By Bill Gardner
The weather played havoc with the fixtures and Premier Division pace setters Wark had their home game with Harraby Catholic Club washed out, allowing second-placed Walker Central to trim their lead to six points.
After losing three games on the trot Walker Central got back on track with a 4-1 victory over Shankhouse at Monkchester. James Armstrong put Shankhouse in front midway through the opening half but they were still heading for a third successive league defeat.
John Campbell marked his return to the Central’s ranks after a spell with West Allotment Celtic by scoring their equaliser after 35 minutes and just before the interval Paul Chapman claimed the home side’s second goal. David Dormand netted after 74 minutes to increase Walker’s lead and with two minutes to go Campbell completed their tally with his second goal of the game.
Heddon’s new manager Warren Fisher was within a minute of seeing his new charges claiming a first home win but visitors Newcastle University salvaged a point from the eventual 3-3 draw. There was a dream start for Heddon in this bottom of the table clash with Daniel Robinson and John Pearson both finding the net within three minutes of the kick off.
Michael Forrest got the Students off the mark on the half hour but Heddon’s two-goal lead was restored by Daryl Lucas shortly before the break. Even when Will Deledicq scored the University’s second goal Heddon seemed in little danger of letting things slip. But in the 89th minute Deledicq struck again to ensure that the spoils were shared.
Having watched his Seaton Delaval side suffer six defeats on the trot, team manager Nick Gray was relieved to see a much better performance which earned a 2-1 victory away to Blyth Town. Blyth had been unbeaten in five previous appearances and were fired into an early lead by Danny Beresford. Stephen Howes got Delaval back on terms before Stephen Anderson scored their winner a couple of minutes before half time.
Ashington Colliers’ home game against Stocksfield in the Kicks Leisure Challenge Cup had to be postponed but in the other outstanding first round tie Carlisle City beat Alnwick Town 2-1.
Carlisle surrendered home advantage and travelled up to Alnwick for the first meeting of the two sides this season.
Only minutes into the game a double sending off reduced each team to ten men and Stephen Rutter opened the scoring for Alnwick midway through the first half. The Town’s slender lead survived until City’s Stuart Hill restored parity in the 79th minute to take the tie into extra time. Towards the end of the first extra period Steve Bell found the net for Carlisle’s winner to set up a home game against Cumbrian neighbours Harraby Catholic Club in the Challenge Cup’s second round.
DIVISIONS ONE & TWO – SAINTS ARE TRAVELLING BADLY
Waterlogging caused the postponement of the three First Division fixtures that had been scheduled and only two of four planned games in the Second Division got the go-ahead.
In only their second home game this term, Cullercoats Custom Planet picked up three useful points to keep clear of the basement. The Planet beat Willington Quay Saints 2-1 to leave their visitors still seeking a first win away from home. Both of the Cullercoats goals were scored by Edmund Garrett with Dave Allan replying for the Saints.
In the only other Second Division encounter, Hexham drew 0-0 with third-placed Wideopen & District at Wentworth Park where the playing surface was perfect. The star of the show was Hexham keeper Dave Anderson who pulled off a string of fine saves to protect his side’s unbeaten home record. The result was also encouraging for a Wideopen outfit which had lost both of its previous games in the Second Division.
COUNTY CUPS – REYROLLE ARE STILL ROLLING
The weather also had a devastating effect on County Cup games but Chopwell Officials and Hebburn Reyrolle saw some action in the second round of the Durham FA Trophy. Chopwell’s action wasn’t up to much and they were hammered 7-1 by hosts Chester-le-Street Whitehills but Hebburn Reyrolle made progress by winning 5-3 away to South Shields Simonside with the aid of extra time. Craig Malley, Ray Oshin and Chris Morris netted for Reyrolle but i9t was all square cat 3-3 after ninety minutes. In the extra half hour however the Northern Alliance side out-ran their opponents and further strikes by Malley and Dan Matthews settled the issue.
Weather permitting, Gateshead Rutherford’s home tie in the Durham Trophy against Hartlepool Town SFC will go ahead this weekend along with seven third round games affecting Northern Alliance sides in the Northumberland FA Minor Cup which were also washed out.
Three Alliance flag-bearers – Amble United, Percy Main and Forest Hall - managed to make progress and Amble United did the trick by beating visitors and league colleagues Whitley Bay Town 2-1. Chris Atkin opened the scoring for Whitley early in the second half but it took only another minute for Marc Hume to get United back on terms. And in the 65th minute Amble’s winner was claimed by Ian Common.
Forest Hall did well to beat First Division cup visitors Gosforth Bohemians 3-2 with goals provided by Jamie Gilbert (2) and Tom Jones. Ben Edusei and Harry Tulip replied in vain for the Bohs who couldn’t complain about the outcome.
Wallsend Boys Club switched their home tie in the Minor Cup to Purvis Park, the ground of opponents Percy Main, and gave a good account of themselves before being beaten 3-0 by the current First Division leaders in the Alliance.
The Main were unable to find a breakthrough in the opening half although Malcolm Morien and Steven Shadforth were close to opening their account. However, after 52 minutes the deadlock was broken with a simple goal when Jason Ritchie’s well-delivered flag kick was headed powerfully home by Callum Colbeck.
With their noses in front the Villagers began to apply some pressure and Shaun Wilkinson saw his close range effort palmed round the post by visiting keeper flicked wide by keeper Phil Holgate. But an error by Holgate on the hour mark allowed Percy Main to double their lead and he fumbled a low cross from man-of-the-match Shadforth, allowing the ball to trickle into the net.
After this second setback the Wallsend lads’ heads dropped and the Main were able to tighten their grip on the game. And they were confident enough to introduce substitutes Chris Doig, Joe Betts and Liam Knox in the closing stages. In the 88th minute Knox scored his side’s third goal to wrap up the tie with his brave stooping header from an excellent Betts cross.
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