HEATON CLOSE UP ON LEADERS

12th September

By Bill Gardner
In one of only two Premier Division league games Heaton Stannington, beaten only once in their last six outings, climbed into third spot by beating visitors Wark 4-1. Wark’s Jamie Peel opened the scoring after 20 minutes but replies from Adrian Watson and Lawrence McKenna had Heaton leading at half time. Two penalties put away in the 75th and 90th minutes by Adam Donaghey and Kevin Carr made certain for the home side.
Heaton’s latest victory allowed them to leapfrog over Percy Main who have lost some of their earlier edge and were restricted to a goal-less draw with improving Blyth Town at Purvis Park. A game of few chances could have been settled by either side in the closing stages. After 89 minutes the Main’s keeper Rob Rodgerson who had rarely been in action pulled off a tremendous point blank save to deny Danny Beresford. And only seconds later the Villagers could have snatched a win but Malcolm Morien, put through by substitute Craig Culyer, wasted what was an ideal opportunity.
Most of the weekend’s other games were in the first round of the Kicks Leisure George Dobbins League Cup and there were three upsets involving teams from the top flight. Carlisle City, Killingworth Sporting and Stocksfield all fell at the first hurdle. And Carlisle, four times past winners of this trophy, were beaten 6-3 at home by their Premier Division colleagues Ashington Colliers. After opening the scoring through Mark Graham, City were never in the hunt thanks mainly to Mark Richardson who banged in five goals for the Colliers. Their sixth was claimed by Marc Pattie before Carlisle replied twice in the dying minutes through James Hartley and Lee Otway.
Killingworth Sporting bit the dust, losing 1-0 away to Second Division opponents Hexham whose 72 nd minute winner was put away by Thomas North. And Stocksfield lost out 4-1 away to Second Division leaders Wallsend Town. Derek Graham gave Wallsend a 20th minute opener and their lead was doubled by club captain Ryan Arnott on the half hour mark. But on the stroke of half time the Tynesiders had a player sent off for violent conduct and straight after the change-over Ben Pearson got Stocksfield off the mark. They failed to make their numerical superiority count however and Wallsend’s Craig Burke and Sean Reid added further goals to round off a major upset.
There were one or two close things for other Premier Division hopefuls and Gateshead Rutherford just edged through 3-2 away to cup minnows Cramlington United. Isaac Mitchell, Robbie Frame and Michael Jeffares netted for the winners with Paul Weightman and Lindsey Collinson on target for the plucky home side.
Shankhouse, cup winners in 2005, were given a scare by Second Division hosts Wallsend Boys Club before emerging as 4-3 victors. Jordan Roberts, Michael Starkie and Gary Shaw scored for the Boys Club but Shankhouse just shaded it with goals for Dave Dormand (2), Chris Rue and Mike Bell – three of them resulting from long throw-ins.
In other ties results ran true to form with Alnwick Town leading the way and inflicting a crushing 10-0 defeat on troubled visitors Chopwell Officials. Stephen Hogg found the net four times for Alnwick whose tenth and final counter came from substitute keeper Brian Brooks.
Seaton Delaval’s 55th minute substitute Craig Cook completed a hat-trick in his side’s 6-2 home win against Forest Hall while there were two goals each for Andrew Davidson and Richard Kent in Ponteland United’s 7-0 victory over visitors Cullercoats Custom Planet.
Successes against teams from the lower divisions also allowed Cramlington Town, Harraby Catholic Club and Walker Central to retain their interest in the League Cup. Andy Carr found the net in each half of Cramlington 2-0 cup win against visitors Morpeth Sporting Club and Walker Central had an identical success to knock out cup hosts North Shields Athletic with goals put away by Craig Bryce and Nabby Benny.
Harraby Catholic Club trailed to Chris Smith’s opener for Second Division visitors Swalwell but recovered well to clinch a 4-1 verdict. Daniel Balmer levelled for the Premier Division’s reigning champions on the stroke of half time and after the change-over there were two more strikes inside two minutes by Marc Shiel (penalty) and Balmer again for the Cumbrians. Their fourth goal in 65 minutes was claimed by Matthew Thompson with his curling drive into the top corner.

DIVISION ONE – ANOTHER SETBACK FOR THE EAST END
Only two First Division league games were down for decision and Newcastle East End suffered a fourth successive defeat, going down 4-3 at home to Wallington. Mark Lowson, Andy Graham and Ian Graham found the net for the East Enders but their efforts counted for nothing in the end. Wallington wrapped up the points and just shaded their hosts with telling strikes by Justin Millican (2), Jonathan Kimmitt and Mark Jewitt.
Late starters Newcastle University picked up their first points by beating Heddon 3-2 at Cochrane Park. After a goal-less first half two goals for James Swainston gave the Students a clear lead. Replies from Ben Haddock and Kevin Urwin revived Heddon’s hopes but they were dashed when the University’s winner was scored from the spot by James Ripley.
Amble United, Whitley Bay A, Hebburn Reyrolle, Peterlee Town and Cullercoats were all in goal-hungry mood to keep the First Division flag flying with successes in the First Round of the Kicks Leisure George Dobbins League Cup.
Amble United made progress by beating cup visitors Seaton Burn 4-2. Always in charge and assisted by an own goal gift the Seasiders had Greg Dance (penalty), Ross Gair and Brent Aisbitt on target while Dave Hewitt and Chris Baker scored for the losers.
Gosforth Bohemians were Whitley Bay A’s 6-0 victims in their tie at Benson Park where the Bay over-ran their hosts and had their goals provided by Ian Lee (2), Michael McMullen, Dean Porter, Sean Jobson and Jamie Lyndon.
Hebburn Reyrolle won the League Cup last season and got their defence of the trophy off to a promising start with a 5-2 first round victory away to Newcastle BT who scored first and last through Greg Hamilton and Dan Sherliker. In the interim Simon Jacobs bagged himself a brace for Hebburn and his colleagues Ray Oshin, Craig Watson and Chris Morris were also on the mark.
Peterlee Town showed the exit door to visitors and Second Division newcomers Simonside SC who were soundly beaten 5-1. Shaun Edwards was a lone marksman for Simonside and the Newtowners cruised through with first half goals by Andrew Harrison and Luke Wallace and second half strikes by Dave Paul, Kris Hope and Phil Hickman.
Cullercoats also comfortably made the Second Round cut in the League Cup after winning 5-0 away to Whitley Bay Town who had no answer to their visitors’ fire-power. Craig Deighton and Steve Hart bagged two goals each for Cullercoats who lifted this prestigious trophy in the 2008-2009 season and the nap hand was completed by Phil Deighton.

DIVISION TWO – CHEMFICA ARE CLIMBING
In the single league game played in the Second Division, Newcastle Chemfica inflicted a second successive defeat on hosts Tynemouth United who stayed in second spot despite their latest 4-2 set-back. Chemfica meanwhile moved up into third place thanks to a brace each claimed by Steve Spence and Steve McLaughlin while the disappointed losers replied through Scott Rowan and Chris Garwood.
Second Division hopes in the League Cup now rest on Wallsend Town, Hexham, Northbank Carlisle, Red House Farm and Willington Quay Saints who all cleared their first round hurdles plus Amble, Newcastle Chemfica and Tynemouth United who received byes.
Red House Farm maintained their interest with 2-0 victory at home to Stobswood Welfare with both of their goals claimed by Chris Davison and Willington Quay were more spectacular 4-1 winners against powerful First Division visitors South Shields United.
The North Tynesiders dominated the cup-tie and, had it not been for some excellent saves by United’s keeper Shaun Newbrook, his side could have suffered a much heavier defeat. The Shieldsmen’s only goal was a rather lucky 70th minute effort by substitute Kyle Yorston but at that point the Saints were already four goals to the good and Shields didn't look capable of mounting any sort of come-back.
Hard-working performances from Dominic Mossa, Adam Bell and Jevon Jull were the only positives on a very disappointing day for the South Tyneside outfit which didn’t please manager Gareth Allen.

LEAGUE CUP SECOND ROUND DRAW
With clubs receiving byes entering the fray, the revised Second Round draw in the League Cup is as follows with ties due to be played on Saturday 16th October:
Alnwick Town v Red House Farm; Amble United v Wallington; Ashington Colliers v Amble;
Cramlington Town v Walker Central; Cullercoats v Ponteland United;
Harraby Catholic Club v Tynemouth United; Hebburn Reyrolle v Seaton Delaval;
Hexham v Whitley Bay A; Murton v Wallsend Town; Newcastle Chemfica v Shankhouse;
Newcastle East End v Heaton Stannington; Newcastle University v Northbank Carlisle;
Percy Main v Peterlee Town; Wark v Gateshead Rutherford; Wideopen & District v Heddon;
Willington Quay Saints v Blyth Town