WALKER ARE ON THE SLIPPERY SLOPE

By Bill Gardner
Marc Nixon took his season’s total of goals for Wark to twenty-six in his side’s 6-2 home win against Heddon. Now with a clear nine-point lead at the head of the Premier Division, Wark dished out a lesson to their visitors at the opposite end of the table and Nixon led the way with his hat-trick. An own goal gift and strikes by Phil Thompson and Lee Telfer completed Wark’s tally with John Dunn and John Pearson replying for Heddon who remained stuck on the bottom rung.
Defending champions Walker Central are still occupying second place despite a damaging and unexpected dip in form which has seen them pick up only a single point from their last four home games. The Central showed few signs of an improvement and they were beaten 3-0 at Monkchester by Ponteland United, a side they’d hammered 6-1 in the third game of the season.
After only ten minutes Pont broke down the left and, when Marc Dummett’s cross was headed on by Gavin Wood, Richard Kent sent his unstoppable drive into the top corner. More misery was forthcoming for Walker and only five minutes later they conceded another goal. An excellent cross from Kent wasn’t defended well and Wood beat home keeper Matthew Hunter with his powerful header.
Twenty minutes into the second half Pont claimed their third goal after Wood used his height and strength to win the ball. He lofted his pass over a couple of defenders to Max Turner and the winger found the net with a clever lob over the advancing keeper.
Walker were well served in midfield by Marc Rasmussen but they lacked the firepower that was once their trademark and something needs to be done quickly if they are to stand any chance of mounting another championship challenge. At the moment Wark are well ahead of them and showing no signs of slipping up.
Blyth Town moved up another notch and extended their unbeaten run in the Premier Division to five matches with their 2-0 victory away to Murton. The home side held out until midway through the second half but were sunk by Blyth’s two substitutes.
Graeme Heath opened the scoring after 65 minutes of stalemate with his powerful header from what looked like an impossible position but the Town’s lead wasn’t doubled until the 88th minute. Dan Branley, recently signed from Ashington Colliers, marked his debut with Blyth’s second goal to make the points secure. A through ball from Josh Miller was completely misjudged by the Murton keeper, allowing Branley to score with a simple tap-in at close range.
Late starters Newcastle University recorded their first home win, scoring two goals without reply against Ashington Colliers at Cochrane Park. Chris Musounda opened the Students’ account five minutes after half time and there was a prompt second strike by Dave Kewn to make the points secure.
In two first round ties in the Kicks Leisure Challenge Cup, both Seaton Delaval and Shankhouse made progress. Shankhouse needed extra time to beat cup visitors Cramlington Town 3-1. Anthony Moran fired Shankhouse in front straight from the kick off and Cramlington had to wait until the 89th minute for Chris Davison’s equaliser. In the second period of extra time Paul Swithenbank bagged himself a brace to put Shankhouse through.
Seaton Delaval avenged an earlier league defeat by winning 2-0 in their Challenge Cup tie away to Killingworth Sporting thanks to goals in each half put away by Stephen Howes and Paul Baird.
Harraby Catholic Club beat third round visitors Parton United 5-0 in the Cumberland Senior Cup to book a place in the quarter-finals. Parton had knocked out Wearside League outfit Cleator Moor Celtic in the previous round but were soon under pressure. A first half hat-trick for Aaron Roberts who also had a penalty saved put Harraby in charge. Andrew Douglas also netted before the interval and Harraby’s tally was completed after the break by Rob Bainbridge.

DIVISION ONE – PURVIS PARK STRONGHOLD FOR PERCY MAIN
Percy Main held onto pole position in the First Division, two points clear of second-placed Gateshead Rutherford with the same number of games played. The Main haven’t dropped a single point at their Purvis Park base this term and maintained their record by beating lowly visitors Berwick United 4-1.
However, in the first significant action of the match, Berwick’s Simon Hargreaves nodded home Sandro De Oliveira’s precise cross at the back post with only five minutes on the clock to give the visitors a shock early lead.
The Villagers soon recovered their composure and were back on level terms at the interval after Callum Colbeck beat the offside trap for the umpteenth time before rounding United keeper Thompson and rolling the ball in. Then, four minutes into the second half Malcolm Morien put the Main in front from close range after Jason Ritchie's astute quick free kick caught out the Berwick defence.
On the hour mark Colbeck increased the Villagers’ lead, grabbing his second goal with a powerful drive across the keeper after cutting in from the left but in the 75th minute the Main had Mick Haley sent off for a ‘last man’ handling offence. Despite having their numbers reduced however the league leaders added a fourth goal to their tally and Morien netted again when his chance was set up by Shaun Wilkinson.
Percy Main’s most potent rivals Gateshead Rutherford kept the pressure on by extending their unbeaten run into double figures. They were impressive again and won 3-0 away to Cullercoats who have suffered only two defeats in their last eleven outings. Only twenty seconds into the game Rutherford’s Robbie Frame opened the scoring with the help of a deflection and straight from the restart the visitors’ lead was doubled by Richard Biggs. And Rutherford made sure of completing a league double against the Seasiders when Kevin Urwin claimed their third goal midway through the second half.
After losing six league games on the trot, Gosforth Bohemians were delighted to beat Newcastle East End 2-1 at Benson Park. The Bohs trailed to an early goal for the East Enders but soon got their act together. Ben Edusei levelled before the interval and after the break Matt Atkin claimed their vital winner.
In three first round ties in the Pin Point Recruitment Combination Cup in the First Division, Hebburn Reyrolle, Wallington and Amble United all made progress. Hebburn beat visitors Peterlee Town 2-1 to complete a league and cup double. Reyrolle’s Ray Oshin saw his early penalty saved by the home keeper and right on half time David Steel was more successful, scoring from the spot to put Peterlee in front. But the Hebburn lads rallied and two quick second half replies from Simon Jacobs and Chris Morris put them through.
Wallington did exceptionally well to win 5-2 away to Morpeth Sporting Club who were finalists last season under their previous name of Red Row Welfare. Morpeth had Chris Ridgway and John Paxton on target but Wallington gained revenge for an earlier league defeat with goals supplied by Michael Freathy (2), Ben Lavender, Ashley McAlpine and Jack Palmer.
Cup hosts Seaton Burn belied their low ly league status and gave Amble United a hard time but the Seasiders still emerged as 2-0 victors. For the third time this season they left the Burn disappointed and this time their first half goals were claimed by Brad Wake and Chris Moffitt.

DIVISION TWO – WIDEOPEN LOSE SOME GROUND
Only four points are separating Amble, North Shields Athletic and Wideopen & District – the three front runners in the Second Division with North Shields having played one game more than their two promotion rivals. And Wideopen were the only ones to slip up when they were beaten 3-1 away to Wallsend Boys Club. The Boys club had keeper Phil Holgate to thank for a couple of fist class saves and he had no chance to keep out Rob MacDonald’s goal for the visitors. By then the home side was leading 2-0 thanks to strikes by Craig Jones and Rob Nolan and Chris Thompson also scored to complete the winners’ tally.
Current league leaders Amble emerged from a brief dip in form to narrowly beat bottom rung hosts Tynemouth United 2-1 after falling behind to Steve Dickson’s opener for their opponents. Wyn Fremlin’s reply restored parity before Amble’s winner was put away by Michael Straker.
North Shields Athletic also won away from home and after beating Whitley Bay Town 2-0 they’ve won eight of their last ten games in the Second Division. Both of the Athletic’s goals were scored inside two fruitful first half minutes by Antonio Mango and Alex Burn.
Newcastle Chemfica and Wallsend Town are threatening to join the exclusive group at the top of the table and fourth-placed Chemfica very impressively won 6-0 away to Stobswood Welfare. The Welfare had just won seven games on the trot but were outplayed in this one. Goals for Michael Crozier (2), Anthony Bruce (2), Martin Dixon and Mark Burlingston were just reward for a sterling performance by Chemfica.
Wallsend Town seem to be picking up again and have won all of their last three league games. Their latest victims were visitors Cullercoats Custom Planet who were soundly beaten 4-1 by the Town whose scorers were Liam Bell (2), Stephen Dodd and Kevin Smith.
Forest Hall retained their unbeaten home record with their 2-1 victory over Hexham who have been travelling badly this term. Nathan Lajevardi and Kevin Baldwin were the Forest Hall marksmen with Hexham’s reply coming from Scott Coates.
New boys Swalwell have tasted defeat only once in their last seven outings but were fortunate to beat fellow-newcomers Cramlington Blue Star 1-0 at Derwenthaugh. Midway through the opening half Graeme Marshall blasted his penalty wide for Blue Star and they eventually paid for this miss. With only seconds remaining Swalwell scored an unlikely match-winner claimed by Stuart Rook.
Willington Quay Saints had drawn three and lost two of five most recent games so a 3-1 home win against Newcastle BT was a welcome development. Goals for the Saints shared by Glen Johnson, Wes Fidler and Stuart Duffield ended what had been a promising run by BT who had Richard Beverley on target for their consolation goal.