STOCKSFIELD CLOSE TO UPSETTING LEADERS

7th November

By Bill Gardner
Alnwick Town are now enjoying a thirteen-point lead at the top of the Premier Division table. Still unbeaten, the Northumbrians clocked up their eleventh successive league victory but had to work hard for a 2-1 verdict at Stocksfield.
The league’s most prolific scorers had to wait forty minutes for Stephen Hogg’s opener. With the ball apparently out of play before Stocksfield’s Wayne Stewart was harshly penalised for a foul, Alnwick were awarded a contentious free kick. It found Hogg whose volley struck a defender before looping over keeper David Armstrong into the net.
Only a few minutes later the league leaders were pegged back by Jamie Starkey’s Stocksfield equaliser. Scott Johnson’s pass released Sharkey and he shot across the keeper to claim his fourth goal in only five games for his new club. After 65 minutes however Alnwick’s lead was restored by Ben Keenan and once again the circumstances were questionable. He appeared to come back from an offside position before turning the ball in for his side’s winner and after Stocksfield had a late potential equalise disallowed Alnwick were eventually relieved to hear the final whistle.
In a top of the table clash with Percy Main at Purvis Park and after suffering two defeats on the trot Ponteland United beat their hosts 2-1 to move back into second spot. Dean Gate gave the black-and-whites a very early opener and following good work by John Redhead and Andrew Davidson his half volley flew into the bottom corner.
United’s lead was doubled midway through the first half by winger Davidson who has scored in six of his last seven appearances for Jarrod Suddick’s side. This time Redhead and Harry Tulip were involved in the build-up and Davidson finished well with a low drive just inside the upright.
While Percy Main’s defeat extended a run of poor home form and saw them slip down to sixth place, both Carlisle City and Blyth Town are starting to take an interest in the title race, albeit as outsiders at the moment.
Carlisle City leapfrogged over Percy Main, Heaton Stannington and Harraby Catholic Club and while the last two were laid idle City climbed into third place with a 3-2 victory away to Shankhouse. Goals for James Armstrong and Jordan Walsh had given the home side a 2-1 advantage at the interval but Stuart Kilgour, Craig Cherry and Stuart Hill netted for the Cumbrians and Shankhouse have only won once at Northburn in this campaign.
Blyth Town have been creeping up on the rails despite a bout of travel sickness and they finally recorded their first away win, beating Seaton Delaval 3-0 at Wheatridge Park to climb into a very respectable fifth place. After only eight minutes they were fired in front by Danny Beresford when his chance was organised by Jeff Fuller.
Seven minutes into the second half Blyth’s lead was doubled and when Fuller pulled the ball back from the bye-line and Graeme Heath seized the easiest of chances to beat the keeper. Moments later the game was effectively over for Delaval. Steve Anderson was sent off for a late challenge on Town keeper Scott Earle who had to be taken off injured. And in the 67th minute Blyth neatly wrapped up the points with their third goal as a Fuller effort was handled and he stepped up to score from the resultant penalty.
After losing two home games on the trot Killingworth Sporting got things right again by beating visitors Wark 3-0. Wark had been unbeaten in three previous outings but looked lethargic in this encounter and were duly punished. Liam Callaghan bagged a brace for Killy whose other marksman was Kevin Westphal.
Walker Central picked up their first away points of the season and hauled themselves out of the basement with a 4-0 victory against second bottom Cramlington Town. The final score was no reflection of an entertaining game in which lively striker Nabby Benny was Walker’s secret weapon, scoring all four goals for the winners to crown a great personal performance.
In the second round of the Durham FA Trophy, Gateshead Rutherford were beaten 4-3 at home by league colleagues Simonside SC who had ex-Rutherford player Shaun Edwards scoring a hat-trick. And Murton made progress with a comfortable 7-2 win against Durham Alliance hosts Washington Town. Their goals were supplied by Liam Gill (hat-trick), Stephen Turner (2), Tom Elliott and Karl Garside.

DIVISION ONE – HEBBURN KEEP THE HEAT ON
First Division leaders Whitley Bay A were on county cup duty and nearest rivals Hebburn Reyrolle trimmed the Seasiders’ lead to a single point and the South Tynesiders have a useful game in hand. Hebburn kept this season’s hundred percent record intact by beating lowly visitors Stobswood Welfare 3-1. This wasn’t one of Reyrolle’s better performances but goals for Craig Watson (penalty), Dominic Solman and Craig Malley secured three more vital points. Chris Graham replied for the Welfare.
South Shields United climbed into third spot and made it four wins out of five at home by beating mid-table opponents Heddon 3-1. The Shieldsmen completed a league double over their visitors with goals shared by Aristote Guerin, Dominic Mossa and Tijan Kah.
Newcastle East End’s climb up the table was interrupted when they only managed a 3-3 draw away to Berwick United Ultras. Berwick, who have failed to win in their last four games, had Andrew Bergon, Brian Parkin and Sean Phillips finding the net in this one. But they still dropped another two points as the East Enders claimed their share of the spoils with replies from Mark Lowson(2) and Lee Stephenson.
From being front runners at one time in the First Division, Amble United have hit a bad patch and slumped down to sixth place. United’s 4-0 defeat by hosts Newcastle University was their third setback on the trot and they need to turn things around quickly to revive their promotion hopes. The Students meanwhile look set to charge up the table with their games in hand and they sunk Amble without trace with strikes by Ed Savitt( 2), Dan Clements and James Swainston.
Peterlee Town had just suffered three straight defeats at Eden Lane but stopped the rot at the expense of visitors Chopwell Officials who clearly still have some problems to sort out after losing 5-1. Goals for Darren Major and Martyn Pearce gave the Newtowners a clear interval lead. Alan Rennison pulled a goal back for Chopwell but they were on the back foot in the last half hour and conceded further goals to Peterlee’s Peter Crawford, Paul Franks and Phil Robinson.

DIVISION TWO – MORE MISERY FOR TELECOM LADS
None of the three Second Division matches had any bearing on the top of the table where Wallsend Town are holding off their nearest rivals Wallsend Boys Club. And in a clash with basement partners Wideopen & District there was no joy for hosts Newcastle BT. A 2-1 defeat stretched BT’s winless run to seven games as Wideopen clocked up their first league victory of the season. Anthony Bruce opened the scoring for BT but they were left disappointed and after Alex Wellington levelled for the visitors their stoppage time winner was snatched by Craig Redpath.
Despite having central defender Mike Smith sent off just before the interval Swalwell overtook Cullercoats Custom Planet in the pecking order by soundly beating their visitors 7-2 although it was only 2-1 at half time. Dave Fitzpatrick and Stuart Rook bagged a brace apiece for Swalwell who also had Joe Adams and Adam McVickers on target. Their tally was topped up with an own goal presented by the Planet’s Paul Katz. Tony Fawcett (penalty) and Andrew McCartney replied for the losers.
Willington Quay Saints have won only once on home turf this term and they were well beaten 6-1 by up-and-coming visitors Northbank Carlisle. The Cumbrians were dominant throughout and were rewarded with goals by John Slaven (2), Fraser Vass (2), Scott Thompson and Nicky Routledge. Gareth Pugh was a lone marksman for the Saints.

NORTHUMBERLAND MINOR CUP
Of the fourteen Northern Alliance sides involved in second round ties in the Ideal Stelrad Northumberland FA Minor Cup eleven cleared this hurdle. The teams bowing out at this stage of the competition were Wallsend Town, Whitley Bay Town and Amble.
There were resounding second round victories for Whitley Bay A, Hexham and Wallington and the Bay were 6-1 victors away to Belford with their goals coming from Ian Lee (2), Glen Rearden, Jamie Lyndon, Adam Johnson and Gavin Hattrick.
Hexham almost emulated Whitley Bay’s feat by winning 5-1 against Shilbottle CW Reserves at Wentworth Park. The Tyne valley outfit had Scott Robson and Mark Gibson scoring two goals each and Stephen Coates claimed their fifth.
Wallington however outdid their two colleagues and registered the round’s highest score by hammering Springhill Berwick 8-0 at Scots Gap. The spring was certainly taken out of the visitors and they were already trailing 6-0 at half time. Jordan Nellis led the way with his hat-trick for Wallington while Sam Walton bagged a brace and the rest of their goals were supplied by Kyle Reardon, Mark Jewitt and Nick McClughin.
A single first half goal for Chris Baker was enough to earn Seaton Burn their third round ticket at the expense of cup hosts Alnmouth United while Newcastle Chemfica narrowly beat visitors New York 2-1 with a Steve McLaughlin penalty and a telling second goal by Gareth Davies. And Red House Farm made home advantage count to beat Wearside League opponents Prudhoe Town 3-1.
North Shields Athletic made the cut by winning 2-1 away to Red Star Benwell with strikes by Graham Williams and David Jeffers and Cullercoats retained an interest by winning 4-2 away to Walker Central Reserves. Peter Bradley’s free kick got the Seasiders off the mark. Stewart Wright then netted twice to set Cullercoats up for the kill and their winning tally was completed by Gareth Armstrong.
Gosforth Bohemians were happy with a 3-2 verdict at Wooler to put them through with their goals shared by Dan Child, Andrew Renton and Nick Robinson. And there were two all-Northern Alliance ties in the Minor Cup’s second round.
Whitley Bay Town had Matt Bergh and Chris Fairley on target at home to league colleagues Wallsend Boys Club but after leading 2-1 with eight minutes to go ended up losing 4-2. The Boys Club hit back successfully through Ben Pollock, Oye Oyolade, Mike Starkie and Rob Haney in a storming finish.
The other county cup clash between sides in the Alliance’s Second Division saw third-placed Tynemouth United entertaining league leaders Wallsend Town with United emerging as impressive 4-2 victors. Lee Garwood (2), Lee Brady and Paul Gordon were Tynemouth’s scorers with Craig Burke and Alex Downey replying in vain for the disappointed losers.
Three second round ties postponed last weekend will be hopefully played this Saturday when Cramlington United entertain Blakelaw Club, Forest Hall visit Gosforth Bohemians A and Morpeth Sporting Club are away to West Jesmond.