WARK ARE BACK ON SONG

By Bill Gardner
While second-placed Walker Central were lying idle, Wark increased their lead at the head of the Premier Division to seven points and still have two games in hand of their nearest rivals. After failing to score on successive Saturdays, Wark got back down to business with a convincing 6-2 victory at home to Seaton Delaval. Leading scorer Marc Nixon claimed a hat-trick for the league leaders who also had Tony Lancaster bagging a brace and Stuart Brown completing their tally. Replies from Delaval’s Steve Anderson and Jordan Fry failed to halt their recent slide.

It shouldn’t be long before Killingworth Sporting nudge Walker Central out of second spot and they improved their title prospects again as a 2-0 home win against Ashington Colliers extended their unbeaten run to six games. In what was the first meeting of these two sides this season Killy picked up the points with goals in each half scored by Paul Dunn and Stephen Telford.

Murton have climbed into the top half of the table and after winning 6-2 at Shankhouse in midweek they won by another four-goal margin away to Cramlington Town. The 4-0 victory was only the second on their travels for Murton and they avenged an earlier defeat by the Town with two goals each for Paul Wintrip and Stephen Turner.

Four league wins on the trot including a pegging back of league leaders Wark have hoisted Alnwick Town into a mid-table slot and with games in hand they look set to continue their progress. Their latest victims were Stocksfield and Alnwick improved on the earlier draw between the two sides by winning 3-0 at Kimberley Park.

Ben Keenan opened Alnwick’s account ten minutes before half time and slightly against the run of play. Stocksfield could then have changed the course of the game but Wayne Stewart wasted a great scoring opportunity and his colleague Graeme Hudspith sent his powerful header against the crossbar. Following these near misses Keenan bagged his second goal for the Town after 75 minutes. Then with five minutes to go a great goal by Tony Brown completed the visitors’ tally but the final score wasn’t a true reflection of Stocksfield’s overall performance..

Although Heaton Stannington’s game at Grounsell Park against Hebburn Reyrolle was washed out the three remaining quarter-final ties in the Kicks Leisure League Cup were able to go ahead.

Last season’s losing finalists Harraby Catholic Club made progress by beating cup hosts Blyth Town 4-3 but they needed a late recovery to book their place in the semi-finals. After 52 minutes Blyth were leading 3-1 with strikes by Tom Haigh (2) and Chris Lisle outweighing Harraby’s opener scored by Craig Thompson. But the Cumbrians battled back gamely and just edged it with further goals shared by Daniel Balmer, Rob Bainbridge and Mike Swift (penalty).

Heddon made it into the last four by beating Newcastle University 3-0 at Cochrane Park in a clash involving the two sides propping up the rest in the Premier Division table. In an earlier league game the two strugglers had shared six goals but this time Heddon emerged as 3-0 victors thanks to goals by Callum Hill (2) and Ben Haddock.

Ponteland United reached their second semi final of the season when they defeated Gosforth Bohemians 3 - 1 in their quarter final at Brunton Park. Ponteland started well and showed immediately that both Richard Kent and Max Turner had the pace to beat the opposing fullbacks.

Paul Hodge on the wing for Bohemians was a threat and he created an early chance for Steven Grey but he fired too high and too wide. And after 18 minutes a corner from Lewis Shiels resulted in Glenn Ford putting Pont in front with his firm header.

The visitors doubled their lead seven minutes later and when Bohs’ keeper David Herrington punched the ball out when under pressure it fell to Richard Kent who volleyed into the top corner from just inside the box. On the hour mark however the home side was offered some hope and Matt Atkin reduced the deficit with an unstoppable half volley from thirty yards out. But with fifteen minutes to go United’s progress was assured when Marc Dummett netted from a tight angle from Andrew Davidson’s free kick.

The semi-final pairings in this season’s League Cup will now be Ponteland United v Heaton Stannington or Hebburn Reyrolle and Heddon v Harraby Catholic Club.

DIVISION ONE – THREE TEAMS BOOK COUNTY CUP FINAL DATES
Percy Main are still chasing three items of silverware and a week before hosting Berwick United in a semi-final tie in the Pin Point Recruitment Combination Cup the Villagers booked themselves a cup final date with Morpeth Sporting Club in the Northumberland FA Minor Cup. They did the trick by beating Newcastle Chemfica 2-0 at Purvis Park and their first half opener was scored by Joe Betts who sent his curling drive into the bottom corner. The Main’s lead was doubled after 66 minutes when, from Malcolm Morien’s free kick, Callum Colbeck planted his header in the Chemfica net. And apart from their double-headed cup adventures the Villagers are well placed for a return to the Premier Division after an absence of three years.

Morpeth Sporting Club reached the NFA Minor Cup final by beating visitors Stobswood Welfare 5-1 after extra time. A spate of missed chances by Morpeth saw the scores level at 1- 1 after ninety minutes but they went on to over-run their league colleagues. Eventually the Welfare were soundly beaten by the efforts of Morpeth’s marksmen Chris Tate (hat-trick), Chris Ridgway and Mike Bowman.

South Shields United have emulated Percy Main and Morpeth Sporting Club by reaching the final of the Durham FA Minor Cup and last weekend beat semi-final visitors Winlaton Vulcan Inn 3-0. Tony Fenwick opened the scoring with his 27th minute penalty. Then, after the same player missed with another spot kick just before the break, Jack Lawton doubled United’s lead and also bagged his side’s third goal ten minutes after the interval. And South Shields will be facing either Hartlepool Millhouse or Gateshead Rutherford Reserves in the Durham final on 7th April.

On the First Division league front and with Percy Main snapping at their heels, current leaders Gateshead Rutherford spilled precious points and were beaten 2-0 away to third-placed Amble United. Ian Common bagged a goal in each half for the Seasiders while Rutherford failed to get on the score sheet for the first time this term.

Whitley Bay A remained in fifth spot after beating Wallington 6-2 at Scots Gap with goals provided by Jamie Lyndon (2), Mark Waite, Dean Porter, Josh Brooks and substitute Gavin Hattrick. Wallington’s replies came from Sam Walton and Dave Featherstone.

After losing six home games on the trot, Peterlee Town broke the mould by beating bottom rung opponents Seaton Burn 5-2. Only a week previously the Newtowners had won 1-0 at Seaton Burn but in this quick return fixture they looked much stronger. Four of their goals were put away by Andrew Harrison with Peter Crawford completing their tally. Seaton Burn had Dave Hewitt and substitute Stephen Baker on target but they were left still seeking a first win away from home.

Goals for Paul Wood ( 2), Leigh Walker and Jonathan Brown earned Berwick a 4-2 verdict at home to lowly Newcastle East End whose goals by Lee Chapman and Anthony Johnson couldn’t prevent a tenth successive defeat. Meanwhile, Cullercoats secured only their third home win by beating strugglers Northbank 3-1 with goals shared by Stewart Wright, Danny Nelson and David Owen. Tom Irving was a lone marksman for the Cumbrians as they slumped to their fifth defeat on the trot.

DIVISION TWO – TYNEMOUTH PUT THE BRAKES ON TABLE TOPPERS
Second Division games at Wideopen, Cramlington and Swalwell were postponed due to waterlogging but North Shields Athletic stayed six points clear of Wideopen at the top of the table. The Athletic had hammered visitors Tynemouth United 9-1 in the reverse fixture but were restricted to a 1-1 draw this time. Alan Armstrong was the North Shields scorer while Chris Garwood netted for Tynemouth who are no longer the whipping boys in the Second Division. Prior to last weekend’s draw they had recorded five straight league victories.

Third-placed Amble had their promotion prospects dented and were beaten 5-1 at home by New castle BT. Richard Beverley completed a hat-trick for the victors who also had Dan Sherliker and Scott Maddison on target to complete a league double. Wyn Fremlin replied for Amble.

Forest Hall are only three points short of a promotion slot and could have been much better placed if they had been better travellers this term. But they were good enough to beat hosts Cullercoats Custom Planet 3-0 with goals for Alan Kelly, Scott Parker and Jamie Gilbert.

Wallsend Town have won five of their last six games in the Second Division and were too physical for neighbours and visitors Wallsend Boys Club to cope with. The Town were 4-0 winners with goals by Ryan Arnott, Liam Anderson, Patrick Masuka and Mark Brewis but there was an unfortunate by-product and two of the Boys Club’s younger players had to be taken to hospital for treatment.