Unpublished 7: Around the Grounds 16/03/2013

Originally, the Northern Alliance fixtures said Percy Main v Carlisle City on March 16th. Then it was changed to Shankhouse at home, so I wrote this article for the programme. The day after, we were informed our fixture would actually be Killingworth away, where we drew 3-3 in a blinding game. Consequently, this piece didn't get used as the programme wasn't printed. Hope you enjoy my fruitless labours.

Last Saturday’s NFA Benevolent Bowl semi-final may have been a thrilling spectacle for all those when were lucky enough to witness it, but that is of no real consequence to our heroic but bitterly disappointed Percy warriors who tasted defeat, for all their herculean efforts. However, while  our opponents today were inactive on account of the weather, second top Carlisle City also fell victims to a home defeat, when Seaton Delaval Amateurs left The Sheepmount with a 2-0 victory under their belts, moving themselves up to sixth place in the process. Kevin Westphal and Cameron Patrick netted late on for Delaval. In the only other Premier Division game to beat the terrible weather, the top versus bottom clash went with form, as Amble United demolished Rutherford 10-1. Hit-man Josh Hay grabbed five, while Matty Graham, Brent Aisbitt, Derek Atwell, Rikki Hume and an own goal made up the Seasider’s tally as they bounced back from two recent defeats. Walker Central took a break from their league campaign to overcome second division New Fordley 3-2 in the second round of the Bill Gardner Memorial Trophy, booking themselves a semi-final place in the process. Central grabbed the lead in the opening minute as Nkuriza “Drogs” Suaibu fired home but a double from Ben Davison flipped the game on its head. Dan Quine levelled before the break and the game was deep into stoppage time when Kris Carr grabbed the winner; 3 Main old boys on target in that one, which took place on the 4G surface at the Lightfoot Stadium and was one of several fixtures, changed to synthetic surfaces at unfamiliar venues.

In Division 1, Red House Farm switched their home game with Bedlington Terriers Reserves to the Excelsior Academy, which used to be the old West Denton High School, being rewarded with a 3-0 win, courtesy of goals by Dale Pearson, Marty Soulsby and Lee Brady, that puts them in 5^th place and leaves Bedlington two spots behind them. The other game to take place in that division was in Cumbria, which is fast becoming the Sahara of the Northern Alliance. Northbank moved up to third, with a 4-1 hammering of fourth bottom Cullercoats, courtesy of a Cameron Wilson hat-trick helped. Lee MacDermott got the other while Sean Smith notched for Cullercoats.  In the only Division 2 game to take place, at Monkseaton High School on astroturf, High Howdon’s Kyle Austin grabbed the winner in their clash with Alnwick Town Reserves, putting the sides tenth and eighth respectively.

The Northern League was also decimated by the terrible weather, with 7 games surviving, though Shildon did well to win their FA Vase 6^th round replay 4-1 at Ascot, booking themselves a place in the last 4. In Division 1, Team Northumbria lost an entertaining clash 3-2 away to Billingham Synthonia, whose Central Avenue pitch was pronounced to be in “immaculate condition.” All those airborne Teesside chemicals are good for playing surfaces if nothing else, evidently. Durham City defeated West auckloand 3-1 on their artificial pitch, with the goals being scored by the aptly named Winter. In Division 2, North Shields saw their promotion charge checked by lowly Alnwick Town, who held the Robins to a 2-2 draw.

Gateshead remain beset by problems with the International Stadium’s pitch, but they continued their push away from danger and attendant itinerant wanderings with a 3-0 win over Hyde at Blyth Spartans’s Croft Park, which is a bit like Rangers using Parkhead I suppose. Spartans themselves were inactive as their game at Nantwich was washed out.