UNITED AIM FOR CUP DOUBLE

By Bill Gardner
After losing 1-0 in the identical league game on the previous Saturday, Ponteland United gained prompt revenge by beating hosts Blyth Town 2-0 in their semi-final tie in the Kicks Leisure Challenge Cup. Blyth’s Mark Waugh was celebrating his 250th appearance for the club but it was Ponteland who took the lead on the half hour mark. Joe Dawson and Gavin Wood were involved in the build-up and when Wood played the ball in to Andrew Davidson he outpaced Blyth’s left back before placing his low drive out of the reach of keeper Scott Earl.

With ten minutes remaining United scored their vital second goal when a flag kick from Lewis Shiels was headed into the air and Paul Hodgson was first to react. He controlled the ball well and cleverly slotted his short pass through to Gavin Wood who blasted his shot into the roof of the net.

With one cup final appearance now booked, Ponteland are involved in another semi-final clash this Saturday when they entertain First Division hopefuls Hebburn Reyrolle at Ponteland Leisure Centre in the Kicks Leisure League Cup

In the other Challenge Cup semi-final Shankhouse took on Carlisle City for the third time this season. Two prior league clashes had resulted in draws but this time Shankhouse were well worth their 3-1 victory at Northburn. After trailing to Dean Barnard’s early opener for City, Shankhouse replied twice in three minutes through Martin Roper and Jordan Walsh and confirmed their place in this season’s final when Roper bagged his second goal in the 82nd minute.

Premier Division pace-setters Wark and Walker Central both spilled points and are now sharing top spot although the Central have played three more games than their rivals. Wark went down 3-2 away to Heaton Stannington despite being given an early two-goal lead by Marc Nixon and Lee Telfer. Replies from Lawrence McKenna and Iain Irvin got Heaton back on terms before the break and Michael Rush scored their winner on the hour mark.

A seven-match unbeaten run has kept Walker Central’s hopes of a top two finish alive and they drew 1-1 with Stocksfield at Monkchester. Michael Lamb fired the Central into an early lead but Scott Johnson levelled for the visitors after both keepers were taken off injured.

Along with Heaton Stannington, Harraby Catholic Club could use their games in hand to get among the current leaders and Harraby claimed their seventh win on the trot. The Cumbrians beat visitors Alnwick Town 2-1 to complete a league double.

Both sides carved out chances in the early stages but it was Harraby who opened the scoring after 36 minutes. When Aaron Roberts set Steve Archibald on a run on the left flank he cut in and rounded the keeper before squaring the ball to Marc Shiel. Shiel had the easiest of jobs in finding the net from barely six yards.

Harraby then increased their lead immediately before the interval and when Aaron Roberts tore into the box he was brought down by a desperate tackle. Mike Swift stepped up to confidently score from the spot. After 64 minutes Alnwick gained a foothold in the game when full back Danny Lowes saw his thirty-yard free kick sneak under the bar with the assistance of a fortunate deflection. They failed however in their search for an equaliser as Harraby defended doggedly up to the final whistle.

After three defeats on the trot Killingworth Sporting featured in a goal-less draw at home to Cramlington Town who welcomed securing another point to keep them clear of the basement.

And Murton’s unbeaten run at home was halted by Ashington Colliers who claimed a 3-1 victory with strikes by Scott Smith and Jamie Patterson plus an own goal gifted by Murton’s Mark Smith. Only ten minutes remained when Karl Garside got Murton off the mark.

Heddon are only two points better off than Newcastle University at the foot of the Premier Division table so a goal-less draw wasn’t very helpful to either club. The best chance fell to the University’s Dave Kewn who smashed his drive against the woodwork but the Students need to exchange games in hand for points quickly if they are to avoid the drop this season.

DIVISION ONE – IT’S GETTING TOUGH AT THE TOP
With only five points separating them and with seven or eight games to go, Gateshead Rutherford, Amble United and Percy Main are leading the charge for promotion from the First Division but all three dropped points last weekend.

Current leaders Rutherford were restricted to a 1-1 draw at home by Durham FA Minor Cup winners South Shields United. Ben Howell fired the hosts in front but their advantage evaporated when their keeper Craig Knox inexplicably guided the ball into his own net.

Amble United’s double figure unbeaten run came to an abrupt halt when they lost 2-0 away to mid-table outfit Peterlee Town. The Newtowners had picked up only two points from three previous games but ensured a maximum haul in this one. Both of their second half goals were put away by Peter Crawford.

Of the three First Division pace-setters Percy Main probably endured the biggest embarrassment in losing 2-1 at home to bottom rung opponents Seaton Burn. John Amos put Percy Main in front after only five minutes when he latched onto Chris Doig’s through ball and netted from the edge of the area. But Seaton Burn hit back to record their first win away from home this season. A good individual goal by Ian Armstrong got them back on terms straight after the interval and midway through the second half Mattie Laing scored their winner when his 30-yard free got a helpful deflection.

Gosforth Bohemians made it five home wins on the bounce by beating Cullercoats 2-1 at Benson Park where their goals were scored by Steve Grey and Matt Atkin. And Morpeth Sporting Club secured a third successive league win by overcoming struggling visitors Northbank to the tune of 2 -1. Chris Tate opened the scoring for Morpeth after 77 minutes and after their visitors had wasted a few scoring opportunities. The Sporting Club’s lead was doubled in the 90th minute by John Paxton although there were appeals for offside and Ross Irving grabbed a consolation goal for Northbank in stoppage time. And relegation is looking even more likely for the Cumbrians.

Berwick United won their third successive home game, beating Chopwell Officials 2-1 with goals for Phil Lee and Paul Richardson. Irving Ruddick scored Chopwell’s goal but they’ve only picked up a single point from five recent outings and have tumbled down the table.

Newcastle East End took another step towards First Division survival and home form is serving them well at present. They beat visitors Wallington 2-1 and had Dieu Lomana and Ian Graham on target in each half before substitute Jack Palmer got Wallington off the mark.

Hebburn Reyrolle booked themselves a forthcoming meeting with Percy Main in the Pin Point Recruitment Combination Cup Final but were a trifle fortunate to beat semi-final visitors Whitley Bay A in extra time. Jamie Lyndon’s fifth minute opener for the Bay looked likely to put the Seasiders through. But in stoppage time Craig Watson got Reyrolle back on terms and they added further goals through Ray Oshin and Shannon North during the added half hour.

DIVISION TWO – ATHLETIC HOMING IN ON THE TITLE
With a massive thirteen-point lead in pole position, North Shields Athletic look favourites for the Second Division title and promotion. With several games in hand only Amble and Stobswood Welfare look to be the only teams capable of challenging the current leaders. And while their two most dangerous rivals were both on cup duty North Shields beat visitors Hexham 3-1 and haven’t been beaten at home in this campaign. The North Shields marksmen were Danny Henderson, Craig Boyle and Graham Williams with Hexham’s single reply coming from Darren Dobson.

Amble and Stobswood took a rest from chasing promotion points to meet in the semi-final of the Pin Point Recruitment Amateur Cup and the Welfare made home advantage count. They won 3-2 to avenge an earlier league defeat at Amble with their goals supplied this time by Steve Gibbard (two) and Paul Smith. Wyn Fremlin and Adam Shanks replied in vain for Amble and it’s Stobswood who’ll be facing North Shields in this year’s final.

Although their chances of gaining promotion are slim, Forest Hall nudged Wideopen & District out of second spot after winning 3-0 away to Wallsend Boys Club. The Wallsend youngsters have found it hard going this term and offered little resistance in conceding goals to the Hall’s Rob Ruddick (two) and Jamie Gilbert.

Wideopen & District have lacked consistency and they suffered another damaging defeat, being well beaten 4-1 by hosts Tynemouth United. United’s new look team are a handful these days and they coasted to this victory thanks to Mike Armstrong’s hat-trick and a good goal for Kris Whillis. Liam Jubb claimed Wideopen’s consolation goal.

Wallsend Town climbed above Hexham into fifth place and aren’t out of the hunt in the promotion race, improving their chances with an impressive 4-0 victory away to Newcastle Chemfica. Chemfica had won eight of their ten previous games at home but the Town gained revenge for their 4-2 defeat in the reverse fixture. This time they made no mistakes and wrapped up the points easily with goals supplied by Liam Anderson (two), Marc Nicholson and Mick Rankin.

Whitley Bay Town are still on the bottom rung in the Second Division but with nine games still to play the Town are aiming to move up a couple of notches. They were certainly good value in their 3-0 home win against Newcastle BT with Luke Jamieson-Yip bagging a brace after Liam Hudson opened the scoring.