ARE GILLFORD SLIPPING?

By Bill Gardner
Gillford Park were toppled from pole position in the Premier Division after suffering their first league defeat of this campaign. The Park were beaten 3-2 at home by defending champions Walker Central who built up an early two-goal lead through Dave Thompson and John Campbell. Steve Skinner (penalty) and Mark Butler restored parity for Gillford before the break but after 80 minutes Joe Kennedy scored the Central’s winner.

Seaton Delaval replaced Gillford at the top on goal difference after winning 3-1 away to bottom rung side Murton. Murton had been unbeaten in four previous home games and were fired in front by Karl Garside. John Fitzpatrick levelled promptly for Delaval but they had to wait until deep into the second half for their other goals put away by Phil Hildreth and Paul Baird.

Shankhouse held onto third spot just ahead of Walker Central and after a spell of five games without a win they beat hosts Blyth Town 3-1. Trailing at half time to Aaron Hicken’s opener for Blyth, Shankhouse were strong after the break and Andrew Sherlaw equalised on the hour. Later strikes by Kevin Gustard and Gavin Keen, who netted in the dying seconds, wrapped up the points.

Alnwick Town’s home game against Heddon was postponed and the rest of the action was in the Longhorn Hardware League Cup. Carlisle City’s long-delayed first round tie at Wallington finally went ahead but there was no joy for the Cumbrians. Despite having Stephen Bell and Jamie Heath on target at Scots Gap, City were beaten 3-2 by their First Division hosts whose scorers were Stuart Foreman, Sam Walton and Ashley McAlpine. McAlpine found the net for his winner in the 89th minute.

In the second round of the League Cup, six Premier Division sides were trying to make progress and five were successful against opponents from the lower ranks. The only exception was Cramlington Town who lost out 2-1 in extra time away to Hexham. Andrew Scott put the Town in front after a goal-less opening half but with a minute to spare a Tom Phillips goal earned Hexham a reprieve. And in the 98th minute Phillips bagged his second to settle the issue.

Harraby Catholic Club, Newcastle University, Peterlee Town, Heaton Stannington and Wark all booked places in the third round and Harraby hammered neighbours Northbank 7-1 with goals for Nick Routledge (3), Rob Bainbridge (2), Dan Anderton and Lee Otway.

Joe Foote and Dave Kewn netted to give the University a 2-0 home win against Benfield Chemfica and Peterlee Town’s scorers in their 2-1 extra time victory against visitors Wideopen were David Fisher and Alan Smith.

Heaton Stannington beat cup hosts Wallsend Boys’ Club 4-1 thanks to Kevin Carr (2), Lawrence McKenna and Derek Oman and Wark’s marksmen in their 3-0 success at home to Amble were Marc Nixon (2) and Lee Telfer.

In an all-Second Division tie, hosts Forest Hall were beaten 3-2 in extra time by Stobswood Welfare despite having Michael Reay and Terry McCarthy on the mark. Stobswood turned out to have a super-sub in Michael Hogg and after coming off the bench he bagged a brace to add an extra half hour to the proceedings. And his hero status was enhanced when he scored the Welfare’s winner to complete his hat-trick.

DIVISION ONE – LEADERS CHOP DOWN RIVALS
First Division leaders Stocksfield extended their lead at the top to six points and a 6-3 win over fourth-placed visitors Chopwell Officials allowed them to maintain their hundred percent home record. Phil Murray supplied four of the Stocksfield goals with the others scored by Ben Pearson and Scott Johnson. Chopwell’s replies came from David Purdy, Andrew Smith and Lee Best.

In another of only four games down for decision in the First Division, second-placed Whitley Bay ‘A’ slipped up again. After winning four league games on the trot the Bay have drawn their last three and featured in another - a 2-2 stalemate with hosts Gateshead Rutherford.

Two goals for Jamie Linden, including a 29th minute spot kick, had Whitley apparently coasting but they p[aid for later complacency. Ross Taylor rounded the keeper to get Rutherford off the mark and with five minutes to go Dean Stewart levelled with a fine header.

With useful games in hand Cullercoats kept the pressure on at the top of the table and, beaten only once this term, they ran out 4-2 victors at home to Berwick United. Paul Wood and Simon Hargreaves scored for Berwick but they’re still seeking their first points away from home. Cullercoats got these ones in the bag thanks to Craig Deighton’s hat-trick and a goal for Sean Smith.

Percy Main lost their fourth away game on the trot, going down 3-1 against Hebburn Reyrolle and they remained in mid-table. First half goals by Chris Morris and Marc Haire put Hebburn in the driving seat. James Ferguson trimmed the deficit for the Main midway through the second half but Haire scored his second in 86 minutes for the home side to see the points secured.

CHARITY CUP – PONT STROLL THROUGH
Two games were played in the Pin Point Recruitment Charity Cup and while one went true to form the other didn’t. As expected Ponteland United coasted through by soundly beating cup visitors Gosforth Bohemian Garnett 6-1 at the Leisure Centre Ground.

Having played only two games since 1st November Pont were in no mood for charity in this first round encounter against Division One opponents. The visitors were stunned after only three minutes when James Hall chested down Andrew Davidson’s cross for Liam McIvor to fire low into the bottom corner. And five minutes later McIvor put Joe Dawson through to double the lead.

McIvor then got his second goal when David Redhead, making a return after four months of injury and suspension, played a through ball to young James Hal. Hall squared to McIvor who netted with a simple tap-in.

Gosforth nearly got one back after 20 minutes when Harry Tulip raced away from the defence but his shot was unluckily deflected onto the post. On the half hour Ponteland’s lead was increased again as McIvor completed his hat-trick, banging in the loose ball when Hall’s drive was parried out.

The impressive Hall got on the score sheet after 35 minutes and United were coasting. To bring a spectacular first half to a close at 6-0 to Ponteland, McIvor got his fourth goal of the game after slick passing between Glenn Ford and the overlapping Mark Dummett.

To their credit, Gosforth battled hard in the second half and never let their heads fall and with five minutes to go they got a deserved consolation goal for their grit and tenacity. John McDonald found the Ponteland net after his colleague Danny Sherwood had gone close.

Ashington Colliers meanwhile should have proved too strong for the First Division cup hosts Newcastle East End but it didn’t pan out that way. The East Enders beat their Premier Division opponents 4-2 and had Anthony Johnson and Paul Bright bagging a brace each to see them through. Both of Ashington’s replies came from David Brown.

With another two ties played to a finish the quarter-final draw in the Charity Cup now reads: Blyth Town v Whitley Bay ‘A’, Ponteland United v Killingworth YPC or Alnwick Town and Carlisle City or Berwick United v Newcastle East End. Red Row Welfare are also still in the hunt after receiving a bye.

NORTHUMBERLAND MINOR CUP – TOO MANY EXITS
Third round ties in the Northumberland Minor Cup, continually held up by the bad weather, finally got the go-ahead to ease the threat of fixture congestion. Last Saturday’s only casualty was Tynemouth United’s home tie with Berwick Town which has been rescheduled for this weekend up at Berwick.

Four Northern Alliance sides – Amble United, North Shields Athletic, Whitley Bay Town and Willington Quay Saints – all fell at the third round hurdle.

At home to league colleagues Killingworth YPC, Amble United were level at 1-1 after extra time with Brad Wake on target for the Seasiders and Jorge Bollado finding the net for Killy. But at the end of the resultant penalty shoot-out Killingworth emerged as 4-3 victors.

In another all-Alliance clash Newcastle BT put paid to the hopes of cup visitors North Shields Athletic by winning 2-1. Dave Thompson and Simon Mattock were BT’s marksmen while Alex Burn replied for the losers.

There were ignominious ends for the Minor Cup aspirations of both Whitley Bay Town and Willington Quay Saints. With no regular keeper available the Town were hammered 6-0 at home by last season’s losing finalists Killingworth YPC Town while the Saints, who reached the quarter-finals last time, were also beaten at home and went down 5-0 against Blyth Town Reserves.

Wallsend Town however kept their flag waving with a comfortable 4-1 victory on their visit to Whitley Lodge Baptist Church. Paul McCutcheon and recent signing Kevin Smith scored two goals each for Wallsend to extend their progress in the competition.

At the Northumberland Minor Cup’s fourth round stage the Northern Alliance will have five clubs definitely in contention. They are Killingworth YPC Sporting, Cullercoats, Newcastle BT, Wallsend Town and Forest Hall. And Amble FC and possibly Tynemouth United could eventually be joining them.