MILLS GUNS DOWN CUMBRIANS

By Bill Gardner
On a weekend when there was a profusion of goals the top of the table clash between Harraby Catholic Club and current Premier Division leaders Walker Central over in Carlisle proved to be the opposite. The game was settled in Walker’s favour by the only goal scored just eight minutes after the kick off.

Both teams had to contend with a strong cross wind and Walker opened the scoring when their first corner was only half cleared. Ian Mills hit a low ground shot from 18 yards through a crowded area to beat the unsighted home keeper Aaron Taylor. Although Harraby’s Brett Swift managed to knock the ball up against the underside of the crossbar from his position on the line and Taylor claimed the loose ball the assistant referee, after appearing to wave play on, then signalled that the ball had crossed the line. And Walker held on grimly to their slender advantage to secure their sixth league win on the trot.

The result left Walker with a six-point lead at the head of the Premier Division table while Harraby, champions a couple of seasons ago, stayed in fifth spot but with several games in hand at their disposal.

Harraby’s neighbours Gillford Park also have useful games in hand and hoisted themselves up into second spot by winning 2-0 away to Murton who remained on the bottom rung. The Park, yet to be beaten on their travels, secured the points with second half goals put away by Darren Addison who scored just after the interval and Steve Skinner who netted with a minute to spare.

Shankhouse are currently in sixth place but have played more games than any other team in the Premier Division and results have been far from ideal. They suffered another setback in going down 4-2 against Newcastle University at Cochrane Park. The Students had taken only two points from their previous five outings but gave themselves hope of getting clear of the basement with strikes by Will Deledicq, Oliver Haywood, Edwin Tizard and Ben Burt.

Carlisle City’s new manager Stephen Bellas has won his first two games in charge and City beat Peterlee Town 6-4 at Sheepmount. The Newtowners seemed on course for a rare success when early goals for Alan Smith, Greg O’Brien and Steve Monaghan put them well clear.

Carlisle finally responded with replies from Ollie Driver (2) and Carl Armstrong restoring parity but in the 44th minute Peterlee were nudged in front again by Anthony Cook. After the break City came back again to kill off their visitors with Driver scoring his second penalty of the game to complete his hat-trick and Jamie Yallop and Jamie Heath also on target.

On a day of high scores Wark claimed maximum points to ease their relegation worries and in a real cliff-hanger they beat visiting Ponteland United 6-5. An own goal by United’s Marc Dummett allowed Wark to edge it after they had John Famelton, Marc Nixon (hat-trick) and Jamie Pell on target. Dean Gate, James Hall, Jarrod Suddick, Andrew Davidson and Richard Kent shared the goals for unlucky Ponteland.

There was also an abundance of goals in a third round tie of the Longhorn Hardware League Cup with hosts Heaton Stannington drawing 6-6 with First Division leaders Stocksfield after extra time. Heaton’s marksmen were Gary Yates (2), Paul Hodgson, Kevin Carr, Joe Wear and Lawrence McKenna. Stocksfield, who had Phil Murray and Ben Pearson each claiming a hat-trick, emerged as 7-6 victors in the resulting penalty shoot out.

Meanwhile Heddon booked themselves a place in this season’s Bosch Power Tools Challenge Cup Final by beating Seaton Delaval 3-2 in their semi-final at Bullocksteads. Goals for Joe Kerry and Craig Horsfall gave Heddon an early advantage but their keeper Alex Curran was injured and midfielder John Pearson had to deputise. Delaval took advantage and replied through Craig Johnson and Stephen Anderson straight after the interval. But with 75 minutes on the clock David Edwardson claimed Heddon’s winner and they will be meeting either Gillford Park or Blyth Town in the forthcoming final.

DIVISION ONE – CHOP FOR THE BURN
In the First Division, Gosforth Bohemian Garnett and Killingworth YPC have only played eleven and nine league games respectively and postponement of their game at Benson Park wasn’t exactly welcomed. And in an already restricted programme only three games went ahead.

Seaton Burn should have been hosting Chopwell Officials but the game had to be reversed and the move wasn’t a fortunate one for the Burn who are still facing a relegation battle. Chopwell comfortably beat them 3-0 to hoist themselves into third place although they’ve played more games than all the teams at the top of the table. Hat-trick hero Stuart Rook claimed all their goals.

The other two games down for decision were both draws and Newcastle East End shared the spoils from a 4-4 draw with visitors Gateshead Rutherford. The Eastenders’ scorers were Anthony Studholme (2), Craig Crosby and Shaun Douglas with strikes by Joe Hindmarch, Robbie Frame, Stephen Tumelty and Ross Taylor maintaining parity for Rutherford.

After losing five games on the trot Hebburn Reyrolle were happy with their 1-1 draw at home to an improving Northbank outfit. Andrew Sanko fired the Cumbrians in front on the half hour mark and Mark Haire equalised for Reyrolle six minutes into the second half.

DIVISION TWO – SHIELDSMEN STAY IN POLE POSITION
While second-placed Amble United were on cup duty, South Shields United seized the opportunity to strengthen their position as leaders in the Second Division. They won 1-0 away to Hexham who suffered again from poor finishing in front of goal. South Shields, beaten only once on their travels this season, had substitute Tijan Kah scoring their vital winner seven minutes from the end.

North Shields Athletic have been coming up on the rails and slipped into third spot after beating visitors Stobswood Welfare 2-0. The result ended the Welfare’s seven-match unbeaten run and gave the Athletic their sixth home win on the trot. It was achieved with early and late goals tucked away by Glen Churchman and Martin Cole.

Having played more league games than many of their Second Division colleagues, Wallsend Boys’ Club are occupying fourth spot and improved on their earlier goal-less draw with bottom rung hosts Tynemouth United. With no win yet and no home points to their credit, Tynemouth fought hard and had Chris Grieves (2) and Ben Griffiths on target but still went down 5-3. Being watched by several scouts at present, Rob Nolan was a four-goal hero for the Boys’ Club. And their other goal was something special as Joe Stewart blasted in his long-range free kick.

Whitley Bay Town are still struggling in the basement after winning only once in the league this term but a point from their 2-2 draw with out-of-sorts visitors Wideopen & District was welcome. Having lost their winning habit, Wideopen scored first and last through Sean Hay and Shan Lowery who netted direct from a 35-yard free kick. In the interim Edmund Garratt opened the Bay’s account with a diving header – his first goal for the club – and Ian Irvin also netted for the home side.

Forest Hall ended Benfield Chemfica’s recent good run of form and booked themselves a place in next month’s Pin Point Recruitment Amateur Cup Final. Before this semi-final at Forest Hall, Chemfica had won four of their last five games but were beaten 2-1 by their hosts. Michael Reay claimed both of the Forest’s goals in the 5th and 67th minutes and his second was vital following Joe Bann’s tenth minute leveller for Chemfica from Mark Fenwick’s cross.

Forest Hall’s cup final opponents will be Amble United who also won 2-1 in their semi-final at home to neighbours Amble Town. United completed a league and cup derby double with first half goals for Ross Gair in two minutes and Darren Riddell on the half hour. They took their foot off the pedal and Shaun Jobson’s 75th minute free kick reduced the deficit for the visitors who were flattered by the final score-line.

COUNTY CUP ACTION
Six sides from the Northern Alliance have taken steps nearer to success in County Cup competitions. In the Northumberland Senior Benevolent Bowl last weekend Whitley Bay ‘A’, Ashington Colliers, Blyth Town and Percy Main all cleared their respective quarter-final hurdles at the expense of league colleagues.

Whitley Bay, whose big brothers at Hillheads are doing nicely in the FA Vase, made progress in the Bowl by winning 2-0 away to Alnwick Town whop went down to goals in each half scored by Dean Porter and Mark Fenwick. And Ashington Colliers had David Brown, Stephen Darling and Glen Bolton on target in their 3-2 home win against Wallington at the last eight stage.

Blyth Town made the cut by comprehensively beating cup hosts Berwick United 6-1 with goals shared by Lee Sparrow, Mark Waugh, Chris Taylor, Danny Beresford, Jonathan Mann and keeper Scott Earle (penalty). Meanwhile Percy Main ended the cup hopes of quarter-final hosts Cramlington Town by beating their Premier Division opponents 2-1. David Dormand scored from the spot to give Cramlington an interval lead but Sean Potts got the Main back on terms and Jason Ritchie bagged their winner.

The semi-final draw in the NFA Senior Bowl now reads Ashington Colliers v Percy Main and Blyth Town v Whitley Bay ‘A’ and there were more successes in the Ideal Stelrad Northumberland Minor Cup. Cullercoats won 4-1 at home to Killingworth YPC Town thanks to strikes by Ben Gardner, Femi Akinbolu, Craig Deighton and Andy McColl and in an all-Northern Alliance clash Newcastle BT were beaten 5-4 at home by Wallsend Town. And the Minor Cup semi-final pairings after last weekend’s results are Cullercoats v Blakelaw Crofters Lodge and Lowick United v Wallsend Town.