HEDDON FAIL TO MAKE THEIR POINT

By Bill Gardner
Still with no league win to their credit, Heddon crossed into Cumbria to take on Harraby Catholic but there was no change in fortune and they were beaten 3-2.

Harraby were given a sixth minute lead when Jordan Coulthard’s cross was headed into the goalmouth by Steve Archibald for Rob Bainbridge to poke the ball over the line. The home side kept up the pressure and from James Earl’s flag kick Coulthard headed home at the back post to double their lead.

The Cumbrians however allowed Heddon to take control and the visitors were unlucky to have a penalty appeal turned down following a foul on John Dunn. But in the 40th Andrew Hall got Heddon off the mark with his free kick.

After the break Heddon got themselves back on terms and when John Dunn latched on to a long clearance he ran clear to go round Harraby’s debutant keeper Williams and roll the ball into the net.

Harraby woke up to the growing threat and Andrew Douglas restored their lead after 76 minutes. Heddon threw everybody forward in the last five minutes but although Harraby’s Coulthard was sent off for a ‘professional foul’ the visitors couldn’t save the game.

Ponteland United faced up to Alnwick Town at the Leisure Centre and had to settle for a 3-3 draw.

Within a minute Pont were in front when Billy Holden, put through by Liam McIvor, easily beat Town keeper Bryan Brooks. United then went on to waste a host of opportunities but managed to double their lead after 25 minutes when McIvor scored his first goal of the season.

Only five minutes later Ponteland were three goals up and when Max Turner looped in a cross from the left the ball sailed over the keeper into the net. The points should have been assured for United at this stage. Instead their lead was reduced before the break and Alnwick full back Danny Lowes cut in to beat Michael Havelock with his low drive.

This goal lifted Alnwick’s spirits and Tony Brown scored with his header to reduce the deficit even further. And Pont finally paid for their own woeful lack of finishing when their visitors restored parity midway through the second half with Tom Vickers scoring to ensure that the spoils were shared.

Joint leaders Wark and Walker Central have a clear six-point lead at the head of the Premier Division with Wark just shading it on goal difference. Both teams won again and Wark beat hosts Ashington Colliers 4-0 with goals by Marc Nixon (2), Matt MacLoughlin and Tony Lancaster to stay in pole position.

Walker Central have a hundred percent record away from home and extended it by beating Shankhouse 4-2. Andrew Stokes gave Walker an interval lead which was increased by David Dormand as he bagged a second half brace. In a late flurry John Robson scored the Central’s fourth goal and Craig Cook and Anthony Moran netted for Shankhouse but it was all over for the home side.

Carlisle City are tucked in behind the two current pace-setters and after losing two successive home games they turned the corner by beating visitors Seaton Delaval 2-0 with goals scored by Graeme Lupton and Steve Bell.

Heaton Stannington and Killingworth Sporting are sharing fourth spot after both picked up maximum points but they still have a lot to do to catch up with the teams at the top. Heaton secured a 3-1 victory against nearest neighbours Newcastle University at Cochrane Park. Martin Hill opened the scoring for the Students but Heaton replied through Iain Irvin and Lawrence McKenna before the break and their third goal was put away by Gary Yates.

Killingworth made it four home wins out of five by beating Blyth Town 2-1 but they were rather fortunate. Danny Beresford fired Blyth into a half hour lead that survived until the 83rd minute. Michael Bell then levelled for Killy before their 89th minute winner was claimed by Kevin Westphal.

Cramlington Town won 2-0 at Murton with a goal in each half supplied by Andrew Carr (penalty) and Jordan Watson. And In their first round tie in the Kicks Leisure League Cup away to Second Division outfit Stobswood Welfare, Stocksfield were beaten 2-1 with both of the Welfare’s goals claimed by Kerry Shotton. Phil Murray had given the Premier Division side the lead when his cross-cum-shot was diverted into the net off a Stobswood defender.

DIVISION ONE – URWIN SHATTERS AMBLE UNITED HOPES
Amble United came off second best in their top of the table tussle with hosts Gateshead Rutherford in the First Division and slipped down into third place after losing 4-1. Lee Common managed to cancel out Kevin Urwin’s early opener for the Gateshead outfit but Urwin’s second goal restored the home side’s lead before the interval. Amble had a brief bright spell after the changeover but faded later on and Rutherford hot-shot Urwin helped himself to two more goals including a penalty.
While Rutherford took over at the top, Percy Main leapfrogged over Amble into second place – retaining their unbeaten home record by beating bottom rung visitors Northbank 2-0. This should have been an easy game for the Villagers against the still pointless Cumbrians but it wasn’t. They had to wait until the 55th minute for their opener scored by Jonathan McEnaney with his header from Shaun Wilkinson’s perfect cross going through the arms of despairing Northbank keeper Jack Twentyman. The points weren’t really secured until stoppage time when player-manager Jason Ritchie scored from the spot after Wilkinson was felled in the box.

Morpeth Sporting Club have emerged as the Division One dark horses this season and winning six games in a row has taken them up into fourth place, only three points behind Amble United. They continued their progress with a 2-1 victory away to Hebburn Reyrolle after being presented with an early own goal opener by the Hebburn keeper. Ray Oshin levelled on the hour for Reyrolle but with six minutes to go Richard Latimer weighed in with Morpeth’s winner.

Wallington and Whitley Bay A have been inching their way up the table and they both recorded convincing victories to sustain their challenge. Wallington beat lowly Seaton Burn 4-0 at Scots Gap, inflicting a sixth successive defeat on their visitors. The goals were shared by Peter Southern, Nat Williamson, Michael Calder and Jack Palmer.

After a spell of inconsistency, Whitley Bay A are looking strong again and a 4-1 win away to a decent Gosforth Bohemians side could be an important turning point. Craig Smith headed home from a corner kick to give the Bay a slender interval lead. It was doubled by Mark Waite before Glen Robson bagged a brace to complete the winners’ tally. Only five minutes remained when Ben Guy claimed a consolation goal for the Bohs.

After losing their last two home games South Shields United were happy to draw 2-2 with Chopwell Officials and had to come from behind twice to earn a point. Their first reply was down to an own goal and their second and very late equaliser was put away by Mike Armstrong.

Newcastle East End lost 2-0 at home to Peterlee Town whose marksmen were Nathan Liddell and Hayden Pace but Cullercoats extended their recent unbeaten run to five games by winning 4-0 away to Berwick United. Berwick have won only one of their nine league games so far and were sunk in this one by Cullercoats goals scored by Craig Deighton (2), Alex Burnett and Ben Gardner.

DIVISION TWO – LATE WINNER HOISTS AMBLE TO THE TOP
Amble have taken over from Wideopen & District as the new leaders in the Second Division, albeit on goal difference but Amble have played a game less than their main rivals. Pole position was achieved by the Amble lads as they ended Wallsend Boys Club’s unbeaten record away from home but it was a close thing. The single goal settling the issue in the home side’s favour was claimed by Adam Shanks with the last kick of the match.

Previous pace-setters Wideopen are showing signs of slipping and were soundly beaten 3-0 by up-and-coming hosts North Shields Athletic. Unbeaten in seven home games to date, the Shieldsmen are now occupying a threatening third spot and their latest victory was confirmed with strikes by Graham Williams (2) and Matt Donkin.
Up-and-down form has adversely affected Wallsend Town’s efforts to get among the leaders and they suffered another blow by losing 2-1 at home to Newcastle BT. Ryan Arnott opened the scoring for Wallsend but on the stroke of half time Carl Aziz levelled for the visitors. And midway through the second half BT’s winner was scored by Greg Palmer.

Newcastle Chemfica have been impressive on their home patch so far this term and visitors Hexham, beaten 2-1, were their latest victims. Hexham are yet to win on their travels and a goal for Jamie McNamee wasn’t enough in this encounter. Chemfica picked up the points with replies from Dean Calvert and Mike Crozier to install themselves in a respectable mid-table slot.

Forest Hall got a long-awaited breakthrough and after drawing three successive games they claimed their first away win. The Hall did the trick by beating hosts Cramlington Blue Star 2-1 but left it late to clinch the points. Kevin Baldwin gave Forest Hall a 40th minute opener but Chris Bond’s reply in 80 minutes for the Star looked likely to earn them their first home point. It wasn’t to be however and Baldwin bagged his telling second goal in the dying seconds.

Willington Quay Saints had an 81st minute strike by Noel Clynch to thank for earning them a 1-0 verdict at home to Cullercoats Custom Planet. But the weekend’s top result was Tynemouth United’s 3-2 home win against Whitley Bay Town. These were the first points of the campaign for the Tynemouth lads who had Chris Grieves (2) and Paul Nichol on target while Luke Jamieson-Yip and Paul Hindmarch replied in vain for Whitley.