ALNWICK PRESS THEIR CLAIM

By Bill Gardner
While previous league leaders Gillford Park slipped down a notch, Alnwick Town climbed into fourth spot and ended a month’s enforced break with a 2-0 home win against Shankhouse. The Town showed no signs of being ring-rusty after their ‘holiday’ and secured the points with goals by Richard Brown and Scott McMullen. Shankhouse however have played half of their league games and may drop out of the title race if results don’t improve.

Seaton Delaval ended the year in pole position – the first time in twelve years that they’ve been top of the pile in the Premier Division. And they made it four wins on the trot by beating Ponteland United 3-2 at Wheatridge Park.

Terry Goicochea opened the scoring for Delaval and their lead was doubled by an own goal gift. Liam McIvor then got Ponteland off the mark but right on half time Stephen Howes restored the home side’s two-goal advantage. Midway through the second half Dean Gate trimmed the deficit for United and they forced Delaval to hang on grimly in the closing stages.

The postponement of their home game against Heddon was costly for Gillford Park who were replaced in second spot by defending champions Walker Central. The Central extended their unbeaten run to six games with a 2-0 victory over in-form visitors Newcastle University. Ian Dunn fired Walker into an interval lead but the Students always looked threatening and there was relief all round for the Central when leading scorer Dave Thompson claimed their second goal and his thirteenth of the season in the 80th minute.

Harraby Catholic Club – champions in 2007 – could soon be influencing the current title race. Despite being in sixth place the Cumbrians have five games in hand of the latest leaders and have lost only once so far. Away to Wark they won 2-0 but had to wait until the second half to wrap up the points.
Wark made their visitors fight all the way to clinch the points and both sides went close in the opening stages. Martin Hardy and Lee Telfer both hit the woodwork for Wark while Marc Shiel and Nick Routledge fired just wide for Harraby.

The Cumbrians finally broke the deadlock on 65 minutes when James Earl’s determined run down the right saw him brought down in the corner of the box and Shiel stepped up to score from the penalty spot. Inside another minute Harraby’s lead was doubled and, when the home keeper didn’t hold Earl’s cross, Routledge was able to steer the ball over the line.

Things are remaining tight in the Premier Division basement with only two points separating the bottom six clubs. And Murton lifted off the bottom rung after beating mid-table visitors Peterlee Town 4-1. Murton avenged their earlier 3-2 defeat by the Newtowners with goals supplied by Andy Somerville (2), Karl Garside and Michael Walton. John Pyle replied for Peterlee who have now failed to win any of their last six league games.

Heaton Stannington have gone seven games without a win and had to settle for a 2-2 home draw with Carlisle City with only a single point separating the two sides. Heaton were two up at the break thanks to Gary Yates and Chris Hutchinson but replies from Jamie Heath and Chris Kelleher gave City a deserved share of the spoils.

Meanwhile, Blyth Town’s renaissance continued and a 3-1 victory at home to lowly Ashington Colliers earned them some more breathing space. After 11 minutes Aaron Hicken opened the scoring for Blyth by volleying home from Danny Beresford’s cross. Eight minutes later Beresford himself doubled the Town’s lead after he raced onto a long ball from Scott Earle.

Blyth’s winning tally was completed midway through the second half as, set up by Jeff Fuller, Beresford slotted in his second goal of the game. Anthony Wright replied for the Colliers but they need to use their games in hand productively to get themselves out of trouble.

DIVISION ONE – SHOCK DEFEAT FOR SEASIDERS
In the First Division, second-placed Whitley Bay ‘A’ were lying idle and Cullercoats in third spot slipped up badly on their visit to Scots Gap to face Wallington. The Seasiders were hammered 6-1 and could have no qualms about the outcome. Femi Akinbolu was their lone marksmen while the goals for an impressive Wallington side were put away by Ashley McAlpine (2), Stuart Foreman, Jack Palmer, Darren Carr and Ross Donnelly.

Percy Main were limited to a goal-less draw at Purvis Park by Seaton Burn who had Dave Hewitt sent off rather harshly only ten minutes into the game. Burt there was no shortage of goals at Gateshead where Rutherford dished out a 7-0 lesson to Berwick United. The Borderers haven’t yet picked up a single point on their travels and were well beaten again. Andy Reay completed his hat-trick for Rutherford, Ross Taylor bagged a brace and the winning tally was topped up by Stephen Tumelty and debutant Ian Bell.

Although they’re in fourth spot at the moment, Chopwell Officials are not yet serious promotion candidates but they were certainly too strong for bottom rung visitors Red Row Welfare. Still seeking their first point in this campaign, the Welfare were soundly beaten 6-1 and their single goal scored by Joe Moscrop was poor consolation. In a rather one-sided game Chopwell were never tested and their goals were shared by Kevin Morland, Andrew Smith, Lee Best, Mark Fitzpatrick and Stuart Rookes.

Stocksfield are now nine points ahead of nearest rivals Whitley Bay ‘A’ at the top of the table. Having won eleven of their twelve games to date the Tyne Valley outfit added three more points to their coffers by beating hosts Killingworth YPC 4-2. Killy had Kevin Grahamslaw and Peter Mulholland on target but still suffered their second defeat of the season. Phil Murray (2), Bruce Vause and Pat Finnerty scored for the league leaders.

Newcastle East End also claimed a 6-1 victory at home to Hebburn Reyrolle whose recent dip in form has been dramatic. Having now claimed only one win in five most recent appearances, Hebburn’s only scorer was James Keeler. Anthony Johnson was responsible for four of the East Enders’ goals with the other two put away by Paul Bright and Dieu-Donne Lomana.

DIVISION TWO – HOT-SHOT GIBBARD RETURNS TO HIS ROOTS
Only four games went ahead in the Second Division and second-placed Amble United secured a crucial 3-0 victory at home to current table-toppers South Shields United. Ross Gair gave Amble an interval lead which was doubled by the same player straight after the break. Returning ex-player-manager Steve Gibbard scored United’s third goal and with two games in hand they now have a great chance to take over in pole position in the New Year.

Amble United’s position was further strengthened by the 6-2 defeat of third-placed rivals Wideopen & District at Hexham, Hexham, who look set for a climb away from the basement, looked very strong in this encounter and their winning marksmen were Iain Strachan (2), Neil Tiffin, Mark Gibson, Scott Robson and Ben Griffiths. Both replies for losers Wideopen came from Richard Curran.

With games in hand to aid their cause, Forest Hall’s promotion hopes can’t be written off and they retained their unbeaten away record by drawing 1-1 with Wallsend Boys’ Club. This was an entertaining game between two clubs level on points and in the top half of the table. Danny Parker found the net for the Boys’ Club with his goal cancelled out by Forest Hall’s Tom Carver.
Wallsend Town’s woes continued and they suffered a sixth successive defeat, going down 5-4 to visitors Willington Quay Saints. Despite having Willie Tindle, Kevin Rookes, Mark Brewis and Steve Cap on target the Town were just edged out of the points. In what was their first away win this term the Saints had a four-goal hero in Gareth Pugh to complete a league double over Wallsend. And their other marksman was Glen Gallon.

Tynemouth United meanwhile became the latest Alliance side to bow out of the Northumberland Minor Cup. They switched their home tie to the ground of opponents Berwick Town and, despite scoring through Stephen Bell (2) and Paul Neilson, were narrowly beaten 4-3.

There will now be only five teams in the fourth round of the Minor Cup with ties due to be played on 10th January. The surviving flag bearers are Cullercoats, Newcastle BT, Forest Hall, Amble and Wallsend Town.