By Bill Gardner
Ponteland United and Alnwick Town added some gloss to their respective seasons by claiming prestigious items of silverware. Ponteland lifted the Alliance’s Kicks Leisure Challenge Cup while Alnwick added the Northumberland FA Senior Bowl to their trophy shelf.
Ponteland United took on past winners Shankhouse in the Premier Division’s Challenge Cup Final played at Killingworth and United’s 3-1 victory made a bit of club history. This was the first ever triumph in an Alliance competition for Pont who, since 1983, had appeared fruitlessly in six previous League Cup finals as well as being ‘bridesmaids’ in the Challenge Cup five times.
At Amberley Park it wasn’t plain sailing for Ponteland and Shankhouse looked the stronger in the opening half. Only two fine saves by United keeper Sam Harris-Green, replacing the injured Michael Havelock, kept the black-and-whites in the game. Just before the interval Ponteland had their first scoring opportunity when Richard Kent fired wide after charging down the middle.
United looked much brighter after the change-over and took the lead after 50 minutes when centre back Ross Phillips – the eventual man-of-the-match – scored with a bullet header from a well-placed free kick.
Shankhouse however, Challenge Cup winners in 2001 and 2002, came back strongly to equalise with fifteen minutes to go and another flag kick led to Michael Bell heading home. Despite some further threats from Shankhouse the game entered extra time with Pont introducing substitutes Andrew Davidson and youthful striker Scott Fenwick. The switches paid off and five minutes into the extra period it was Fen wick who restored United’s lead with a clever flick from a free kick into the area. And after only another five minutes the youngster bagged his second to make sure that Ponteland’s long wait for silverware was finally over.
Alnwick Town secured the Northumberland Senior Bowl by beating Northern Alliance colleagues Heaton Stannington 2- 1 in the final at Whitley Park. Their last success in this county competition was back in 1987 when current manager Albert Straughan was in the Town’s winning squad.
Tony Brown headed Alnwick in front five minutes before the break but after an hour Ben Telford’s powerful low drive from a corner kick got Heaton back on terms. Heaton were reduced to ten men by a sending off before extra time ensued and Alnwick had to wait until the second extra period for their winner put away by Mark Cockburn.
With Premier Division leaders Wark out of action, Harraby Catholic Club trimmed their lead to two points as the title race approaches a nail-biting climax. For the second Saturday running Harraby had their guns spiked by Ashington Colliers and after losing 2-0 at Ashington last weekend they were restricted to a 1-1 on their own patch. Harraby’s 39th minute opener was a David Wallace free kick which was deflected off the head of Ashington’s Scott Blandford to end up in the net. The Colliers’ efforts were rewarded after 76 minutes when Andrew Johnson levelled with an unstoppable 25-yard free kick.
Wark were set to complete their season at Bullocksteads this week against already-relegated Heddon and Harraby will then know what’s required to overtake their championship rivals. If Wark sign off with a win the Cumbrians would need another six points from their three remaining games to clinch the title. They were away to Shankhouse on Monday, at home to Newcastle University on Wednesday and complete their gruelling season with a visit to Heaton Stannington this Saturday.
While the title is being fought over by Wark and Harraby and with Walker Central certain to finish third, Blyth Town have just edged out Ashington Colliers on goal difference to take fourth spot, their highest ever ranking in the Premier Division. The Town brought the curtain down with a 2-1 victory over visitors Heddon but needed late goals to secure the points. Dave Edwardson had ended 80 minutes of stalemate in Heddon’s favour but Blyth’s Patrick Allen restored parity with five minutes to go and Chris Lisle scored their winner with the last kick of the match.
Carlisle City had to come from behind to snatch a 1-1 draw with visitors Killingworth Sporting who had been fired in front in the first half by Kevin Westphal. With only seven minutes remaining Tom Foster got City back on terms.
Four days before their daunting trip to face Harraby, Newcastle University were beaten 5-2 by Shankhouse at Cochrane Park. The Students, due to take the drop along with Heddon, had George Coyle and Ed Savitt on target but were well beaten in the end. Dave Dormand helped himself to four of the Shankhouse goals and the other was claimed by Mark Watson.
DIVISION ONE – RUTHERFORD ARE CHAMPS
The First Division title race went right down to the wire with all three promotion candidates recording last day victories. Gateshead Rutherford are the new champions, finishing one point ahead of runners-up Percy Main and four points better off than third-placed Amble United.
Rutherford, heading for their first ever season in the league’s top flight, signed off in this one with a 2-1 victory away to Gosforth Bohemians. Both of their first half goals were bagged by Kevin Hay to set up the celebrations. Danny Sherwood’s reply for the Bohs was his 200th for the Benson Park outfit and marked his retirement from the game.
Percy Main made sure of promotion after four years absence from the Premier Division by winning 3-1 away to Berwick United. The Villagers’ goals in a vital victory were shared by Pierre Luc Coiffait, Malcolm Morien and John Amos with the Borderers’ single reply coming from Simon Hargreaves.
The Main had gone down 1-0 to Chris Tate’s 75th minute strike for opponents Morpeth Sporting Club in the Northumberland Minor Cup Final at Whitley Park. Now however, with promotion in the bag, the Villagers have another opportunity to claim some silverware. This Saturday at Ponteland Leisure Centre Ground they will be taking on Hebburn Reyrolle in the final of the Pin Point Recruitment Combination Cup kicking off at 2 .00 p.m.
Because Percy Main didn’t slip up in their last league game, Amble United just missed the promotion cut despite bringing the curtain down with a 2-1 win away to relegation-threatened Northbank. Amble’s first half goals across in Carlisle were scored by Brad Wake and Paul White. In what was also their last game Sergio Royo netted for Northbank who will only retain the First Division status if fellow-strugglers Wallington fail to pick up a point from their two matches this week. The lads from Scots Gap were signing off with tough trips to Hebburn Reyrolle and Morpeth Sporting Club, two sides in the top half of the table.
Wallington were left praying for survival after losing 3-1 at home to Durham FA Minor Cup winners South Shields United. Ashley McAlpine gave the home side the lead just after the interval but their joy was short-lived. Two replies from Mark Davies put the Shieldsmen in front and they wrapped up the points with a penalty. Wallington had Alex Slack sent off for a handling offence and Tony Fenwick scored from the spot.
Seaton Burn are already relegated, having only picked up eight points from the entire campaign and in their final match away to Hebburn Reyrolle they were soundly beaten 4-0. The Reyrolle goals were supplied by Channon North (2), Simon Jacobs and Ray Oshin.
DIVISION TWO – STOBSWOOD WIN PROMOTION
The Second Division title was secured a couple of weeks ago by North Shields Athletic with a couple of games to spare and the second promotion slot has been filled by Stobswood Welfare who finished well clear of third-placed Forest Hall. In their penultimate game of a long and strength-sapping season the Welfare won 2-1 away to wooden spoonists Whitley Bay Town. Paul Smith and Josh Hay were Stobswood’s marksmen and Liam Hudson claimed the Bay’s token reply.
Cramlington Blue Star could avoid a bottom two finish but only if they take a point from their last game away to Stobswood and that may be a tall order. The Star were soundly beaten 4-0 in their second last game at home to Wallsend Boys Club who have been impressive in the last few weeks of the campaign. At Cramlington the Boys Club’s goals were supplied by Chris Thompson (2), Michael Starkie and Rob Nolan who scored with a helpful deflection.
If Cramlington do manage to get something out of their clash with Stobswood they’ll leapfrog over Cullercoats Custom Planet in the basement with the Planet just ahead of their fellow-strugglers on goal difference. The Cullercoats lads failed to rescue themselves against Hexham and were beaten 4-0 at Wentworth Park. Mark Gibson bagged a brace for the mid-table hosts and their tally was completed with strikes by Curtis Harvey and Steve Coates.
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