CUP SUCCESS FOR KILLY

By Bill Gardner

On a day when the entire league programme was frozen out, only two Northern Alliance sides saw any action and they had to travel north to slightly balmier climes.
Forest Hall and Killingworth YPC Sporting were both taking on North Northumberland League hosts in the fourth round of the Ideal Stelrad Northumberland FA Minor Cup and had differing fortunes in their respective ties.

Forest Hall had last won this trophy way back in 1978 and they bowed out yesterday after losing 2-1 away to Lowick United. In an even game that was a credit to both sides in the windy and difficult conditions Lowick were fired into an interval lead when Neil Jefferson punished a defensive error.

Early in the second half Tom Carver restored parity for Forest Hall but there were still few chances at either end. Then, with only two minutes to go, Lowick sealed what had seemed an unlikely victory and when Richard Coupland was floored in the area Anthony Murray made no mistake with the resulting penalty.

Killingworth YPC’s tie away to Berwick Town was a much more frantic affair played out on a very constricted pitch. Killy’s normal free-flowing style was badly effected while the Town relied heavily on physical tactics. And Killingworth did well to finally emerge as 3-0 victors.

On the half hour an overhead kick by Kevin Westphal was palmed off the line by a Berwick defender who was red-carded for his unorthodox save. And David Borley stepped up to put the visitors in front with his spot kick.

After the break Killy held onto their slender advantage in what was turning into a rather ugly game and they killed off their hosts in the closing stages. In the 80th minute Daniel Snee doubled the visitors’ lead after racing onto a lofted pass and five minutes later the Borderers were caught out again. Killy broke quickly from defence and Westphal, one on one with the home keeper, picked his spot from just inside the box.

So Killingworth YPC became the first Northern Alliance side to book their place in this season’s quarter-finals of the Minor Cup. Because of the freeze another four of their league colleagues will have to try to make progress again next Saturday. Weather permitting, Cullercoats and Wallsend Town have respective home ties against Blyth Town Reserves and Newcastle RVI Lochside. Amble FC will be visiting Lynemouth Miners Welfare SC while Newcastle BT will make the short trip to face Killingworth Station.

This stop-start season will undoubtedly eventually result in several clubs having fixture backlogs and facing up to a busy time in the second half of the campaign. In the Alliance’s Premier Division only Shankhouse have completed half of their league fixtures while the worst hit by postponements have been Harraby Catholic Club, Newcastle University, Gillford Park and Ashington Colliers.

The teams with similar problems in the First Division are likely to be Killingworth YPC, Wallington, Newcastle East End, Seaton Burn and Gosforth Bohemian Garnett. Meanwhile, with fewer clubs in the Second Division things are not quite as critical but the likes of Tynemouth United, Stobswood Welfare and Amble FC may have some catching up to do.

LEAGUE SECRETARY ENDS LONG ASSOCIATION
At a Management Committee Meeting last Thursday, members considered the shock resignation of league secretary John McLackland who had held the position for two decades. John, who was also a previous secretary of the former Northern Amateur League, has been a selfless and very efficient official for the Alliance and is sure to be badly missed. He gave no reasons for his sudden decision to end his time in charge.

His resignation has been reluctantly accepted and the post is likely to be filled by assistant secretary Derek Booth who has recently been dealing with players’ registrations and Premier Division fixtures.