KILLY JOIN THE ELITE

By Bill Gardner
There were some surprising results and, despite having an idle Saturday, Premier Division leaders Wark stayed six points clear. Of their four nearest rivals, only Killingworth Sporting picked up maximum points.

Killingworth leapfrogged over Heaton Stannington to claim third spot thanks to their 3-2 victory over Shankhouse at Northburn but their hosts were twice fired in front by Paul Armstrong and then Carl Moir. Prompt replies from Killy’s Andy Edmundsen and Nick Hindhaugh kept the visitors in the game and Hindhaugh’s second goal after 70 minutes proved decisive, leaving Shankhouse bemoaning their fourth league defeat on the trot.

Second-placed Walker Central suffered only their second defeat away from home, losing 3-2 against Seaton Delaval who they had beaten 3-0 in the reverse fixture. Two early strikes by Mark Fenwick and Stephen Anderson put Delaval in charge but they wasted this advantage and allowed Liam Mulligan and David Dormand to hit back for the Central before the break. But in the 74th minute Jordan Fry netted to give the hosts a well-earned victory.

Both Heaton Stannington and Carlisle City failed to take advantage of Wark’s absence from league duty and although Heaton extended an unbeaten run to seven games their 1-1 draw away to Murton had to be disappointing. Murton had been 7-2 losers at Grounsell Park but opened the scoring this time through Paul Wintrip after only fifteen minutes. His goal threatened to give his side a surprise victory but with only seconds remaining Christian Collins scored to save Heaton from a greater upset.

Carlisle City had lost only one of seven games prior to their visit to Ponteland United and a 4-2 defeat dented their title hopes. Ponteland returned to action following the previous week’s postponement and were unchanged from the team which defeated Walker last time out. It didn’t take too long for the visitors to get their noses in front and after only ten minutes a cross from Jamie Yallop was headed by Pont’s Anthony Anzevui but only into the path of Ollie Driver who beat home keeper Michael Havelock.

Five minutes later Pont were level with Richard Kent quickly getting the better of Yallop and firing low past City keeper Shane Williams from Marc Dummett's cross. And 20 minutes Ponteland were in front when Billy Holden set up Gavin Wood to score.

The lead lasted only another three minutes until Carlisle’s Guiseppe Amato won a free kick on the left and his cross was headed firmly home by the unchallenged by Michael Holliday. However, just before the break United’s lead was restored by Billy Holden who netted from a tight angle. And Holden scored his second goal after going round the keeper in the dying seconds to make the points secure.

In their mid-table meeting with visitors Blyth Town, Alnwick Town avenged an earlier defeat by winning 3-1 this time. Robbie Dobson gave Blyth an opener on the stroke of half time but Alnwick ran the show after the change-over. Chris Moffitt struck to restore parity and midway through the second half his Alnwick colleague Ben Keenan bagged himself a quick-fire brace.

The Premier Division’s bottom two clubs Heddon and Newcastle University had no luck again. Heddon had Ben Haddock and Mark McEwen on target away to Cramlington Town but still lost 3-2 after conceding earlier goals to the Town’s Stuart Hepple (2) and Kevin Long.

Newcastle University were hammered 6-0 by visitors Harraby Catholic Club who had their goals supplied by Aaron Roberts (2), David Hewson, Daniel Balmer, Lee Sturrock and Alan Casey.

In a delayed first round tie in the Kicks Leisure Challenge Cup, Stocksfield were beaten 5-1 away by Ashington Colliers whose marksmen were Mark Richardson (2), Scott Smith, Marc Pattie and Simon Curry. Ben Pearson was Stocksfield’s only scorer and the Colliers will now be visiting Blyth Town in the quarter-finals of the competition.

DIVISION ONE – PURVIS PARK’S A FORTRESS
Percy Main and Gateshead Rutherford have drawn clear of the rest in the race for the First Division title. Rutherford took a break from league duties to pursue their hopes in the Durham FA Trophy and booked themselves a semi-final slot by beating visitors Hartlepool Town SFC 5-0. Andy Reay saw his penalty for Rutherford well saved but they still coasted through, thanks mainly to Robbie Frame’s hat-trick. The home side’s other scorers were Joe Hindmarch and Steve Tumelty.

In pole position in the First Division and having now played a game more than Rutherford, Percy Main have a five-point lead after beating Whitley Bay A 4-2 at Purvis Park. The Villagers, with a hundred percent record on home turf, were leading 2-0 after only fourteen minutes.

Jonathan McEnaney opened their account by bundling home a floated free kick from Jason Ritchie and the Main’s second goal came a few minutes later with Callum Colbeck deceiving Bay keeper Chris Compson with his well placed back header.

Dean Porter hit back for Whitley with his low stooping header going in off the post but McEnaney’s second goal just before the interval restored Percy Main’s advantage. This time he fired home from close range from Jason Ritchie’s flag kick.

Midway through the second half Whitley Bay were reduced to ten men when Ian Lee received his marching orders and the Main bagged their fourth goal as Steven Shadforth banged in an unstoppable effort from just outside the box. There was only a minute left when the Bay completed the scoring, Joe Riley stabbing home a loose ball in controversial circumstances with the home defenders claiming that the ball had been pulled back from being well over the dead ball line.

Third-placed Amble United have a couple of useful games in hand but, after winning three games on the trot, the Seasiders were restricted to a 2-2 draw away to Hebburn Reyrolle. Ron Warwick gave United an interval lead but two second half replies from Simon Jacobs and Alan Pegram swung the game in Hebburn’s favour. But an 80th minute penalty put away by Paul White salvaged a point for the visitors.

After losing five away games in succession, Gosforth Bohemians turned the corner by beating hosts Peterlee Town 4-3 in a mid-table battle. Martin Jones (2) and Dave Langley netted for the Newtowners but they were just overtaken and strikes by Harry Tulip (2), Ben Edusei and Paul Menton saw the Bohs pick up the points.

Having suffered a heavy defeat in the Durham Trophy a week earlier, Chopwell bounced back and beat struggling visitors Northbank 2-1. Both sides wasted first half opportunities but Chopwell ended the stalemate with two quick goals straight after the break, both scored by Andrew Smith. On the hour mark Northbank hit back through Sergio Royo and were only deprived of a point by some resolute Chopwell defending in the closing stages.

Morpeth Sporting Club made it into the fourth round of the Northumberland Minor Cup and in their rescheduled tie at home to Red Star Benwell they secured a comfortable 5-2 victory. John Paxton weighed in with a hat-trick for Morpeth and their other marksmen were Chris Tate and Karl Snowden.

DIVISION TWO – WIDEOPEN SLIP UP
With Second Division leaders Amble and second-placed North Shields Athletic out of league action there was a chance for Wideopen & District to put some pressure on. They blew it however after having to settle for a 3-3 draw with visitors Forest Hall. Wideopen had famously-named Niall Quinn bagging two of their goals with the other claimed by Rob MacDonald. But Forest Hall earned a share of the spoils with replies from Kevin Baldwin, Alan Knights and Tom Jones.

At the wrong end of the table, both Tynemouth United and Whitley Bay Town achieved encouraging results and a 3-2 verdict at home to Willington Quay Saints gave Tynemouth only their second win of the campaign. Their goals by Stephen Matthews, Chris Hutchinson and Chris Garwood (penalty) just outweighed the scoring efforts of Glen Johnson (penalty) and John Foggett for the Saints.

Whitley Bay Town, leading 3-2 at half time away to Cullercoats Custom Planet, were finally restricted to a 3-3 draw but were happy with a precious point. Chris Fairley, Chris Atkin and Luke Jamieson-Yip were the Town’s first half marksmen and the Planet’s replies were shared by Kevin Walter (who netted after only twelve seconds), Edmund Garrett and Mark Wilkinson.
Swalwell have only lost once in their last eight outings but were lucky to get a 2-2 draw with visitors Hexham. A gift of an own goal by home defender Chris Smith gave Hexham their opener five minutes before the half time interval. After the change-over Scott Coates scored from the spot to double Hexham’s lead but Swalwell’s decision to bring Craig Robinson off the bench paid dividends. He scored twice in the last five minutes to rob the visitors of victory.

Cramlington Blue Star out-muscled hosts Wallsend Boys Club in their basement battle to win 3-2 Wallsend led 2-1 at the break after goals by Andy McBride and Dan Henry had triggered a single reply from Blue Star’s Jamie Evans. The Star’s manager Ray Armstrong was red-carded but his side’s physical approach rattled Wallsend’s youngsters in the second half and further Cramlington goals were supplied by Sam Robinson and Thomas Bazzee.

Amble, Wallsend Town and Newcastle Chemfica all made progress in the NFA Minor Cup with Wallsend Town hammering cup hosts and league colleagues Newcastle BT 6-0. Liam Bell completed a hat-trick for the Town who also had Paul McCutcheon (2) and Rikki Donaldson on target.

Amble were also in free-scoring mood at home to Blyth Rangers and the current Second Division leaders won 6-1 to book their place in the next round. Wyn Fremlin’s opener for Amble straight from the kick off was cancelled out by Blyth’s Craig Petrie but that was the Rangers’ last shout. Amble cruised to a comfortable victory with further goals by Stu Marshall (2), David Shephard, Adam Shanks and Mike Grieves.

Newcastle Chemfica were also third round Minor Cup winners, scoring two goals without reply at home to Bellingham. Their match-winning marksmen were Colin Cooney and Mark Burlingston.