By Bill Gardner
Home games in Cumbria involving Carlisle City and Harraby Catholic Club were both washed out and, while second-placed Walker Central were lying idle, Wark increased their lead at the head of the table to six points.
The league leaders however were lucky to claim their fifth successive away win and needed a late goal to beat Seaton Delaval 2-1 at Wheatridge Park. Tony Lancaster’s 40th minute opener for Wark was cancelled out by Delaval’s Stephen Howes midway through the second half. The home side was then twice denied by the woodwork and only seconds remained when Mark Campbell scored Wark’s winner.
In third spot, Heaton Stannington extended an unbeaten run to six games but should have done better than drawing 2-2 away to Cramlington Town. Thanks to strikes by Gary Yates and Iain Irvin in the 14th and 17th minutes, Heaton looked set to overpower their hosts. But Jordan Watson got the Town off the mark with almost the last kick of the opening half and on the hour Danny Long equalised to earn a precious point for the home side.
Killingworth Sporting are now sharing fourth place with Carlisle City after beating visitors Murton 3-2. Killy improved on their early season draw in the reverse fixture and this time goals shared by Liam Callaghan, Anthony Burns and Kevin Westphal saw them pick up maximum points. Murton replied through Stephen Turner and player-manage r Andrew Upperton but are yet to win on their travels.
Stocksfield’s impressive away form was in evidence again in their 2-0 victory over Ponteland United at the Leisure Centre Ground. Ponteland made one change from the team that had pulled off a great cup victory at Wark on the previous Saturday with Gavin Wood replacing the suspended Liam McIvor.
Wood made his presence felt after ten minutes when he collected a clever back heel from Billy Holden and saw his left foot drive cannon off the inside of the post and into the grateful arms of visiting keeper Peter Adnitt.
Stocksfield were looking strong and organised at the back and Ben Pearson and Tom Finnerty were willing runners up front. They were awarded a penalty after 20 minutes when Tony Anzevui brought down visiting striker Wayne Stewart with his desperate lunging tackle. Stewart himself beat Michael Havelock from the spot.
Right on half time Stewart got his second goal of the game, getting in front of Havelock to score with a powerful header from Tony Dowson’s flag kick. And, although Pont had opportunities to make a comeback, Gavin Wood and Anzevui sent their shots wide of the target.
Another scoring chance fell to Ponteland substitute Richard Kent but he also pulled his drive wide of the post after latching onto Max Turner’s perfect through ball. But the Stocksfield defence was impressive and the Tynedale lads held on for the three points.
Blyth Town have been inching their way up the Premier Division table and a 2-1 win at home to Shankhouse helped them on their way again. Following a goal-less first half Chris Lisle netted for Blyth straight after the changeover when his chance was set up by Danny Beresford. The Town’s lead was doubled by Tom Haigh midway through the second half when he raced onto Craig Hopwood’s cross to fire into the bottom corner. And, although Kevin Gustard replied in 80 minutes for Shankhouse, time ran out for the visitors.
Heddon still haven’t won at their Bullocksteads base and Alnwick Town heaped on more misery by beating their hosts 2-1. Two goals late in the first half scored by Kevin Elliott and Tony Brown perked up Alnwick who had lost their three previous league games. Three minutes after the interval Daniel Robinson pulled a goal back for Heddon but a determined Alnwick rearguard held out to secure a much-needed victory.
DIVISION ONE – PERCY MAIN ARE THE NEW LEADERS
The Cumbrian floods put paid to home games involving Carlisle City and Harraby Catholic Club in the Premier Division along with Northbank versus Cullercoats in the first Division. But in one of only three First Division matches Percy Main nudged previous leaders Gateshead Rutherford out of pole position by winning 5-1 at home to Newcastle East End.
With the East End making the early running it was surprising when Steven Shadforth opened the scoring for the Villagers on the half hour mark when he slotted home from David Tapsfield’s perfectly weighted through ball.
However, East End roared back with a quality equaliser, with Anthony Studholme prodding in Paul Bright’s cross at the near post. This goal proved to be a wake-up call for Percy Main and two minutes after the interval they regained the lead. Tony Browell’s headed pass into the box was powerfully driven home by Shaun Wilkinson who was subsequently named as man-of-the-match.
Then three goals in a devastating twelve-minute spell ended the resistance of Newcastle East End who had played a full part in an entertaining game. Callum Colbeck increased the Main’s le ad with his close range effort following a goalmouth scramble and Jonathan McEnaney claimed their fourth goal after Malcolm Morien’s drive was only parried by the East End keeper. Then after 68 minutes the Villagers’ tally was topped up by Graeme Smith who forced the ball over the line when Morien's cross caused chaos in the visitors’ penalty area.
Morpeth Sporting Club are determined to have a say in this season’s title race in the First Division and have been a revelation since changing their name from Red Row Welfare. Astutely managed by Richard Latimer, Morpeth are now in a threatening fourth spot after leapfrogging over Whitley Bay A.
Before Morpeth’s visit to Hillheads the Bay had been unbeaten at home but in a thrilling encounter they ended up losing 5-3. The Whitley goalscorers were Jack Walker (2) and Mark Waite but the Sporting Club deservedly picked up the points. Player-coach Latimer led by example with his brace for the visitors whose other goals were supplied by Chris Tate, Chris Bainbridge and Scott Pocklington.
South Shields United have lost their last three games and were surprisingly beaten 4-3 by lowly hosts Berwick United who badly needed these points. Aaron Kah, Dominic Mossa and Gary Newbrook found the net for South Shields but they left empty-handed with the Borderers just edging it with strikes by Mike Robinson (2), Simon Hargreaves and Leigh Walker.
DIVISION TWO – CHEMFICA FELL FOREST
As in the First Division there were only three games beating the weather in the Second Division with Newcastle Chemfica, Wallsend Town and Newcastle BT all recording home wins.
In fifth place, Chemfica stayed ahead of visitors Forest Hall in the pecking order by beating the Hall 2-0 and they’ve now won seven of their last nine games on home turf. In this latest victory their goals were supplied by Michael Crozier and substitute Martin Dixon to leave their opponents still suffering from a damaging spell of travel sickness.
After losing their two previous home games, Wallsend Town got back to winning ways at Swalwell’s expense and beat their visitors 4-1. Ryan Arnott opened the scoring for Wallsend who were always in charge and their later marksmen were Mick Garwood, Stephen Cape and Kevin Smith. Chris Smith replied for Swalwell but they couldn’t complain about their five-match unbeaten run coming to an end.
Newcastle BT have won three and drawn three of their last six games on their own patch and are occupying a respectable mid-table slot. They beat Tynemouth United 3-1 to leave their bottom rung visitors still without a single point from their travels this term. United however held out for an hour before two quick strikes by Gregg Hamilton and Carl Aziz gave their hosts a decided edge. A reply from Kevin Murphy raised Tynemouth’s hopes but they were killed off when Sean Blakey scored BT’s third goal in the 89th minute.
LEAGUE CUP LATEST
Meanwhile, the draw has been made for the third round of the Kicks Leisure League Cup with ties due to be played on Saturday 19th December. Only eight Premier Division clubs have retained an interest in this season’s competition.
The third round pairings are: Whitley Bay A or Shankhouse v Gosforth Bohemians;
Stobswood Welfare v Heaton Stannington; Newcastle Chemfica v Ponteland United;
Cullercoats Custom Planet v Heddon; Chopwell Officials v Blyth Town;
Wark v Harraby Catholic; Newcastle University v Wallington;
Hebburn Reyrolle v Wallsend Boys Club
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