ALNWICK APPLY THE BRAKES TO WARK

By Bill Gardner

The Premier Division’s runaway leaders Wark suffered a rare defeat and went down 2-0 away to Alnwick Town who have only lost once at home this term. Goals for Chris Moffat and Ben Keenan gave Alnwick revenge for their earlier 3-1 reverse at Wark.
Walker Central stayed put in second spot after drawing 2-2 with third-placed hosts Killingworth Sporting in a Tyneside local derby. Liam Mulligan and Stephen Foster netted for Walker and Frank Di Pietro and Kevin Grahamslaw were on target for Killy who stayed four points behind the Central but with four games in hand.
For the second time this term Stocksfield shared the spoils with Cramlington Town who ended a three-match losing streak away from home. In the 1-1 draw at Prudhoe Phil Murray claimed Stocksfield’s goal in the 85th minute to cancel out Stuart Heppell’s 55th minute penalty for the visitors.
Heddon, on the bottom rung in the Premier Division, were left still seeking their first victory at Bullocksteads after sharing eight goals with Seaton Delaval. This was a second stalemate featuring these two sides in this campaign but Heddon threw away a three-goal interval lead provided by Ben Haddock, Kevin Urwin and Mark McEwan. Delaval hit back strongly to snatch the lead after the interval with replies from John Fitzpatrick, Conal Reed, Stephen Howes and Jordan Fry but Urwin’s late second goal salvaged a point for Heddon.
Newcastle University, only three points better off than Heddon in the basement, have failed to win any of their last seven games and were beaten 3-1 by Shankhouse at Northburn. After losing four games on the trot themselves, Shankhouse turned the corner and after David Dormand, recently transferred from Walker Central, fired them into a half time lead further goals were added by Chris Rue and James Blacklock. Ben Burt’s single goal for the disappointed Students was scored in the 88th minute.
In the second round of the Kicks Leisure Challenge Cup both Blyth Town and Carlisle City took advantage of being at home to make progress. Blyth avenged an earlier league defeat by beating cup visitors Ashington Colliers 2-1 this time. Two goals inside ten first half minutes, both put away by Neil Blades, put Blyth in charge and although Gareth Reece trimmed the deficit just before the break for the Colliers the Town clung on to their slender advantage.
In their Cumbrian local derby in the Challenge Cup’s second round Carlisle City managed to beat Harraby Catholic Club 1-0 in a close but untidy encounter. In what was a best-of-three clash between the two neighbours in this campaign City edged it with a goal by Chris Major midway through the opening half.
Meanwhile, drawn away to Second Division opponents in the third round of the Kicks Leisure League Cup, there were victories for both Ponteland United and Heaton Stannington. Ponteland made progress by beating Newcastle Chemfica 3-1 but it wasn’t all plain sailing.
The early stages belonged to Pont who forced a series of corners and from one of these Marc Dummett saw his 20-yard drive cannon off the upright. But Chemfica withstood the early pressure and they got a lucky break after twenty minutes. A slip by Pont’s Jeff Forsyth gave home striker Chris Lockerbie a sight of goal and he put his chance away very clinically.
Pont finally levelled after the break and when Andrew Davidson’s flag kick wasn’t cleared Forsyth atoned for his earlier error by drilling the ball home through a crowded goalmouth. Then with twenty minutes to go the Premier Division outfit got their noses in front as Paul Hodgson found the net with his glancing header from Davidson’s free kick. And in the 80th minute Chemfica were finally sickened by their visitors’ third goal scored by Billy Holden with a simple tap in from Richard Kent’s cross.
Gary Yates (2) and Kevin Carr were Heaton’s scorers in their more comfortable 3-0 victory over Stobswood Welfare in the League Cup.

DIVISION ONE – DOUBLE TARGET FOR PERCY MAIN
Percy Main are having a great season in the First Division and are now two points clear of second-placed Gateshead Rutherford with a useful game in hand. The Villagers took a break from league duties to continue their progress in the Northumberland Minor Cup and beat league colleagues Amble 3-0 to book themselves a place in this year’s semi-finals.
In an entertaining tie the Main were ahead after only four minutes w hen Malcolm Morien’s long range effort deceived the Amble keeper. In the 64th minute the lead was doubled when Morien’s flag kick was turned in at close range by Jon McEnaney and with six minutes to go Morien bagged his second of the game to wrap things up for the First Division leaders.
In the fourth round of the Minor Cup, Seaton Burn – playing their first game since 23rd January – bowed out after losing 4-2 against Cup hosts Blyth Town Reserves, Both of the Burn’s goals were claimed iby Chris Baker but the end result was disappointing.
Back on the league front there was more encouragement for Percy Main when their closest rivals Gateshead Rutherford were beaten at home for the first time this season. Visitors Hebburn Reyrolle beat Rutherford 4-2 to simultaneously extend their own unbeaten run to seven games. Simon Jacob, Chris Morris, Shannon North and Ray Oshin shared the Reyrolle goals with their hosts replying in vain through Robbie Frame and Michael Jeffares.
With games in hand Amble United are still promotion candidates and the third-placed Seasiders aided their cause with a 3- 1 victors away to Chopwell Officials. Chopwell’s Andrew Smith cancelled out United’s opener scored by Ian Common but after the break Amble ran the show and they completed a league double with further strikes by Lee Harker and Darren Riddell.
In fourth place at the moment Whitley Bay A may have to rely on their promotion rivals slipping up but they’re still helping themselves and a 4-2 victory away to Morpeth Sporting Club was impressive. Ross White’s two goals for Morpeth were outweighed by the efforts of Whitley’s marksmen Dean Porter (two), Jack Walker and Ian Lee.
Gosforth Bohemians claimed their fourth league win on the trot by beating lowly visitors Northbank 2-1. Craig Thompson and John Dunn netted respectively for the Bohs in the 9th and 29th minutes. A headed reply from Chris Grainger from Stuart McGarva’s cross early in the second half gave the Cumbrians some hope but they suffered from poor finishing in the latter stages of the game.
Berwick United won away from home for only the second time this term, beating Peterlee Tow n 3-1 and inflicting a sixth successive home defeat on their hosts. The Borderers were good value for their win achieved with goals by Leigh Walker (two) and Mike Robinson. Wayne Sullivan was a lone marksman for the Newtowners who remain static in mid-table.
Playing their first game in a month, Wallington looked decidedly ring-rusty and were soundly beaten 5-0 at Scots Gap by Cullercoats. Robert Watson opened the scoring in the first half and another four goals arrived after the break to make up the visitors’ nap hand. The scorers completing the tally were Watson again, Stewart Wright (two) and Craig Deighton.
Meanwhile, South Shields United have done the league proud by reaching the semi-finals of the Durham FA Minor Cup. They did the trick by beating quarter-final opponents Houghton Town B 3-0 with goals supplied by Kyle Yorston (two) and Carl Rutherford and will be hosting Winlaton Vulcans at the last four stage.

DIVISION TWO – THE TITLE RACE IS WIDE OPEN
Having not kicked a ball competitively for eleven weeks it wasn’t too surprising to see Wallsend Town losing interest in the Northumberland Minor Cup at the fourth round stage. The Second Division hopefuls featured in a 2-2 extra time draw away to Gosforth Bohemians Reserves with goals supplied by Ryan Arnott and Stephen Dodd. But in the resultant penalty shoot-out they were beaten 4-3.
With a game in hand compared to second-placed Wideopen & District, North Shields Athletic are sill enjoying a three-point lead at the head of the Second Division table. They retained their unbeaten home record and strengthened their promotion hand with a 4-2 victory over Cramlington Blue Star. The league leaders’ marksmen to complete a league double were Alan Armstrong (two), Antonio Mango and Dan Walton.
Wideopen kept the pressure on by claiming an identical 4-2 verdict away to Newcastle BT who had previously proved strong on their ow n turf. A James Bell hat-trick set Wideopen up for the kill and their fourth goal was tucked away by Liam Jubb. Mike Younger and Colin Galbraith replied for the disappointed losers.
Forest Hall’s travelling form has been letting them down this term and they were beaten 2-1 by hosts Tynemouth United after being given the lead by Robert Ruddick. A thirty yard power drive by Tynemouth full back Darren Turnbull got his side back on terms but they had to wait until the 80th minute for their winner scored by Kris Willis.
Hexham have been the Second Division’s draw experts this time around but there was nothing tentative about their 4-0 success away to Willington Quay Saints. After winning 4-1 in the reverse fixture Hexham’s four goals in this occasion were supplied by young Curtis Harvey (two), Jamie McNamee and Scott Coates who netted spectacularly with a direct free kick.
Wallsend Boys Club finally celebrated a first win on their travels after beating Swalwell 3-1 in the first meeting of the two sides this term. Darren Turbitt netted for Swalwell but his goal counted for nothing in the face of Wallsend replies by Michael Starkie (two) and Chris Thompson.
Points deductions have demoted Whitley Bay Tow n to the bottom rung in the Second Division and they weren’t overjoyed with their second draw of the campaign with visitors Cullercoats Custom Planet. This time they finished all square at 2-2 after the Town had wasted an early advantage. Debutant Liam Hudson, later taken off with a fractured arm, opened their account and their second goal was scored from the spot by Jamie Wallace. The Planet hit back through Tony Fawcett and Edmund Garrett to grab a share of the spoils.