STUDENTS FAIL FIRST EXAM

By Bill Gardner
Newcastle University made their usual belated start to their season but it wasn’t a happy curtain-raiser and the Students were soundly beaten 5-0 at home by highly-placed Wark. Leading 3-0 at the interval, Wark had Marc Nixon completing a hat-trick to preserve his goal-per-game status and Tony Lancaster and Phil Thompson were their other marksmen.

Apart from the University, Heddon are the only other club yet to claim a Premier Division victory. Two drawn games have been followed by five straight defeats and Heddon’s misery was extended when they lost 2-0 to Blyth Town at Bullocksteads.

Heddon are still waiting for their first three-pointer and have followed up two drawn games with a depressing run of five defeats. They were beaten 2-0 at Bullocksteads by Blyth Town who hoisted themselves up into a mid-table slot.

After a goal-less opening half Danny Beresford scored his first goal of the new campaign for Blyth, meeting Adam Gladwin’s perfect cross and beating the home keeper from a couple of yards out. This slender lead survived despite a few Heddon onslaughts and it was doubled in the dying minutes to ensure that Blyth bagged the points. This time Beresford emerged as provider and Martin Robinson raced onto his defence-splitting through ball to slot his low drive wide of the Heddon keeper.

Cramlington Town finally secured their first league win at the seventh attempt. The Town clinched a 2-1 verdict away to Ashington Colliers and were in front after fifteen minutes as a well-delivered cross from Dave Atkinson was headed home by Kevin Long from just inside the box. This goal was cancelled out by Ashington’s Marc Pattie as he struck just before the interval but Cramlington were determined to end their miserable run and regained the lead in the 65th minute. Earlier scorer Long bagged his vital second goal and the Town’s winner when he rifled in Andrew Carr’s cross from close range.

Newly-promoted sides Killingworth Sporting and Stocksfield came face to face and Killy made home advantage count by winning 2-0. Both sides went into the game on the back of two consecutive defeats but Killingworth edged this one. They took the lead midway through the opening half when Jorge Bollado rolled the ball through to Kevin Westphal whose shot bounced to confuse visiting keeper Peter Adnitt on its way into the net. Jack Callaghan doubled Killy’s lead in the 70th minute with Bollado once again providing the ammunition.

After a slow start to the campaign, Ponteland United have picked up and did well to draw 2-2 with early pace-setters Heaton Stannington at Grounsell Park despite being affected by injuries and suspensions.

Heaton had Kevin Carr close to opening the scoring but after 25 minutes it was Pont who took the lead when Andrew Davidson’s cross was headed on by Gavin Wood for Turner to fire home. Ten minutes later however Heaton levelled as Lawrence McKenna’s square pass was banged in by Carr.

United came under heavy second half pressure and the home side went in front when Edmore Murau was brought down in the box and Adam Donaghey scored from the spot. Despite this set-back Ponteland dug in deep and were rewarded by a 65th minute equaliser as a long ball from Ross Phillips put Billy Holden through to score with a lob over the advancing home keeper. Both sides had later chances but a draw was probably the right result.

Walker Central remained three points clear of Wark at the head of the table and the Central, the only side to remain unbeaten in the Premier Division, were 3-0 victors at home to Seaton Delaval.

David Dormand gave them an interval lead and Liam Mulligan netted twice inside the last ten minutes.

Heaton Stannington, Carlisle City and Killingworth Sporting are jointly occupying third spot but, like Heaton, Carlisle had to settle for a single point from their 1-1 draw away to Shankhouse. Steve Thornton fired Shankhouse into a 20th minute lead in what was their first home game this term but on the hour Joe Blaylock grabbed an equaliser for the Cumbrians.

Harraby Catholic Club suffered their second postponement of the new campaign when their home game with Murton had to be called off due to waterlogging.

DIVISION ONE – AMBLE UNITED ON THE RECEIVING END
After winning six games on the trot and banging in twenty-five goals in the process, First Division leaders Amble United were stopped in their tracks with a vengeance. United were victims of resurgent visitors Cullercoats who claimed an impressive 5-1 verdict. Stewart Wright gave Cullercoats the lead straight from the kick off and although Greg Dance supplied Amble with a prompt equaliser they were stunned after the break. Two goals each for Craig Deighton and Dave Fairless reflected a great performance by the Cullercoats lads.

Due to Amble’s slip-up they’re now sharing pole position with Gateshead Rutherford who have improved greatly compared to last term. Only beaten once in their seven starts, the Gateshead outfit secured their sixth victory in beating hosts South Shields United 3-2 and Kevin Urwin gave them a first half opener. Kyle Yorston levelled for Shields straight after the interval but their joy was short-lived. Johnny Gage handled on the line to be red-carded and Michael Jeffares put Rutherford in front again from the spot. Jeffares went on to score again for the visitors after 85 minutes and time was running out when South Shields bagged a second reply through Mark Davies.

Only two points shy of the top-of-the-table duo, Gosforth Bohemians and Percy Main are joint second in the pecking order and both won again to keep up the pressure. Against early strugglers Seaton Burn at Benson Park, the Bohemians romped to a 6-0 victory and the margin could have been even greater. There were three goals in each half scored for the Bohs by Matthew Owens (2), Harry Tulip (2), Liam Riley and Danny Sherwood to leave Seaton Burn still seeking their first point away from home.

Percy Main stayed in contention by beating Chopwell Officials 2-1 at Purvis Park but fell behind in the 37th minute and, when Graeme Cole committed a foul on Chopwell front runner Lee Best, the visitors’ centre half Gareth Powell beat Rob Rodgerson with his spot kick. Only four minutes later the Villagers were back on terms and after being hauled down by the Chopwell keeper, Craig Ewart tucked away his penalty to equalise. And with ten minutes to go second half substitute Callum Colbeck, set up by Ewart, scored the Main’s winner from just outside the box.

Whitley Bay A and Morpeth Sporting Club continued their climb up the table and the Bay, who have been beaten only once so far, were comfortable 4-0 victors away to Berwick United. Dean Porter claimed a hat-trick for Whitley whose other scorer was Jamie Lyndon.

After commencing their season with three consecutive defeats, Morpeth Sporting Club have won four games on the trot and did well to beat latest opponents Wallington at Scots Gap. Chris Tate and player-manager Richard Latimer were on the mark for Morpeth with Wallington’s single reply coming from Peter Southern.

Newcastle East End’s poor form continued and they were beaten 2-1 at home by Hebburn Reyrolle whose goals were both tucked away by Chris Morris. Dieu Lomana scored for the Eastenders as they slumped to a third successive league defeat.

DIVISION TWO – A WIDEOPEN GAP
A hundred percent record in seven games to date has installed Wideopen & District as clear leaders in the Second Division with Alan Booth’s side currently three points better off than second-placed Amble. Both sides won again last weekend and Wideopen beat struggling visitors Whitley Bay Town 3-1. Liam Jubb bagged a brace for the league leaders who also had Andy Walker on target while the Bay’s single reply came from Andy Milsom.

After a shock 2-1 defeat at home by Whitley Bay Town in midweek, their first setback this season, Amble got their act back together and responded by beating hosts Swalwell 4-1. Adam Shanks (2), Wyn Fremlin and Craig Kielty found the net for the Seasiders with Stuart Rook replying for the losers.

In joint third spot, Wallsend Boys Club and North Shields Athletic are working hard to stay in contact with the early pace-setters and the Boys Club, beaten only once so far, were 2-1 winners at home to league newcomers Cullercoats Custom Planet. Dan Henry and Michael Starkey supplied the Wallsend goals while Eddie Garrett scored for the Planet as they suffered a fourth defeat on the trot.

Like the Boys Club, North Shields Athletic have lost only one of their seven games to date and did well to beat fifth-placed visitors Wallsend Town 4-1 in a tough encounter. Dominic Vasseghi (2), Graeme Murray and Graham Williams supplied the Athletic’s goals and Paul McCutcheon was Wallsend Town’s sole marksman in what was only their second setback this term.

Although Stobswood Welfare and Newcastle Chemfica are nine points short of Wideopen’s total at the top, these two sides are in fine form at the moment with a quick climb up the table promised. Stobswood cruised to their third win in a row and hammered bottom rung hosts Tynemouth United 7-0. Dave Farrell completed his hat-trick for the Welfare and their tally was completed with further goals by Josh Hay (2), Paul Smith and Matthew Graham. The result was too much for the Tynemouth manager who resigned after the final whistle and the coast club is certainly suffering. They’ve lost all seven of this season’s games and have conceded twenty-nine goals already.

Following two back-to-back defeats Newcastle Chemfica are coming good again and claimed their fourth league win by beating visitors Newcastle BT 3-0. The BT lads, under new management, are still waiting to pick up their first point away from home and went down to Chemfica goals scored by Anthony Bruce (2) and Jonathan Ireland.

Willington Quay Saints are making every effort to recover from a less than perfect start and there are signs that they’ve turned the corner. Despite falling behind to Ross Armstrong’s fifth minute opener for visitors Cramlington Blue Star the Saints rallied to beat the league’s newcomers 3-1. Dave Smith’s penalty got them back on terms before half time and the points were in the bag when further goals were added by player-manager Trevor Ford and David Allan.

Hexham and Forest Hall each made it three draws on the trot with their 1-1 stalemate at Wentworth Park where a player from either side had to be taken to the nearby hospital. The injuries were no reflection of an entertaining and disciplined encounter. After a goal-less first half Ian Strachan gave Hexham the lead and only seconds remained when substitute Kevin Baldwin levelled from the penalty spot for the Hall.