REED IS DELAVAL HERO

By Bill Gardner
Seaton Delaval who, after three defeats on the trot, hammered title-chasers Harraby Catholic Club 5-0 at Wheatridge Park achieved the weekend’s most impressive result. Steve Anderson fired Delaval into a fourth minute lead that was doubled only three minutes later by Connal Reed. And Reed turned out to be the home side’s hero when he went on to add a second half hat-trick to his goals haul.

This was a major set-back for third-placed Harraby who have two games in hand but featured in a goal-less draw with neighbours Gillford Park before their defeat by Delaval. They’re now trailing fifteen points behind current leaders Walker Central. And Walker retained their unbeaten home record by beating Blyth Town 3-0, only three days after hammering midweek hosts Wark 8-0.

Walker Central are four points clear of Gillford Park with a game in hand. And against Blyth, Paul Gardiner ended an hour of stalemate with his opener fired home from close range as he met a low cross from Michael Lamb.

On 83 minutes John Campbell doubled the Central’s lead and when Garry McCartney was fouled he smashed home his free kick, giving the Blyth keeper no chance. Then with two minutes to go Walker’s winning tally was topped up by McCartney who prodded the ball over the line from a chance set up by earlier scorer Gardiner.

In second place, Gillford Park are now Walker’s most potent rivals although they’ve played a game more and have a four-point gap to bridge. After drawing three games on the trot the Park got back to winning ways and remained unbeaten on their own patch after beating Ashington Colliers 3-0. Tyran Taylor opened Gillford’s account midway through the first half and Steve Skinner doubled their lead in the 55th minute. The Colliers battled hard but were killed off by Alistair Lang’s goal for their hosts eight minutes from the end.

Wark leapfrogged over Ashington and gave themselves breathing space in the basement by winning 3-2 at home to Alnwick Town. Three days after an eight-goal drubbing by Walker Central the Wark lads bounced back with goals by Marc Nixon (2) and Mark Elliott. Richard Brown and Ben Keenan replied for Alnwick but their earlier form has deserted them.

Cramlington Town moved up a notch to third from bottom after an impressive 1-1 draw with in-form visitors Heaton Stannington. After taking a second minute lead through Paul Joisce, the Town were unlucky to concede an equaliser to Heaton’s Andrew Weeks in the 80th minute.

Newcastle University’s games in hand could get them out of relegation trouble and they ended a run of four home defeats by beating Carlisle City 2-1. After losing 3-0 against Alnwick Town at Cochrane Park in midweek the Students picked up three precious points. City’s Jamie Heath cancelled out Martin Hill’s opener for the Students but Hill’s second goal settled the issue.

City’s Jamie Heath cancelled out Martin Hill’s opener for the Students but Hill bagged himself a late second goal to settle the issue.

With only a point separating them at the foot of the table both Murton and bottom rung neighbours Peterlee Town lost again to increase their fears of the drop.

Murton had Karl Jarvis putting them in front at home to Heddon but late replies from John Pearson and Joe Kerry earned Heddon a 2-1, verdict. In fact it proved to be a good week for Heddon who had beaten Seaton Delaval 2-0 at Bullocksteads a few days earlier with both of their goals on that occasion tucked away by Craig Horsfall.

Murton’s partners-in-trouble Peterlee also went down 2-1 away to Shankhouse who had Craig Johnson and Darren Naylor scoring on either side of the break before Jonathan Monaghan got the visitors off the mark.

Meanwhile, there were reports last week that neither of the league’s two applicants – Walker Central and Gillford Park – will be stepping up to the Northern League this year. Walker have evidently withdrawn their application while Gillford are unlikely to satisfy ground requirements.

DIVISION ONE – VILLAGERS JOIN THE FRAY
Seven wins on the trot have put Percy Main firmly in the reckoning in the First Division and they’ve leapfrogged over Whitley Bay ‘A’ into second spot behind clear leaders Stocksfield. And the Villagers could be set to deprive the Bay of a promotion slot.

The Main won 2-1 at Seaton Burn with goals by Joe Betts and Jason Ritchie (penalty) and followed up with another 2-1 success away to Newcastle East End. This time their scorers were Betts and Tony Browell with Gary Dixon replying for the East Enders.

To assist Percy Main’s cause, both of their top-of-the-table rivals Stocksfield and Whitley Bay ‘A’ slipped up. Stocksfield had beaten midweek visitors Northbank 2-1 thanks to strikes by Wayne Stewart and Phil Murray but were then beaten 4-3 at home by Gosforth Bohemian Garnett. Despite having Stewart and Ben Pearson (2) on target the league leaders were left empty-handed. The Bohs were impressive opponents and John-Paul McDonald and Harry Tulip bagged a brace each to just edge out their powerful hosts.

Goals supplied by Dean Porter (2), Jonathan Kew and Malcolm Morien earned Whitley Bay ‘A’ a 4-2 verdict on their visit to Hebburn Reyrolle in midweek. But three days later they were brought down to earth and suffered a 3-1 defeat at Hillheads administered by fourth-placed Killingworth YPC. Ian Lee netted for Whitley but Killy secured a deserved victory with their goals shared by Jorge Bollado, Lee Fairley and Kevin Grahamslaw. And Killingworth are now only two points behind the Bay with a game in hand to aid their late bid for promotion.

Having played fewer games than any other team in the division, Cullercoats are still aiming for a top two finish although their fixture backlog will test their stamina. The Seasiders were restricted to a 4-4 draw by midweek visitors Wallington who had Alex Slack (2) and John Angus (2) on the mark to cancel out the efforts of the Cullercoats marksmen Alex Burnett, Ben Gardiner, Craig Deighton and Rob Watson. But the Cullercoats lads were in more determined mood when they visited Berwick United and ran out 6-1 victors. Their goals against the Borderers were equally shared by Andy McColl, Alex Burnett, Sean Smith, Femi Akinbolu, Steve Hart and Ben Gardiner.

DIVISION TWO – AMBLE TAKE THE INITIATIVE
The ongoing battle between current leaders Amble United and rivals South Shields United for the championship in the Second Division was tipped in Amble’s favour last week. They collected maximum points from their two games and kicked off by beating strong visitors Stobswood Welfare 2-0 with first half goals for Ronnie Warwick and Sean Kelly. Another victory followed and Amble repeated the 2-0 score-line against their next visitors Wallsend Boys’ Club. On this occasion both of their goals were put away by Darren Riddell who took his personal tally of league strikes to nineteen.

In comparison, second-placed South Shields United started their week shakily and had to come from behind with goals by Kyle Yorston and Phil Enlund to salvage a point in a 2-2 draw with bottom rung hosts Tynemouth United. Things improved however and the Shieldsmen followed up by winning 2-1 at home to Stobswood Welfare as an own goal plus a Mark Davey strike extended their unbeaten run to eleven games.

The two pace-setters have the title race all to themselves and there’s a twelve-point gap separating them from Willington Quay Saints in third spot. The Saints are finishing strongly however and collected two more scalps last week. Visitors North Shields Athletic were their first victims and were soundly beaten 6-0. Glen Gallon scored four of the Willington goals with Gareth Pugh and John Foggett also on target. The Saints then visited lowly Tynemouth and won 3-0 thanks to goals by Gareth Pugh (2) and Chris Lowes. And while they are out of the running themselves Willington could sill have a big influence on who claims the title. This Saturday they are entertaining Amble United in what could prove to be a crucial encounter.

At the wrong end of the Second Division table Tynemouth United are propping up the rest with only four meagre points to show for their efforts in this campaign. Newcastle BT look likely to end up second from bottom and another two defeats didn’t help. They were beaten 1-0 by visitors Wallsend Town whose goal on the half hour was claimed by Paul McCutcheon. And hosts North Shields Athletic were BT’s next tormentors, winning 5-1. The Athletic’s marksmen were Glen Churchman (hat-trick), Matt Donkin and Simon Moslemi with John Baker replying for the losers.

Wallsend Town could save a largely disappointing season at Whitley Park this Friday night when they take on Blakelaw Crofters Lodge in the Ideal Stelrad NFA Minor Cup Final kicking off at 7-00 p.m.