SUDDICK HASN’T LOST HIS TOUCH

By Bill Gardner
Ponteland United’s manager Jarrod Suddick is hoping that a horrendous injury list clears up to some extent before he leads his side out at Killingworth on 17th May to take on Shankhouse in this season’s Kicks Leisure Challenge Cup Final.

Pont also have six league games to plough through which doesn’t exactly improve the situation and Suddick had to give himself a first start of the campaign to face Killingworth Sporting at the Leisure Centre Ground.

The Ponteland boss made the brightest of starts and gave his side the lead only five minutes after the kick off. Utility player Lewis Shiels sent in a great cross that cleared Killy’s back line and, after controlling the ball with his thigh, he calmly picked his spot wide of the visiting keeper.

Neither side excelled aftert the interval but with twenty minutes to go the black-and-whites scored a second goal to wrap up the points. It was a first of the season for Kevin McGorie who had been sidelined by injury for a year-and-a-half.

This was a much improved display of late by Pont whose man-of-the-match was Ross Phillips but there was also a downside. Keeper Michael Havelock sustained fractures to two of his fingers in the first half and will miss the rest of the season including the Challenge Cup Final.

While Premier Division leaders Wark were standing idle, Walker Central drew level on points with their rivals although Wark now have three games in hand. Walker’s 1-0 victory at home to third-placed Heaton Stannington was a massive result for Mike Jeffels’ side who are hoping for a top two finish and promotion. Their vital 80th minute winner was scored by Paul Chapman.

Both Heaton and Harraby Catholic Club are still threatening Walker Central’s hopes due to their games in hand and Harraby made it five home wins on the trot by beating Blyth Town 2-1. Blyth’s Martin Robinson cancelled out Daniel Wordsworth’s opener for the Cumbrians to make it all square at the break. After 76 minutes Andrew Douglas struck to seal the points for sixth-placed Harraby who still have eleven games outstanding.

Although they’re out of the running, Murton are finishing their season with a bang and have climbed up to fifth spot. With only two games left they made it four wins on the trot, defeating hosts Seaton Delaval 3-1. Two first half goals for Stephen Turner put Murton in charge and he went on to complete his hat-trick after Luke Newton got Delaval off the mark.

Like Murton, Ashington Colliers are finishing strongly and have lost only one of their nine most recent league games. The Colliers kept their run going with a 2-1 win away to Shankhouse who opened the scoring through David Dormand straight after the interval. Joe Moscrop quickly restored parity and Marc Richardson snatched Ashington’s winner with only a minute to spare.

After drawing their last three games at Sheepmount, Carlisle City picked up maximum points with an impressive 3-1 victory over visitors Alnwick Town. Dan Gawith fired City into a half time lead and later goals were added by Chris Major and Stuart Hill before Tony Brown claimed Alnwick’s 73rd minute consolation goal.

Newcastle University only have the slenderest of chances of avoiding the drop along with Heddon who are now doomed to finish in one of the bottom two places. The University went down to Jordan Watson’s single early goal for hosts Cramlington Town and haven’t won a league game since last November. And it looks as though the Students will be going through the trapdoor after spending ten years in the league’s top flight. Sadly they have been almost perennial strugglers at this level.

Heddon lost 3-2 at home to Stocksfield but should of at least had a share of the spoils. After Anthony McDonald put Stocksfield in front Heddon snatched the lead with replies from Dave Tremble and Ben Haddock. An own goal gifted by Andrew Hall got the visitors back on terms and their winner was put away by Phil Murray in the dying seconds.


DIVISION ONE – RUTHERFORD FEEL THE HEAT
The fascinating battle for the title in the First Division is continuing with Percy Main holding the aces but with several crucial games still to be played. The Villagers nudged Gateshead Rutherford out of pole position and went two points clear thanks to their 2-0 victory away to lowly Newcastle East End who were sunk by goals by Malcolm Morien and John Amos.

A second defeat on the trot has harmed Gateshead Rutherford’s chances and after losing 1-0 against Percy Main in midweek they were beaten 4-2 by Whitley Bay A at Hillheads. Ian Lee with his hat-trick inflicted the major damage for Whitley whose remaining goal was put away by Sean Jobson. Richard Biggs and Craig Horsfall responded in vain for Rutherford, three of whose four remaining games are away from home.

Amble United, Whitley Bay A and Hebburn Reyrolle haven’t ruled themselves out yet and all three are eying up possible promotion if any of the current favourites slip up in the final stages of this long campaign. Amble United however have drawn their last two matches and featured in a goal-less stalemate away to Gosforth Bohemians.

Whitley Bay A and Hebburn Reyrolle are each relying on games in hand to boost their chances of sneaking up on the rails with Hebburn having a massive eleven games to fit in, including two cup final appearances.

The Hebburn lads haven’t lost a league game since last September and they extended an unbeaten run to twelve games with their 3 -1 victory away to Morpeth Sporting Club. Ray Oshin, Channon North and Simon Jacobs were their scorers with Richard Latimer scoring Morpeth’s consolation goal.

Durham FA Minor Cup winners South Shields United are just playing out their season but applied the brakes to improving Peterlee Town and restricted their visitors to a 0-0 draw. And a very weakened Chopwell Officials team did well to beat Wallington 2-1 at Scots Gap. Chopwell only had the bare eleven players to kick off the game including manager Alan Brown who was taken off injured after only ten minutes. The depleted visitors showed a lot of spirit which was rewarded with goals by Lee Best (penalty) and veteran Kevin March. Tom McPherson came up with an 80th minute reply for Wallington but they looked very jaded in this encounter.

Northbank leapfrogged over Newcastle East End in the basement to give themselves a chance of avoiding the drop and the Cumbrians’ 3-2 home win against Cullercoats was hugely welcomed. Tom and Ross Irving along with Paul Fiddler netted for Northbank with both of the Cullercoats replies by Peter Bradley scored from the penalty spot. Thanks to a Chris Baker goal and a brace claimed by Steven Lee on his home debut, Seaton Burn drew 3-3 with Berwick United but stayed stranded on the bottom rung and now face the real possibility of dropping through the relegation trapdoor.


DIVISION TWO – ATHLETIC READY TO CROSS THE LINE
North Shields Athletic are on the verge of being crowned as Second Division champions and need only three points from two remaining games at home to Newcastle Chemfica and away to Wallsend Town to make absolutely sure. They secured a crucial 3-1 victory over visitors Stobswood Welfare to keep the momentum going with goals shared by Matt Donkin, Liam Vaughan and Craig Boyle. Stephen Gibbard replied for the Welfare who are facing a gruelling fixture backlog.

Assuming that North Shields gain promotion in their fourth Northern Alliance season the remaining lift-off spot is being fought over by second-placed Amble and Stobswood.with Wallsend Town as outsiders in the race.

Amble kept their options open but spilled two valuable points when they could only draw 3-3 with mid-table visitors Swalwell. Matthew Scott, Craig Wood and David Waugh were on the mark for Swalwell. Adam Shanks celebrated his birthday with two of Amble’s goals and Michael Straker snatched their equaliser with his last minute header.

Wallsend Town probably need to win all four of their remaining games to keep their already vague promotion hopes alive. The outstanding matches are at home to champions-elect North Shields and away to Newcastle BT, Tynemouth United and Whitley Bay Town. After two damaging defeats on the trot Wallsend got their act together again and goals for Dave Houghton (2), Ben Miley and Paul McCutcheon allowed them to beat visitors Cramlington Blue Star 4-1.

Before reshaping their squad, Tynemouth United were struggling in this campaign but now look like finishing in a respectable mid-table slot with a much brighter future. They won their sixth home game in succession, beating Hexham 5-3 in a real thriller. United’s goals were supplied by Kris Whillis, Mike Armstrong, Steve Matthews, Chris Hutchinson and Lee Brady. Hexham’s replies came from Steve and Scott Coates and Curtis Harvey.

But for their disappointing early away record Forest Hall could have been involved in the promotion battle. They’ve been unbeaten in their last six games on the road however and were good enough to beat hosts Newcastle BT 4-0 with goals supplied by Michael Reay (2), Jamie Matthews and Robert Ruddick.

Willington Quay Saints haven’t managed to claim a single away win with their only hope of correcting the situation now resting on their final game against Wideopen & District. The Saints suffered yet another defeat, losing 4-1 against hosts Newcastle Chemfica whose marksmen were Paul Brown (2), Jonathan Ireland and Colin Cooney.

Wallsend Boys Club have won three and drawn one of their last four games and were 3-2 victors away to Cullercoats Custom Planet. The Planet had Andrew McCartney and Liam Graham finding the net to lead 2-0 at the interval but the Boys Club came back strongly to secure the points with replies from Andy McBride, Rob Nolan and Gareth Ayers.