PARTING SHOT FROM HEDDON

By Bill Gardner
While front runners Wark were lying idle, Walker Central had a chance to nudge their rivals out of pole position but things didn’t go according to plan. The Central slipped up, only managing a 1-1 draw at home to Heddon who are facing a drop into the First Division.

A John Campbell free kick took a wicked deflection to guide the ball into the net for Walker’s opener. Heddon responded with an equaliser from Peter Holland and had to be given credit for hanging on after having Dave Tremble red-carded in the 70th minute.

The main threat to Wark’s hopes of claiming their first Premier Division title is now being posed by Harraby Catholic Club who stormed to a 5-0 victory over third-placed visitors Heaton Stannington. Two goals up after only eight minutes thanks to Aaron Roberts and Andy Douglas, Harraby never let up and James Earl increased their lead with a tremendous 35-yard volley before the interval. Earl went on to complete his hat-trick with another long range strike and an 87th minute penalty.

The result all but ended Heaton’s title hopes although they’re still capable of a top two finish while Harraby still have hopes of catching current leaders Wark. The Cumbrians have nine games outstanding but may find their tough schedule taking its toll before the finish line.

Both Blyth Town and Murton are finishing strongly with Ashington Colliers also hoping to clinch a place in the top six. All three secured maximum points and Blyth were 4-1 victors away to Stocksfield.
Over an hour of stalemate was ended by Blyth’s opener scored by Neil Blades when he was put through by Gary Day. The Town’s lead was then doubled after 78 minutes when Mark Waugh’s cross behind the home defence allowed Damon Mullen to pick his spot.

Stocksfield responded almost immediately and Scott Johnson trimmed the deficit, tapping in the rebound after Blyth keeper Scott Earle blocked his first effort. But another two Blyth strikes inside the last ten minutes put the seal on their victory. For the first Chris Lisle netted from close range from Danny Beresford’s low cross and the tally was completed when Rob Eastway chipped over the home keeper from Beresford’s headed pass.

Murton made it five wins on the trot at the expense of hosts Carlisle City who were soundly beaten 4-0. First half strikes by Karl Garside and Marc Smith put Murton in the driving seat and there was no way back for City after Stephen Turner bagged himself a second half brace.

Ashington Colliers were fairly comfortable 3-2 winners at home to Newcastle University who will be filling the other relegation slot along with Heddon. Marc Pattie and Jamie Patterson (2) found the net for the Colliers and the Students’ replies were both claimed by Ed Savitt deep in stoppage time.

Games in hand could improve the position of Shankhouse, currently third bottom, but despite having Chris Rue and James Blacklock on target within five minutes of the kick off they were finally beaten 5-3 by Alnwick Town at Northburn. Martin Roper completed Shankhouse’s tally but Alnwick came back with a vengeance with goals by Richie Brown (2), Mark Baston, Neil Jefferson and Tony Brown.

Killingworth Sporting had Anthony Burns on the mark to beat visitors Seaton Delaval 1-0 and Ponteland United won by the same narrow margin at home to Cramlington Town. United’s 15th minute winner was put away by Dean Gate.

Next Monday night at Amberley Park in Killingworth, Ponteland United and Shankhouse have a chance of claiming a prestigious item of silverware when they come face to face in the Kicks Leisure Challenge Cup Final kicking off at 7.00 p.m. Shankhouse have lifted this trophy on two previous occasions in 2001 and again in 2002 but Ponteland are still waiting for a first success after five abortive cup final appearances.

Seaton Delaval have announced that they are seeking a new club secretary for next season, inviting interested parties to contact either Bill Fellows on 01670-731833 or Phil Hildreth on 0191-2373237.

DIVISION ONE – TWO-HORSE RACE FOR THE TITLE
Percy Main may need to win both of their remaining games – at home to Morpeth Sporting Club and away to Berwick United – to claim the First Division title ahead of Gateshead Rutherford. The Villagers have been unbeaten in their last seven games as they target the major prize and promotion back to the top flight. And they were impressive once again in their 5-1 success away to lowly Northbank. Graeme Smith fired the Main into a slender interval lead but they overpowered their Cumbrian hosts after the changeover. Jon McEnaney, Malcolm Morien and Chris Doig also found the Northbank net before Smith scored again to complete the tally. Matt Read was the home side’s only scorer. Second-placed Gateshead Rutherford were lying idle after their narrow 4-3 home win against Wallington in midweek but look like at least pipping Amble United in the race for the second promotion slot. They will be ending their campaign with three away games against neighbours Chopwell Officials, Berwick United and Gosforth Bohemians.

Amble United in third place look like losing out on promotion and have picked up only three points from their last four outings, going off the boil at a critical time. They were beaten 3-0 at home by Morpeth Sporting Club in midweek before drawing 3-3 at Hillheads against fourth-placed Whitley Bay A whose scorers were Michael McMullen, Josh Brooks and Jamie Lyndon.

At the bottom end of the table four teams – Seaton Burn, Northbank, Wallington and Newcastle East End – are all involved in a last ditch battle to avoid the drop with two of these hoping to rescue themselves. Seaton Burn are in the gravest danger and a 3-0 defeat at Chopwell didn’t help as they were sunk by goals put away by Dave Fitzpatrick, David Purdy and Rowland Lee.

Northbank’s hammering by championship candidates Percy Main didn’t help their cause while Wallington and Newcastle East End also emerged pointless from their respective games. Wallington had Nat Williamson on target at home to Peterlee Town but went down 2-1 after conceding goals to the Newtowners’ Peter Crawford and John Pyle.

Newcastle East End scored three times away to Morpeth Sporting Club, only to be finally and narrowly beaten 4-3 by their hosts whose winning marksmen were Richard Latimer (2), Dean Nicholson and Chris Tate. Meanwhile, Berwick United’s recent losing streak was extended by their 2-0 downfall away to Cullercoats with both of the winners’ goals tucked away by Alex Burnett.

After beating midweek visitors Whitley Bay A 1-0 with a goal by Alex Chapman, South Shields United showed their frugality again with another single goal victory at home to Gosforth Bohemians. This time their important 65th minute clincher was down to Adam Bell.

DIVISION TWO – NORTH SHIELDS ARE CHAMPS
With a game to spare and unbeaten on their own patch this term, North Shields Athletic have been crowned as Second Division champions but still had a bitter-sweet week. Last Thursday at Swalwell the Athletic lost out to Stobswood Welfare in the Pin Point Recruitment Amateur Cup Final. The Welfare were 2-0 winners to lift the silverware and were headed in front by Steve Gibbard after 40 minutes. And despite having a player sent off midway through the second half the Stobswood lads refused to give way and a second strike by Gibbard six minutes from the end was conclusive.

North Shields’s disappointment was short-lived and two days later their 2- 1 home win against Newcastle Chemfica was enough to hand them the title. Goals for Matt Donkin and Michael Hall did the trick with Chris Lockerbie replying in vain for the visitors.

Amble are favourites to earn promotion along with North Shields and only Stobswood Welfare with several games in hand can thwart their ambition. Things went Amble’s way when Wyn Fremlin’s brace earned them a 2-1 verdict away to Cullercoats Custom Planet while Stobswood were beaten 2-1 at Forest Hall. Mark Knights claimed both of Forest Hall’s goals to keep them in third place with Jonathan Towns scoring for the losers.

If Amble manage to win both of this week’s home games against Stobswood and then Tynemouth United they’ll have kept their promotion bid on track but it may be a tall order and things could yet go to the wire. And Forest Hall could even come into the reckoning.

At the wrong end cof the Second Division rankings Whitley Bay Town are still propping up the table but could yet lift themselves off the bottom rung. After three straight defeats Whitley produced an impressive performance to secure a 3-0 victory at Swalwell. Star man Liam Hudson bagged two of the Bay’s goals with the other supplied by Chris Atkin.

In their second from last game at home to Willington Quay Saints there was a 4-3 win for Wideopen & District. The Saints made a losing end to their own campaign despite having Mike Beever, Chris Lowes and Gareth Pugh on target and haven’t won away from home in the entire season. Wideopen picked up the points with strikes by Liam Jubb ( 2 ), Adam Walker and Dave Heatley.

With two games to go Wallsend Boys Club extended an unbeaten run to six matches with a 4-0 victory away to Hexham, becoming the first team to win at Wentworth Park this term. Andy McBride bagged a brace for the Boys Club whose other scorers were Chris Thompson and Rob Nolan.

Sam Robinson netted for Cramlington Blue Star in their 1-1 draw with visitors Newcastle BT whose reply came from Kevin McDougal. And Tynemouth United marked their last home game with a 5- 1 victory over Wallsend Town whose sole scorer was Ryan Arnott. Lee Garwood was a hat-trick hero for United who also had Kris Whillis and Lee Brady finding the net.