WALKER FAIL IN SENIOR CUP BID

By Bill Gardner
Walker Central made a quarter-final exit from the Northumberland Senior Cup after failing to find the net for the first time this season. The Central were soundly beaten 4-0 at home by Northern League neighbours Newcastle Benfield whose goals were supplied by Stephen Young (2), Michael Chilton and Adam Scope.

Walker, having previously lost interest in this season’s League Cup and Challenge Cup competitions, are now left to concentrate on the Premier Division title which they claimed last term. This season however a top two finish could be even more crucial with both the Central and their Cumbrian colleagues Gillford Park interested in stepping up to the Second Division of the Northern League.

While Walker were otherwise engaged, their closest challengers Gillford Park only managed a 1-1 draw away to Seaton Delaval and were lucky to salvage a point. The Cumbrians just managed to preserve their unbeaten away record and trailed to Delaval’s early opener scored by Steve Howes until Mike Riding snatched a last minute equaliser. And Delaval manager Nick Gray must be sick of watching his team concede vital goals in the dying minutes of their matches; it’s happened on many recent occasions.

Alnwick Town remained in third place after their 2-0 victory away to Ponteland United. The Town’s fourth league win on the trot was achieved with goals in each half for Gary Bailes and Mark Cockburn.

Bailes headed home from an inswinging corner from Scott McMullen in the 15th minute but there was a long wait for Cockburn’s goal scored after 89 minutes.
In the meantime Ponteland were held at bay by a competent Alnwick defence and their chances of a recovery dwindled after Glen Ford was sent off for a rash challenge and striker Liam McIvor was injured. And Pont are now fourth from bottom and facing a battle for their Premier Division future.
With games in hand, Harraby Catholic Club are posing a threat to the current pace-setters and they leapfrogged over Seaton Delaval into fourth spot. They did the trick by beating visitors Shankhouse 1-0 but their opponents deserved to share of the spoils.

Shankhouse were stronger than their hosts in the first half with Darren Naylor heading wide at the back post after 20 minutes and Lee Gustard picking up a loose ball in the area only to see home keeper Aaron Taylor blocking his close range effort. Then in another Shankhouse raid Graeme Smith’s 25-yard free kick hit the inside of the post and somehow shot across the goal to be eventually cleared.

It didn’t look as though either side would secure victory but Matthew Blake scored Harraby’s winner with only seconds to spare. In stoppage time Harraby were awarded a free kick just inside the visitors’ half and close to the touchline. Blake’s delivery into the 'box' saw both attackers & defenders unable to get a touch but the ball bounced and then skidded past the stranded Shankhouse keeper David Dent to give the home side a very fortunate winner.

After three home wins on the trot Carlisle City had to settle for a 2-2 draw with lowly visitors Ashington Colliers who were fired into a two-goal interval lead by Paul Smith and Patrick Cockburn. City were presented with an own goal opener by visiting defender Gareth Rees and then equalised through Ollie Driver.

Cramlington Town and Peterlee Town, Ashington’s fellow-strugglers in the Premier Division basement, didn’t fare quite as well. Cramlington were well beaten 5-2 by up-and-coming hosts Wark whose goals were put away by Marc Nixon (2), Martin Hardy, Phil Thompson and Jamie Peel. Iain Downie and David Dormand replied but Cramlington remained on the bottom rung.

Peterlee Town, just above Cramlington at the foot of the table and without a win since last October, were beaten 2-1 by hosts Heaton Stannington. Heaton had Joe Wear and Lawrence McKenna finding the net before John Pyle claimed a late consolation goal for the Newtowners.

Heddon drew 2-2 with Blyth Town at Bullocksteads where Chris Lisle bagged a brace for Blyth and Heddon responded with strikes by Craig Horsfall and John Dunn. And goals for Will Deledicq (2), Dave Kewn and Edwin Tizard gave Newcastle University a vital 4-1 victory over visitors Murton to ease their relegation worries. Steve Turner was Murton’s only scorer.

DIVISION ONE – STOCKSFIELD END PERCY MAIN’S RECORD
Stocksfield are now nine points clear of nearest rivals Whitley Bay ‘A’ and with a game in hand at the head of the First Division table. Both of these pace-setters collected maximum points last Saturday but each is aware of the challenge of Killingworth YPC in the battle for promotion.

Leaders Stocksfield, beaten only once this term, ended the unbeaten home record of fourth-placed Percy Main with a 2-1 victory at Purvis Park. After only seven minutes the Main went ahead, presented with an own goal opener as a good corner kick from Pierre - Luc Coiffait was fumbled into his own net by Stocksfield keeper Shaun Sagar.

But only four minutes later the visitors were back on equal terms as Ben Pearson, after combining well with his colleague Phil Murray, rounded the home keeper to poke the ball in from close range. Then, two minutes before the break, Pearson netted again for what turned out to be Stocksfield’s winner. This time he went on a solo run, beating several defenders before his deflected effort crossed the line.

After winning only one of their five previous games Whitley Bay ‘A’ comfortably beat Seaton Burn 4-1 to leave their hosts still seeking a first home win. The Bay, whose marksmen were Mark Fenwick, Jamie Lyndon, Gavin Hattrick and Ian Lee, were three up at the interval and the Burn’s single reply came from Stuart Taylor.
Killingworth YPC have a clutch of games in hand to assist their promotion hopes. They recorded their fourth win on the trot and completed a league double by beating visitors Chopwell Officials 2-1. David Smee bagged a first half brace for Killy and they defended well after a 70th minute reply from Chopwell substitute Alan Rennison trimmed their lead.

Northbank and Gateshead Rutherford maintained their mid-table status by securing maximum points in their respective home games and Northbank hammered Berwick United 4-0 with goals shared by Louis Gallacher, Simon Elston, Mark Graham and Jonathan Mason. Their defeat ended a recent run of successes for the Borderers.

Gateshead Rutherford made it five home wins on the trot at the expense of strugglers Red Row Welfare who were soundly beaten 3-0. With only one league win to their credit the Welfare trailed to two Dan Robinson goals at the interval and conceded a third after 88 minutes scored by Robbie Frame.

Wallington still have relegation worries following their 4-0 defeat away to Newcastle East End whose marksmen were Dieu-Donne Lomana (2), Matthew Young and Anthony Studholme. But Hebburn Reyrolle ended a spell of seven games without a win and in fortuitous circumstances beat visitors Gosforth Bohemian Garnett 1-0. The only goal of a scrappy encounter was put into his own net by a Gosforth defender in stoppage time at the end of the first half.

DIVISION TWO – LEADERS HUMBLED BY THE HALL
Amble United, three points behind Second Division leaders South Shields United but with a game in hand, slipped up at Forest Hall and were beaten 2-1 by their hosts. The Seasiders looked likely to extend an unbeaten run into double figures when they were fired into an early lead by Chris Moffitt. But they were stopped in their tracks and, after Michael Reay equalised, Forest Hall’s winner was put away by Tom Carver.

Helped by this unexpected result, South Shields United stayed in pole position and were happy with their 2-1 victory away to third-placed North Shields Athletic. David Armstrong was on the mark for a North Shields side looking for a seventh successive home win but they were to be disappointed. Tijan Kah got South Shields back on terms and the same player scored his second to wrap up the points for the current league leaders.

Wideopen & District and Wallsend Boys’ Club both have a lot to do if they are to revive their promotion prospects and the Boys’ Club had to be disappointed by their goal-less draw away to lowly Whitley Bay Town. Wideopen however extended their unbeaten streak to six games by comfortably beating visitors Amble FC 3-0. Having failed to win a single game away from home so far, Amble are still stuck in the basement. And Wideopen showed no mercy as they added three more points to their total with goals claimed by Gary Lamb (2) and new signing Liam Jubb who scored on his debut.

Willington Quay Saints are still in mid-table but have only been beaten once at home in this campaign. The Saints improved on their earlier 3-3 draw with visitors Benfield Chemfica by winning 2-1 this time. Stephen King’s opener gave the Saints a half time lead but it was cancelled out after 68 minutes by Jimmy Hawkes for the visitors. And only two minutes later Willington Quay’s winner was headed home by John Foggett.

Stobswood Welfare were beaten 1-0 by Mark Gibson’s vital goal for hosts Hexham while Tynemouth United remained stuck on the bottom rung despite their 2-2 draw at home to Newcastle BT. All four goals were scored in the opening half with Dave Thompson bagging a brace for BT and Chris Grieves and Oye Olaoyelade on the mark for Tynemouth who secured only their second point of the season.

Wallsend Town may have struggled in the Second Division this term but last weekend booked their place in the final of the Ideal Stelrad Northumberland FA Minor Cup by beating semi-final hosts Lowick United 1-0. The Town’s cup final opponents will be Blakelaw Crofters Lodge who won 2-0 to end the hopes of Northern Alliance First Division outfit Cullercoats.