Bay Town were the other Alliance sides clearing their respective second round hurdles.

Newcastle BT ended the hopes of Whitley Bay Baptist Church and won 4-2 with goals scored by Anthony Bruce (2), Tom Walton and Andy Mackay. And Daniel Walton scored a hat-trick for North Shields Athletic in their 4-1 victory away to Newcastle Dynamo Fenham. John Mordey banged in the winners’ fourth goal.

Whitley Bay Town were content with a narrow 3-2 verdict at home to Lindisfarne Athletic who put up a brave fight before losing to goals put away by Lee Hall, Jamie Wallace and Iain Irvin. Stobswood Welfare however coasted through and were comfortable 7-1 victors to see off visitors Forest Hall Town. Kerry Shotton help[ed himself to three of the Welfare’s goals, his colleague Josh Hay bagged a brace and Michael Graham and Michael Hogg were the other Stobswood marksmen.