STUNNING RESULT FOR CRAMLINGTON

By Bill Gardner
Wark and Heaton Stannington, two sides expected to figure largely in this season’s Premier Division title race, both suffered heavy and unexpected defeats. And current leaders Wark were soundly beaten 5-2 at home by third from bottom Cramlington Town.
Cramlington showed no signs of despondency after having four points deducted from their total last week and made their hosts look ordinary. Goals for Stuart Hepple, Kieran Parsons, Kevin Long and Danny Long (two) left Wark floundering and their two replies, both from leading scorer Marc Nixon, came late in the game.
Heaton Stannington have several games in hand to firm up their title bid but their progress was halted by Blyth Town at Grounsell Park where their visitors claimed a 3-0 victory. Heaton had been unbeaten in their seven previous outings but failed to score for the first time and Blyth fully deserved to wrap up the points. Neil Blades opened the scoring midway through the first half and two goals for Gary Day in the 86th and 90th minutes sealed Heaton’s fate.
As Wark slipped up, second-placed Walker Central narrowed the gap at the top to four points by winning 3-1 away to Newcastle University who are still facing possible relegation in their ninth season in the Premier Division. Liam Mulligan, Steve Forster and Paul Stoneman netted for the Central with James Swainston replying for the Students. But although Walker are showing signs of a recovery they’ve played more games than any of their top of the table rivals and a third championship on the trot now seems very unlikely.
Home games involving third-placed Killingworth Sporting and fifth-placed Harraby Catholic Club were both postponed although these two sides are poised for a late push in the title race. Their absence from league duty allowed Ponteland United to climb into fourth spot, their highest ranking this term.
Ponteland did the trick by beating Shankhouse 4-1 in a game switched to the Leisure Centre after Shankhouse’s pitch at Northburn was declared unfit.
Shankhouse had been hoping to repeat their 3-1 success in the second game of the season but instead they were trailing after only six minutes after Glenn Ford opened United’s account, heading home from Max Turner’s flag kick.
There was another blow for Shankhouse when Lee Gustard pulled up with a hamstring injury and had to be replaced by Craig Cook. And Pont were close to doubling their lead but Gavin Wood saw his header cannon off the crossbar.
After 25 minutes Dean Gate scored United’s second goal and when Richard Kent’s drive was blocked by Shankhouse keeper David Dent he volleyed the loose ball over Dent and into the top corner.
Only three minutes into the second half Ponteland were three goals to the good as Richard Kent capitalized on defensive problems caused by Billy Holden.
The game was effectively over with Pont in full control but Shankhouse got a little encouragement with when Michael Bell reduced the deficit with a diving low header. But their hopes were dashed again and Kent turned in Gavin Wood’s low cross to give United the last word.
Alnwick Town have moved up into the top half of the table after picking up five wins on the trot and bottom rung visitors Heddon were their latest victims. A 3-1 victory completed a league double for Alnwick whose scorers were Chris Moffatt, Dale Kennedy and Ben Keenan who took his season’s personal tally into double figures. Ben Haddock replied for Heddon but their situation is becoming increasingly perilous.

DIVISION ONE – PERCY MAIN REACH ANOTHER FINAL
There was another celebration for First Division outfit Percy Main. Still one of the promotion favourites this term following a three-year absence from the Premier Division the Villagers are already through to this year’s Northumberland FA Minor Cup Final. And they booked themselves another cup final appearance.
At Purvis Park the Main beat Berwick United 3-1 in their semi-final tie in the First Division’s Pin Point Recruitment Combination Cup. Two goals inside a couple of minutes just before the interval tipped the tie in Percy Main’s favour. After a foul on Callum Colbeck they had Jason Ritchie scoring from the spot and then Joe Betts netted to round off slick work by Malcolm Morien and Chris Locke. After 84 minutes the Main’s lead was increased when Ritchie’s fine cross was hammered in by Callum Colbeck and a game Berwick could only managed a single 88th minute reply from Mike Robinson.
Two First Division league games at Amble and Gosforth had to be cancelled due to waterlogging and the top four sides in the division had their quest for points interrupted. But down in fifth place Cullercoats claimed only their fourth home win in ten by beating an out-of-sorts Wallington 5-3 with goals supplied by Alex Burnett, Craig Deighton (two), Ben Gardner and Dave Fairless.
Northbank’s hopes of avoiding the drop were improved by their well-earned 3-3 draw with visitors Peterlee Town. With wind assistance in the first half the Newtowners opened the scoring through Andrew Harrison but his goal was cancelled out by Sergio Royo’s leveller for the Cumbrians. Two further strikes by Peterlee’s Anthony Usher had them leading 3-1 at the break Northbank dominated the second half however and in the 71st and 72nd minutes a quick-fire brace for star man Royo completed his hat-trick and salvaged a precious point.
Chopwell Officials in mid-table have perked up recently, winning six of their last eight games, and a 2-0 victory at home to NFA Minor Cup finalists Morpeth Sporting Club was impressive. A goal in each half scored by Lee Best and Andy Smith saw Chopwell collecting the points.
Bottom rung side Seaton Burn were left still seeking a first away win after losing 4-2 to third from bottom hosts Newcastle East End. The Burn had Ian Armstrong and Matt Laing (penalty) on target but were never in front and the East Enders secured the vital points with goals by Paul Bright (two), Andy Weeks and Dieu Lomana. The result halted a run of ten straight defeats for the East End.
Sadly Hebburn Reyrolle failed in their bid to lift the Durham FA Trophy. They had Chris Morris and Michael Younger on target in the final at Eppleton but were eventually beaten 4-2 by Durham Alliance opponents Chester-le-Street Whitehills.

DIVISION TWO – MANGO GOAL FRUITFUL FOR LEADERS
North Shields Athletic are the form team in the Second Division and increased their lead in pole position to nine points although they were made to work hard for a 1-0 victory away to Swalwell. For the second time this term the Athletic had to be content with a single goal margin against a plucky Swalwell side and this time Antonio Mango claimed their 22nd minute winner with a shot that touched each upright on its way into the net.
While North Shields extended an unbeaten run to eight games, second-placed Wideopen & District have only managed to win once in eight recent outings and they slipped up once again. At home to Wallsend Boys Club a single goal by Adam Walker couldn’t stave off another defeat and the Boys Club emerged as 2-1 victors with goals put away by Steve Hedley and Andy McBride.
With Wideopen’s challenge apparently faltering teams like Amble and Forest Hall have seen their promotion chances improving and even fifth-placed Hexham are keeping their options open. Unbeaten in their eleven games at home the Hexham lads leapfrogged over Wallsend Town by beating the Tynesiders 2-1 at Wentworth Park. The Town had won five of six previous league games but came unstuck in this one. Darren Dobson and Tom Phillips netted in each half for Hexham before their single reply came from Paul McCutcheon.
Cramlington Blue Star secured only their second home win by beating visitors Willington Quay Saints 3-2 and avenging their earlier defeat at Willington. The Star had a hat-trick hero in Lindsey Collinson and Dale Johnson and Wes Fidler replied for the Saints who are yet to taste victory away from home.
Whitley Bay Town have only played five games on their own patch this season and were beaten 4-2 by fast improving Tynemouth United. The Town had Jamie Symington sent off after only five minutes and Chris Garwood immediately put Tynemouth in front with his penalty kick. Further United goals were added by Steve Matthews (two) and Lee Thompson. The Bay’s scorers were Chris Fairley and Chris Atkin but they were reduced to nine men by an injury to one of their players in the closing stages.
In the quarter-finals of the Pin Point Recruitment Amateur Cup the tie between Amble and Cullercoats Custom Planet was washed out but Stobswood Welfare and Newcastle Chemfica both booked themselves places in the last four.
Stobswood won 3-2 away to last year’s cup winners and Josh Hay (two) and Steve Gibbard were their marksmen to outweigh the brace bagged by the Hall’s Robert Ruddick. And Newcastle Chemfica emphatically beat cup visitors Newcastle BT 4-0 to continue their progress. The goals were supplied by Martin Dixon, Liam Naulls (two) and Mike Crozier.
The Amateur Cup’s semi-final draw now reads: Stobswood Welfare v Amble or Cullercoats Custom Planet and Newcastle Chemfica v North Shields Athletic.