FENWICK IS TOP MAN FOR PONT

22nd August

By Bill Gardner
Ponteland United are one of three teams – the others are Gateshead Rutherford and Percy Main Amateurs – sharing top spot in the early Premier Division table with unbeaten records so far.
United extended their early-season run with a 1-0 victory away to Stocksfield but neither side looked dangerous in a barren opening half. The deadlock was only finally ended after 70 minutes and in a goalmouth scramble from a Ponteland corner kick Scott Fenwick prodded the ball in from six yards. This was Fenwick’s fourth goal of the new campaign and Pont were thwarted on a couple of occasions later on with home keeper Shaun Sagar, preferred instead of Peter Adnitt on this occasion, fully deserving his man-of-the-match tag.
Due to a superior goal difference Rutherford are in pole position and a 4-0 victory away to Seaton Delaval extended a promising start by the top flight’s newcomers. Mike Jeffares opened the scoring on the stroke of half time and a second half hat-trick for Robbie Frame finished the job.
Newly-promoted Percy Main also had a good day and inflicted a first defeat on midweek leaders Carlisle City over in Cumbria despite travelling with only thirteen players. Natural leader Tony Browell was attending a wedding (in Carlisle!) and Graeme Cole and Steve Shadforth lined up only partially fit. In fact both had to be withdrawn early with recurring injuries.
The Villagers had keeper Rob Rodgerson and defenders Graeme Smith and Jason Ritchie in sterling form to repel several threats posed by City’s Ian Grainger in particular. And in the end the whole team’s efforts paid off handsomely for the visitors. The game’s single vital goal was claimed after 20 minutes by man-of-the-match Chris Doig who deftly controlled a cross-field ball from Smith to beat Carlisle custodian Twentyman from the edge of the box.
Defending champions Harraby Catholic Club bemoaned the lack of goal-line technology when, only nine minutes into their game at Murton, Mark Worrall’s 20-yard effort came down off the bar to clearly cross the line. The referee decided to award the goal but was over-ruled by his assistant.
Worrall however opened Harraby’s account only four minutes later to lay the foundations for an eventual 3-1 win. Mike Smith (penalty) and Craig Wood added further goals for the Cumbrians before Murton’s late consolation goal was claimed by Karl Garside.
After drawing their two opening games Alnwick Town earned their first victory by beating visitors Walker Central 2-1. This was a third straight defeat for the Central who were left propping up the table. Tony Brown and Chris Moffit netted before the break for Alnwick and Liam Mulligan replied in vain for Walker with his 70th minute penalty.
Killingworth Sporting also claimed their first win of the new campaign by beating visitors Cramlington Town 2-0 with goals by Conal Reed and Paul Dunn. And last season’s runners-up Wark finally clicked into gear after a disappointing start this time. They were 4-1 victors against Shankhouse at Northburn. Lee Telfer’s opener for Wark was cancelled out by Liam Jubb’s equaliser but Telfer’s second goal put the visitors in front again before the interval. John Stokoe banged in Wark’s third goal and Stuart Brown completed their tally with only seconds to spare.
Blyth Town were impressive 5-0 winners at home to Ashington Colliers who had picked up four points from their two previous outings. Only Gary Day’s 26th minute opener separated the two sides at half time but Blyth went on to boss the game.
Jonathan Mann doubled their lead with a close range effort from Day’s low cross and only a few minutes later Danny Beresford claimed Blyth’s third goal, heading home from a Neil Blades cross at the back post. Blades got in on the scoring act himself and lobbed his shot over the Ashington keeper to round off good work by his colleagues Graham Heath and Jonny Mann. And in the dying seconds Beresford was on target again for the Town when another effort from Mann was only parried out.

DIVISION ONE – HEBBURN KEEP THINGS TIGHT
Three teams – Hebburn Reyrolle, Whitley Bay A and South Shields United – are all on nine points after three games and leading the charge in the First Division. These could be the sides to beat for the other promotion aspirants this term.
Hebburn have scored eight goals in the process without conceding but had to settle for a 1-0 victory away to Cullercoats to keep their run going. In pole position on goal difference Reyrolle’s winner at the coast was scored by Craig Watson with only ten minutes to spare.
Whitley Bay A are fancying their chances of step ping up this term and their third win on the trot, 5-0 away to Morpeth Sporting Club, was impressive. Ian Lee helped himself to a hat-trick for the Bay and their remaining marksmen were Dean Porter and new comer Nathan Lajevardi.
South Shields United also had a hat-trick hero in their 3-1 victory away to Heddon. Kyle Yorston scored all of the Shields goals, two in the first half and one after the break. Heddon bagged a late reply through Ben Haddock but this defeat indicated how tough it might prove to get back into the top flight at the first attempt.
Newcastle East End, Amble United and North Shields Athletic are all tucked in behind the leading trio after they all picked up maximum points last weekend. Newcastle East End did the trick by beating visitors Berwick United Ultras 4-2 with goals supplied by Andrew Graham (2), Kieran Green and Craig Pleasant. It wasn’t quite as pleasant for Berwick whose replies came from Andy Bergen and Craig Heugh.
Amble United and newly-promoted North Shields Athletic secured identical 2-0 victories with Ricky Hume opening the scoring in their game at Forest Hall where their second counter was an own goal gifted by Forest defender Jamie Matthews. This was the Hall’s third successive defeat following their rather unexpected promotion from the Second Division.
After losing 1-0 at home to Whitley Bay A in midweek North Shields Athletic bounced back by beating visitors and promotion partners Stobswood Welfare 2-0 with goals for Matty Donkin and Liam Bainbridge.
Gosforth Bohemians drew 1-1 with Chopwell Officials at Benson Park where Andrew Thompson netted for the hosts and Rowland Lee replied to earn Chopwell their first point. And after two drawn games on the trot Peterlee Town made no mistake in beating visitors Wallington 4-0. Still pointless after three starts, Wallington were sunk by the Newtowners’ goals put away by Peter Crawford (2), Dave Paul and Chris Freeman.

DIVISION TWO – WHO’LL BE FIRST TO BREAK?
There are four surviving hundred percent records in the Second Division where Wallsend Town, Red House Farm, Wallsend Boys Club and Tynemouth United are setting a hot early pace.
These front runners were all in goal-hungry mood and probationers Red House Farm, settling quickly into their new surroundings, were 5-0 victors away to Newcastle BT. A sending off after half an hour didn’t help BT’s cause when they were already 1-0 down. Chris Davison weighed in with his hat-trick for Red House who also had Chris Mann bagging himself a brace.
Both Wallsend Town and Tynemouth United claimed 4-1 home wins with the Town accounting for Cullercoats Custom Planet with goals scored by Craig Burke(2), Declan Graham and Alex Downey. And Tynemouth, always expected to make their mark in this campaign, had Lee Garwood (2), Lee Brady and Aaron Chalmers on target to sink Seaton Burn. Chris Garwood saw his penalty saved by the Seaton Burn keeper and the visitors’ single reply came from Chris Baker.
Wallsend Boys Club picked up maximum points from a thrilling 5-3 home win against new boys Simonside S.C. The Boys Club were trailing 3- 1 at the interval following Simonside strikes by Shaun Edwards ( 2) and Sean Flood but staged a spirited recovery led by hat-trick hero Mike Starkie. Andy McBride scored a fourth for the home side and their tally was completed with a stunning 50-yard drive by Rob Haney.
Swalwell meanwhile have been enjoying an encouraging start this time around with two wins out of three and they comfortably beat visitors Wideopen & District 5-1. Mick Bell with his header from a flag kick and Adam McVickers scored in the first half to set up Swalwell for the kill and after the break further goals were added by Nark Fitzpatrick, Mike Hurst and Bell again with his second in the closing stages.
Newcastle Chemfica made it two wins from three starts by beating visitors Northbank Carlisle 2-1. A goal each for Gareth Davis and Phil Bone settled the issue in Chemfica’s favour with John Slaven pulling a goal back for the disappointed Cumbrians.
Hexham had Neil Tiffin scoring the game’s only goal in the second half at home to Amble to secure their first win while the Seasiders are still waiting for their first point. And Whitley Bay Town, also still pointless, lost out 4-2 to visitors Willington Quay Saints. Liam Hudson and Chris Fairley netted for the Bay but they came off second best when Glen Johnson (2), Andy Macbeth and Ryan Ferrira got on the score sheet for the Saints.