VICKERS GOAL SINKS THE CHAMPS

24th October

By Bill Gardner
Nearest rivals Ponteland United slipped up and Alnwick Town went ten points clear at the top of the table. The unbeaten Northumbrians claimed their ninth league win on the trot, beating hosts and defending champions Harraby Catholic Club 1-0.
Alnwick were in front midway through the first half when Tony Brown’s inswinging corner found Tom Vickers who finished with the deftest of touches. After 55 minutes however the goal-scorer was taken off injured after colliding with the goalpost. He was replaced by James Swordy and the Northumbrians suffered another blow when Kevin Elliott received his marching orders but they defended well to cling onto the points.
.Ponteland lost their unbeaten record and after five successive victories went down 2-1 at home to Carlisle City. United were given a very early lead by Andrew Davidson who seized on an overhead pass from Max Turner to pick his spot.
Pont keeper Michael Havelock was injured after half an hour and was eventually replaced by Gareth Powell and Carlisle levelled right on half time as Steve Rooke stooped to head home from a corner kick. Both sides squandered chances after the break and a draw looked inevitable but with four minutes to go a City flag kick skidded off Pont defender John Redhead’s shin at the near post to creep over the line and present all three points to the visitors.
Percy Main and Heaton Stannington held onto third and fourth places respectively and Percy Main did the trick by winning 2-1 away to an in-form Ashington Colliers. The Colliers had won three and drawn one of four recent games and were fired into an interval lead by Michael Hogg after Shaun Gibson’s right wing corner came back off the upright. But straight after the break Jon McEnaney levelled for the Villagers after racing onto an astute through ball from Malcolm Morien. At the other end the Main’s keeper Rob Rodgerson did well to thwart Ashington’s John Moscrop but it was the Villagers who struck again to settle the issue. Ashley Smith scored the winner when put through by Tony Browell and the Colliers’ cause wasn’t helped by the by the dismissal of goal-scorer Hogg for a foul on Mick Haley.
Having won only one of five prior encounters Heaton Stannington turned the corner with a 3- 1 victory away to Killingworth Sporting despite having Kevin Carr red-carded after 65 minutes. Kevin Westphal opened the scoring for Killy but a determined Heaton came out on top with strikes by Ian Mills and Lawrence McKenna who bagged himself a vital brace.
Shankhouse had won all three of their away games before dropping in at Cramlington Town but they had a nasty surprise in store. Bottom rung outfit Cramlington picked up their first points on home turf this term and in a stirring encounter emerged as 5-4 victors. Despite a David Dormand hat-trick and a goal for Kevin Ord the visitors were still edged out of it. The Town ended a run of seven straight defeats with goals shared by Kieran Parsons, Christen Priest, Steve Rylatt, Sean Walker and Dieu Donne Lomana.
Seaton Delaval secured their first home win by beating Walker Central 2-1. The Central, still with no points on their travels, were given the lead by Abu Sallin but Steve Anderson levelled for Delaval before the interval. Walker worked hard after being forced to endure the second half with only ten men but were killed off by an 82nd minute strike by Delaval’s Stephen Howes.
Blyth Town had picked up only two points from four games prior to the visit of troubled Stocksfield but cruised to a 6-2 win on this occasion. A second minute opener for Gary Day gave Blyth a boost and when Jeff Fuller completed a first half hat-trick they were totally in charge. After the break Jonathan Mann added to the home side’s tally which was completed by Danny Beresford with his chance set up by David Atkinson. A Ben Pearson penalty and Mark Waugh’s own goal made up Stocksfield’s losing tally and they’re still seeking their first points away from home.
Murton lost 2-1 at home to Wark as both sides tried to shake off a spell of poor form. A 5th minute opener by Martyn Blenkinsop was unfruitful for Murton and Wark claimed victory with replies in each half from Matt McLoughlin and Matthew Blackith.

DIVISION ONE – EAST ENDERS THWART AMBLE
First Division leaders Whitley Bay A had their home game with Newcastle University postponed while second placed Hebburn Reyrolle staged their delayed Combination Cup tie, beating Morpeth Sporting Club 3-0. And Hebburn will be visiting Amble United in the quarter-finals on 20th November.
With these two pace-setters missing out on le ague action there was an opportunity for Amble United in third spot to narrow the points gap but they were left frustrated and were beaten 3-2 away to Newcastle East End. Darren Riddell’s two goals for the Seasiders weren’t enough and their seven-match unbeaten run was halted. After losing four previous games on home turf the East Enders got back on track impressively thanks to goals supplied by Mark Lowson, Ian Graham and Robbie Mills.
Along with the East End both Cullercoats and Heddon are still trying to get up among the leaders and they also picked up points to progress their ambitions. Cullercoats however featured in their third draw in four games and were restricted to a 2-2 stalemate by visitors Gosforth Bohemians. The Cullercoats scorers were Peter Bradley and Graham Allen but the Bohs deserved their share of the spoils with their replies coming from Darren Campbell and Peter Gadsden.
Heddon are now sharing fourth place with Cullercoats after their 3-2 victory away to bottom rung strugglers Forest Hall who remain on zero points from eight games. Michael Reay and Neil Gibson netted for the Hall but their efforts went unrewarded. Ben Haddock’s hat-trick for the visitors proved decisive even if the narrowness of their victory wasn’t too convincing.
North Shields Athletic were happy to end a winless run of six games by beating hosts Peterlee Town 3-1 in a mid-table battle. After Liam Elliott grabbed a very early opener for the Athletic the Newtowners had a chance to restore parity on the quarter hour mark. Peter Crawford missed from the penalty spot however and almost immediately Dave Jeffers doubled the North Shields lead. Stephen Hockaday got the home team off the mark but with ten minutes to go Craig Boyle wrapped up the points with the Athletic’s third goal.
Three First Division games were washed out and as well as Whitley Bay A’s game at Hillheads the other casualties of the weather were Berwick United’s home game with South Shields United and Stobswood Welfare’s fixture against visitors Chopwell Officials.

DIVISION TWO – WALLSEND DROP FIRST POINTS
Table-toppers Wallsend Town had their hundred percent record in the Second Division terminated when they only managed a 3-3 draw with Northbank over in Cumbria. First half strikes by Sean Reid and Ronnie Kay had given the Tynesiders a great start but Northbank hit back on either side of the interval through Scott Thompson (penalty) and Andy Rogerson. Although Derek Graham’s goal edged Wallsend in front again they were deprived of victory by Rogerson’s second goal of the game for their hosts.
While Newcastle Chemfica were lying idle Simonside SC leapfrogged over them into second spot thanks to an amazing 6-5 win at home to Cullercoats Custom Planet. The most frustrated man on the pitch had to be the Planet’s Martyn Hepple who scored all five of their goals but still finished on the losing side. Simonside have won all four of their home games to date and just edged this thrilling encounter with strikes by Sean Flood (2), John Bailey (2), Ian Hudson and Steve Graham.
Tynemouth United in fifth spot beat fourth-placed hosts Wallsend Boys Club 3-1 to signal the end of a brief lean spell. Only an outstanding display by home keeper Phil Holgate kept Tynemouth at bay in a goal-less opening half but he was beaten after the break by United’s Lee Garwood and then Steve Matthews. Rob Haney’s successful spot lifted the Boys Club’s spirits but they waster several other scoring chances and were punished when Garwood was again on target for the visitors.
Seaton Burn celebrated after securing their first points away from home with a single goal victory over Red House Far. This was a third defeat on the trot for the Farm with the Burn’s winner scored from the spot by Ian Armstrong.
Swalwell were 3-2 victors away to Cramlington United who had won one and drawn three of their four most recent games in the Second Division. Despite having Lindsay Collinson and Mark Langlands on target United’s improved run was ended as Swalwell harvested the points with replies from Dave Fitzpatrick (2) and Chris Smith.
Hexham beat Newcastle BT 2-1at Wentworth Park but were trailing at the interval to Sean Blakey’s opener for their visitors. Tom Phillips netted to get Hexham back on terms and their winner was put away by Steve Coates.
Both Whitley Bay Town and Willington Quay Saints celebrated rare successes and the Bay notched their first win of the season. They beat bottom rung visitors Wideopen & District 1-0 with the game’s single goal scored after half an hour by Richard Biggs.
Willington Quay moved up the table a couple of notches, securing their first home points from a 3- 2 victory over strugglers and poor travellers Amble. The Saints were 2-1 down at half time but hit back effectively and got the points in the bag with strikes by Andrew Macbeth (2) and Gareth Pugh.