HEDDON SNATCH LATE EQUALISER

By Bill Gardner

Heddon drew 3-3 with close neighbours Ponteland United at Bullocksteads in a meeting of two Premier Division sides which seem to have lost the winning habit. But United could feel aggrieved at not gaining three points after a battling second half performance.

After only five minutes Pont were stung when a long range wind-assisted shot from home midfielder Daniel Hall flew into the top corner of the net giving Michael Havelock no chance. Heddon were having the better of the early exchanges stages but Richard Kent nearly levelled the score after good interplay between Liam McIvor and James Hall, only to be ruled offside.

Pont did manage to equalise in the 42nd minute when David Redhead scored after a cross from Marc Dummett wasn’t cleared. But just before half time Heddon were put in front again and when Daniel Hall’s long range free kick glanced off Glen Ford's head the ball flashed into the net for an own goal.

James Hall restored parity for Ponteland after 72 minutes by firing home from six yards and only four minutes later they went ahead. When Liam McIvor was hauled down in the box, Dummett stepped up to confidently score from the spot. But with the points apparently in the bag, United were caught out with only five minutes to go. Daniel Hall claimed his second goal of the game for Heddon to salvage a point when his 20-yard drive was too good for Pont keeper Havelock.

The top six sides in the Premier Division all won to preserve the status quo in the title race and Walker Central stayed two points clear in pole position by extending their unbeaten run to twelve games. The Central won 3-1 against bottom rung hosts Cramlington Town and, after the Town’s David Dormand had cancelled out Ian Dunn’s early opener for the league leaders, John Campbell bagged a brace for the visitors.

Second-placed Gillford Park followed up a midweek win at Alnwick by beating Heaton Stannington 2-0 at Grounsell Park. Yet to be beaten on their travels, the Park had Tyran Taylor and Ian Grainger scoring in each half to secure the points.

In third place Alnwick Town bounced back quickly after their midweek upset and made it five wins out of six recent games by beating struggling visitors Peterlee Town 2-1. Ben Keenan claimed both of Alnwick’s goals before a Craig Harbert spot kick got the Newtowners off the mark.

Harraby Catholic Club have games in hand of all the other teams at the top of the table and could upset a few ambitions on the run in. They completed a league double with a 3-0 victory at home to Newcastle University. Lee Otway scored first and last for the Cumbrians whose tally was completed by Roy Holliday.

Seaton Delaval also clinched a league double in hammering Murton 7-2 at Wheatridge Park. Delaval were four goals to the good at the interval and their goals in an impressive performance were supplied by Craig Johnson (hat-trick), Nick Evans, Gary Forbes, Stephen Howes and Connell Reed. Karl Garside replied for Murton who were also presented with an own goal by their hosts.

Since Stephen Bellas took over as manager Carlisle City have kept on improving and they avenged an earlier defeat in Cumbria by beating Shankhouse 1-0 at Northburn. Scott Priest scored City’s 57th minute winner to leave Shankhouse still seeking only their second home win of the campaign.

Two Northern Alliance sides – Blyth Town and Percy Main – will be going head to head in this season’s Northumberland Senior Bowl Final after seeing off the challenges of league colleagues in Saturday’s semi-final ties.

Blyth Town, who lifted the trophy last term, stayed on course for a repeat by beating cup visitors Whitley Bay ‘A’ 2-0. They went ahead after 33 minutes when Mark Waugh opened their account and their lead was doubled in the 68th minute when Danny Beresford netted from close range.

The cup holders’ opponents in this season’s final will be Percy Main who have previously picked up this silverware way back in 1978 and then more recently in 2004. The Villagers made the cut this time with a 2-1 victory away to their Premier Division opponents Ashington Colliers.

Percy Main opened the scoring through Jason Ritchie after half an hour but on the hour Richie Brown levelled for Ashington. The Main’s lead was quickly restored however and, when a long clearance from keeper Rob Rodgerson was cleverly helped on by Jon McEnaney, Joe Betts ran on to guide the ball past Tewart in the home goal.

In another cup clash, in the Longhorn Hardware League Cup, goals for Marc Nixon, Mark Elliott and Jamie Crichton gave Wark a 3-2 home win against Stobswood Welfare. And Wark will now be entertaining Harraby Catholic Club in this weekend’s semi-finals.



DIVISION ONE – STOCKSFIELD HAVE A STRONGHOLD

Having played a game less than their nearest challengers Whitley Bay ‘A’, Stocksfield are nine points clear at the head of the First Division table and favourites for the title and promotion. They’ve won all six of their home games to date and made Newcastle East End their latest victims. The East Enders however proved to be obstinate opponents and were only beaten 1-0. The game’s only goal was scored only two minutes after the kick off when Cairns Kettles passed to Phil Murray whose chip into the box was fired home by Ben Pearson to take his personal tally of league goals to fifteen.

Whitley Bay ‘A’ were on county cup duty but third-placed Killingworth YPC and Chopwell Officials in fourth spot both picked up maximum points. And Killy were impressive in their 6-1 home win against a Northbank side which had previously been enjoying a successful spell. The Killingworth goals to secure their fifth successive league win were sup[plied by Kevin Westphal (2), Andrew Edmundsen, Dan Smee, Callum Colback and Anthony Burns. And Killy’s Simon Patterson put the ball into his own net to present the Cumbrian visitors with their single counter.

After losing two games on the trot Chopwell were happy with their narrow 2-1 victory away to bottom rung outfit Red Row Welfare. Goals for Andrew Smith and Lee Best completed a league double for the visitors. Bradley Smith replied for the Welfare but they still have no home points to their credit.

Involvement in cup competitions has affected the progress of Cullercoats on the domestic front but the Seasiders could resurrect their promotion hopes by winning their games in hand. They made a promising start by beating visitors Gateshead Rutherford 4-2. Femi Akinbolu completed his hat-trick for the winners whose other scorer was Rob Watson. Ross Taylor and Robbie Frame replied for the losers.

Wallington have won their last four games at Scots Gap and they beat poor travellers Hebburn Reyrolle 3-1 to keep the run going. Jack Palmer bagged a brace for Wallington who also had Ashley McAlpine on target for his eleventh league goal of the campaign. Mark Haire was Hebburn’s only marksman as they slumped to their seventh successive defeat away from home.

Seaton Burn are still trying to escape from the First Division basement but are seeking their first win on home turf. The miserable run continued and they were beaten 3-1 by their latest visitors Gosforth Bohemian Garnett. Goals by Harry Tulip (2) and John McDonald gave the Bohemians only their second away win and the Burn’s single reply came from Ian Armstrong.



DIVISION TWO – SHIELDSMEN STAY ON TOP

Current leaders South Shields United and second-placed Amble United are continuing to battle for supremacy in the Second Division. Both won again last weekend and South Shields retained their three-point lead by beating powerful visitors Forest Hall 2-0. Second half goals for Mark Davey and Tijan Kah allowed United to clinch a league double while ending Forest Hall’s unbeaten record in away games.

Amble United could yet regain pole position by using their two games in hand successfully and they lived up to their free-scoring reputation with a 6-0 victory away to lowly Whitley Bay Town. Darren Riddell and second half substitute Steve Gibbard bagged a brace each for Amble whose other marksmen were Chris Moffitt and Shaun Black.

In third spot Wideopen & District are off the pace a little as far as the Second Division title is concerned but possible promotion is still worth fighting for. And the Wideopen lads extended an unbeaten run to seven games with their 4-0 victory away to Newcastle BT. Only Sean Hay’s opener separated the sides at half time but after the break Hay bagged his second goal before his colleagues Liam McEvoy and Liam Jubb also found the net.

North Shields Athletic remained in fourth place but slipped up badly and were surprisingly beaten 4-2 by their lowly hosts Amble FC. This was only Amble’s second win of this campaign and was secured with goals shared by Carl Sayer, Shaun Jobson, Ben Davidson and Adam Shanks. Alan Armstrong and Dan Walton replied for a disappointed North Shields side.

Wallsend Boys’ Club suffered only their second defeat at home and went down 4-2 against Willington Quay Saints who simultaneously claimed only their second away win. Glen Gallon’s two goals for the Saints were cancelled out by replies from Craig Williamson and Stephen Forster for the Boys’ Club and it was all square at 2-2 with seven minutes to go. But Mark Henderson restored Willington’s lead and John Foggett scored their fourth goal with a thundering 30-yard effort.

Despite booking themselves an appearance in this season’s Northumberland Minor Cup Final, Wallsend Town have struggled in the league and their 2-1 defeat by visitors Benfield Chemfica was their ninth on the trot in the Second Division. Liam Naulls and Mark Fenwick netted to secure the points for Chemfica and Paul McCutcheon claimed Wallsend’s token reply.

With only two points to date Tynemouth United are isolated on the bottom rung and allowed visitors Hexham to celebrate a fist win on their travels. Hexham passed the milestone by beating their hosts 2-0 thanks to first half strikes by Stephen Brown and Iain Strachan.