Monday, 13 May 2013

Unpublished 8: Around the Grounds 08/05/13

We thought about doing a programme for Percy Main v Seaton Delaval, but it didn't quite come off. Here's the article that didn't get used. We won the game 3-1 incidentally; thanks for asking....




Following Whitley Bay A’s resounding 3-0 victory at Amble United Monday, the Seahorses moved back up to sixth place in the table, with the hosts remaining in third. More importantly the result means that the Northern Alliance Premier Division is now a two horse race, between Heaton Stannington, who this evening contest the Northumberland FA Senior Benevolent Bowl final at Blue Flames against our conquerors in the semi-final, Ponteland United and Blyth Town, who relegated Hebburn Reyrolle with a 7-2 victory in South Tyneside on Monday. Blyth, who are still unbeaten, host Amble tonight, where a victory would take them level with the Stann, albeit having played two games more. It all adds up to a titanic game on Saturday at South Newsham when the top two face each other. At the other end of the table, Rutherford said goodbye to the top flight with a creditable 4-2 loss to Carlisle City, who moved back up to 4th ahead of their inactive local, rivals Harraby United. Percy Main are in 11th place, with Wallsend Town, who lost 4-3 away to 9th top Stocksfield immediately below us, followed by the inactive Shankhouse and Killingworth, who drew 2-2 with Walker Central who are directly above us in the standings.

Bank Holiday Monday saw a high noon clash between the two leading sides; Red House Farm, boasting the experienced Mark Sheeran up front, and Wallington, in front of a healthy Off Broadway crowd that included a certain sheet metal worker’s son from Gosforth as well as my good self. Sadly the dull 0-0 draw provided few incidents for Mr Shearer to make incisive comments about. However Red House Farm won’t be complaining as they are now 4 points ahead of Northbank with only 3 points remaining, while Wallington require one win from their final games to claim the Division 1 title. The other Gosforth side, Bohemians, went goal crazy, winning 9-0 away to rock bottom Morpeth Town A, though they still remain in 9th place.

In Division 2, High Howdon bounced back from their 4-1 home loss to New Fordley on Saturday (a game at which I comprised 25% of the crowd at Monkseaton High School), with a 4-2 win away to Benfield Reserves, overtaking their hosts in the process, to sit in 11th spot. Elsewhere 13th beat 10th, as Alston overcame Wallsend Boys Club 3-2, while 9th place Alnwick Town Reserves were held 2-2 by second bottom Swalwell. Our visitors this evening, Seaton Delaval Amateurs, played host to the Division 2 Amateur Cup final on Monday, in which Birtley Saint Joseph’s lifted the trophywith a goal in each half against Blyth Isabella. Sharpshooter Damien Stevens made it 1-0 when struck home on the volley from just inside the box in the 15th minute and James Bowman added the second with a header from a free kick in the 66th minute. Well done to them.

In the Northern League, Whitley Bay may have assured themselves of third place in Division 1, but they endured a pretty miserable week; firstly Ashington trounced them 3-0 in the Northumberland Senior Cup at St. James’ Park, before they lost 2-0 at home to Consett on the Friday night, with Paul Robinson missing a penalty. Team Northumbria are set to finish around 15th, which is a good achievement in their first season in the top flight. Benfield are fourth bottom and were 10 minutes from safety last week, leading 2-0 at Consett when the floodlights failed, meaning the game was abandoned. However if Sunderland RCA fail to beat Billingham Town tonight, Benfield will be safe. In Division 2 West Allotment Celtic’s sparkling end of season was capped with a 3-1 win over Northallerton in the Ernest Armstrong Cup final and seventh place. North Shields finished a place below them, ending the campaign with a 2-0 home reverse to a Davey Surrey inspired Chester Le Street. Blyth Spartans finished 16th in the Evo Stik League, with a 2-1 loss at Nantwich Town.


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