STUNNING FIRST WIN FOR STUDENTS

By Bill Gardner
Newcastle University lifted off the Premier Division’s bottom rung after claiming their first win in some style. The Students beat hosts Walker Central 2-1 in a top versus bottom clash and had Will Deledicq bagging a vital second half brace after Paul Mills had fired the Central into an interval lead.

This surprising setback for Walker was mirrored up the Tyne Valley where their fellow-pacesetters Wark were also beaten 2-1 by Heaton Stannington. Daniel Carter netted for Wark but their fourth-placed visitors secured the points with two goals for Gary Yates.

With Walker Central and Wark still sharing identical records in pole position, nearest rivals Carlisle City trimmed their lead to three points and the Cumbrians have a useful game in hand. City continued their successful run with a 4-2 win at home to Cramlington Town.

In third spot Carlisle City were boosted by the setbacks suffered by the joint leaders and they narrowed the points gap by winning 4-2 at home to Cramlington Town. Ollie Driver netted twice for City in the opening half but Cramlington rallied with replies from Stuart Heppell and Andrew Carr restoring parity.

Cramlington deserved a share of the spoils in a game marred by the brandishing of eight yellow cards – five for Crammy and three for City - but Carlisle surged ahead again with further strikes by Carl Armstrong and Scott Priest wrapping up the points.

Like Heaton Stannington, Killingworth Sporting are continuing to threaten on the fringes of the title race and they sharpened up their challenge by beating Seaton Delaval 3-2 at Wheatridge Park. Goals for Stephen Ardley and Michael Fenwick midway through the first half gave Delaval a clear lead but Killy’s Francesco Di Pietro and Kevin Westphal hit back just before the break. After Jorge Bollado scored the visitors’ third, Delaval had little to offer and they now face a struggle to get out of the basement.

Stocksfield climbed into the top half of the table with a 1-0 victory over hosts Shankhouse to avenge their earlier defeat at Prudhoe. After winning two games on the trot Shankhouse were stopped in their tracks and Josh Brooks scored Stocksfield’s winner a few minutes before half time.

Ponteland United visited Harraby Catholic Club – a team Pont hadn’t beaten on their own patch since the Cumbrians joined the Northern Alliance League. Both sides had good opportunities to get off the mark with Harraby’s Steve Archibald seeing his drive palmed round the post by keeper Michael Havelock and Sean Willis bringing a good save out of Andy Casson at the other end.

Half time arrived with the game still scoreless although Harraby had enjoyed most of the possession. Chances became scarcer after the break but the best fell to Pont’s Andrew Davidson who fired wildly over the bar from Liam McIvor’s cross when the goal was at his mercy.

With 20 minutes remaining there was a flash point and a robust challenge by McIvor on the home side’s Dan Wordsworth resulted in a melee and the sending off of both players. Ponteland then had the better of late r exchanges and just after Billy Holden’s shot smacked the crossbar they grabbed the only goal of the game. The 80th minute winner was scored by substitute Max Turner who hammered a low cross from Dean Gate past helpless keeper Casson. And the 1-0 victory was welcomed by a Ponteland side that had just drawn three games on the trot.
Heddon are still waiting for their first win at Bullocksteads after being beaten 3-1 by Ashington Colliers and replacing Newcastle University on the bottom rung. An early brace for Scott Smith gave the Colliers a great start and, although Ian McElroy quickly replied for Heddon, Ashington’s tally was completed by Glen Bolton in the second half.

Murton ended a dismal run with a 2-1 victory at home to Alnwick Town after their visitors had been fired into a fifth minute lead by Tom Vickers. Chris Wilson opened Murton’s account after 80 minutes and in the dying seconds also snatched his side’s winner.

DIVISION ONE – RUTHERFORD LOOK OVER THEIR SHOULDERS
Gateshead Rutherford are four points clear at the head of the First Division but with games in hand both Percy Main and Amble United are putting the pressure on. All three title contenders won last weekend and Rutherford passed another major test. Unbeaten in their last nine games and still unbeaten at home the Gateshead lads beat in-form visitors Morpeth Sporting Club 2-1 with the final score flattering their opponents. Andrew Reay fired Rutherford into an interval lead which was wiped out by Morpeth’s Michael Dixon straight after the break. There was a series of misses by the league leaders before Kevin Urwin claimed their 83rd minute winner with his header from a right wing corner.

Second-placed Percy Main have a hundred percent record at Purvis Park and extended it by beating South Shields United 2-0. It took only nine minutes for the Main to go in front and, following indecision by the visiting keeper and his full back, Chris Lock netted from close range. The Shieldsmen battled hard to try to get back on terms but the Villagers’ lead was doubled after 57 minutes. Player-manager Jason Ritchie scored from approaching forty yards with his left foot to make the points secure.

A week off didn’t have any effect on Amble United’s determination and the Seasiders marked their return to action with a 5-1 victory away to Newcastle East End. Brent Aisbitt opened United’s account in the first half but straight after the interval Anthony Johnson levelled for the East Enders. In the last half hour however Amble’s pressure paid off in the shape of further goals supplied by substitute Darren Riddell (2), Greg Dance (penalty) and Paul White.

Whitley Bay A’s chances of closing the gap on the top three suffered a blow when they were beaten 2-1 by hosts Chopwell Officials who had lost their three previous games at Welfare Park. Two goals put away by Daniel Johnson changed Chopwell’s fortunes with the Bay only managing a token reply by Ian Lee.

Peterlee Town, now in sixth spot, are proving to be successful travellers and they’ve won five of their six away games so far. The Newtowners continued the trend with a 5-2 victory over lowly hosts Berwick United with four of their goals scored by Elliott McGiade. The fifth was claimed by Louis Smith with Berwick’s two replies coming from Paul Richardson and Craig Heugh.

Cullercoats are staging a remarkable recovery, suffering only one defeat in their last nine outings, and they hammered struggling visitors Seaton Burn 6-0 to stay on course. Stewart Wright and Steve Hart bagged a brace each and the Cullercoats tally was completed by Sean Smith and Rob Watson.

Wallington became the latest tormentors of Gosforth Bohemians who have lost six league games on the trot and were beaten 3-2 at Scots Gap. Ashley McAlpine (2) and Michael Freathy were Wallington’s marksmen with Paul Menton and Harry Tulip scoring for the losers.

With only one win to their credit and perching on the bottom rung, Northbank parted company with manager Stuart Darlington before losing again, 4-3 at home to Hebburn Reyrolle. Hebburn’s scorers were Simon Jacobs (2), Chris Morris and Dan Matthews. Jonathan Mason, Luke Barwick and Jack Twentyman replied for the Cumbrians who have had absolutely no luck in this campaign.

DIVISION TWO – PACE-SETTERS ARE STUMBLING
Only a single point is separating leaders Amble from second-placed Wideopen & District at the top of the Second Division table. but both have been inconsistent lately and North Shields Athletic are coming up on the rails.

Amble have picked up only a single point from three recent outings and could only draw 0-0 with hosts Hexham who are proving difficult to beat at Wentworth Park. And Wideopen & District fared even worse when beaten 4-2 at home by Wallsend Town. After losing three consecutive games the Town were determined to make their mark in this one and in a physical encounter came out on top thanks to Ryan Arnott’s hat-trick and another goal for Paul McCutcheon. Replies from Liam Jubb and Martin Roper couldn’t save Wideopen.

North Shields Athletic consolidated their position in third spot although they’ve played a game more than their top of the table rivals. Following a brief lean spell the Athletic are back to winning ways and comfortably beat hosts Cramlington Blue Star 3-0. Their first half scorer was Jonathan Greaves and after the break Graham Williams bagged a brace which included a penalty.

Games in hand are promising Stobswood Welfare a future starring role in the race for promotion and they’ve won their last seven games in the Second Division. In-form visitors Forest Hall with a ten-match unbeaten run were expected to give the Welfare a hard time but the Stobswood lads emerged as 2-0 victors with both of their goals tucked away in the opening half by Matthew Graham.

Newcastle Chemfica leapfrogged over Forest Hall into fifth spot and picked up their first points away from home by beating bottom rung opponents Tynemouth United 3-1. Although Tynemouth’s Chris Grieves managed to cancel out Mike Smith’s opener, Chemfica’s lead was restored by Dean Calvert and Mark Burlingston also netted to complete the scoring.
Swalwell recorded their second home win and scored the weekend’s quickest goal when Jonnie Graham netted only a half a minute into their game with Cullercoats Custom Planet. Graham’s second goal plus Chris Smith’s strike earned Swalwell an eventual 3-1 verdict with Andrew McCartney claiming the Planet’s consolation goal.

Newcastle BT are enjoying themselves much more in this campaign as they strive for a place in the top half of the table and a 3-1 win away to Wallsend Boys Club was quite impressive. BT’s second win on their travels was achieved with goals scored by Richard Beverley (2) and Dan Sherliker. Rob Nolan was the Boys Club’s lone marksman and they’ve only earned a single point from four recent games.

Whitley Bay Town seem on the way to solving some of their problems and a 2-2 draw with visitors Willington Quay Saints was well earned. After David Smith put the Saints in front at half time the Town hit back through Ben Kiddie and Andy Laird to snatch the lead. But in the 80th minute Wes Fidler’s goal earned Willington a share of the spoils.