Heddon Easter

 Heddon v Hazlerigg was a pleasant way to spend Easter Saturday afternoon -:

Around this time every year, we hear the usual media bleating about players suffering from “burn out” because of the end of season “fixture pile-up.” Now, ordinarily I might have a bit of sympathy with the poor lambs, but the privations endured by these young millionaires (case in point; Newcastle United scheduled to play 7 league games in April) fade into insignificance when compared to the requirements placed upon those operating at lower levels. Gateshead, heroically thus far, have the small matter of 9 league games and an FA Trophy semi-final to deal with in the Cruellest Month. So far, they’ve reached Wembley and opened a 7-point gap on the relegation zone, so all is going swimmingly for Mike Williamson’s lads thus far and the very best of luck to them for their remaining fixtures.

Back in the day, I remember the FA Cup final taking place on the first Saturday in May. This year, it’s been shunted back to the first Saturday in June, with the final Premier League fixtures taking place the weekend before. Such a relaxed itinerary is not a privilege afforded to the rest of the pyramid, with Step 5 and 6 leagues required to finish their regular fixtures on Saturday 22 April, to allow for the convoluted play-off system now in place, presumably intended to add a sense of unnecessary hysteria to the race for that crucial second promotion spot in the Northern League, top and bottom flight. Now if you think that’s a daft regulation, Step 7 leagues, such as the wonderful Northern Alliance Premier Division, are required to finish on Saturday 6 May, to give the FA time to shuffle the pack as regards clubs in geographical grey areas, who may be cursed by lateral transfers. Considering that Alnwick town expressed an interest in promotion, I doubt this will unduly affect the composition of the Alliance next year. Of course, the three other Alliance divisions are allowed the luxury of being able to finish their programme on Saturday 13 May, while we’d best not get into the whole carry on about the scheduling of the 5 remaining NFA and Alliance Cup finals just yet.

At the time of writing, in the post-apocalyptic afternoon lull following the ravages of Tuesday 11 April’s storm, which has already led to the postponement of the opening weekend’s cricket fixtures in the NEPL, Stobswood Welfare, who currently lead the Alliance First Division, have already played 4 games in April, have the small matter of 11 fixtures remaining. Good luck to them with that, especially as they share their facilities with a reserve side and 2 cricket teams.

 

	Club	P	W	D	L	GD	PTS
1	Benton FC	22	14	2	6	+29	44
2	Alnwick Town Development	21	14	2	5	+28	44
3	Blyth Rangers	24	14	4	6	+28	43 (-3)
4	Whitley Bay Sporting Club A	22	13	1	8	+15	37 (-3)
5	Hazlerigg Victory	19	11	4	4	+12	37

In the Alliance basement, the promotion race is frighteningly tight; with the division above running 2 clubs light, the actual number of clubs going up and down, no doubt influenced as well by both expected and unexpected resignations,  will undoubtedly be a matter for the Alliance management committee to resolve in advance of the AGM, when next season’s constitution will be unveiled, but it looks like Hazlerigg Victory have got more than a fighting chance of finishing top 2, even if they have to squeeze in 7 fixtures by Saturday 6 May. Let’s hope they’ve not been sent an invite to Big Ears’ bash at Westminster Abbey that day.

In all seriousness, Hazlerigg (Hezzy to their devotees) have already played, and won, on 1, 5, 8 and 10 April, with further games to come on 12, 19, 22, 24, 26 and 29 of this month. Most of the squad also turn out for their Sunday team, who had a game on Easter Sunday as well. Providing Dinnington Welfare isn’t under water, they’ll be hosting Cramlington Blue Star Inter just about the time this blog goes live. While promotion is no doubt the prime motivation for Hezzy’s head honcho Mark Bullock, glorious failure would not leave them empty handed as Easter Monday lunchtime saw them lift the Neville Cowey Cup at Blyth Town’s ground after a titanic struggle with Ashington Reserves. Having gone in at the break trailing 3-0, Hazlerigg staged their own resurrection shuffle, winning 4-3 in the last minute, to spark uproarious celebrations. #Blythstanbul, as their twitter account presciently called it.

I couldn’t get to Blyth Town for the final so, taking advantage of a blank date for Percy Main, I took in Heddon United versus Hezzy on Easter Saturday. When I got there, alighting from a bus destined for Carlisle, it was a lovely, sunny Spring afternoon, with a warm breeze and clear blue skies overhead. The whole place oozed a semi-rustic charm in the far western extremities of the city, with the start of the Tyne Valley and Northumberland literally yards away, providing a pleasant location for what I thought would be my last footballing Saturday until mid-September. Though I’d not seen a Heddon home game this season, this wasn’t strictly a new ground for me, as the location of Walbottle Campus is also the home of Benwell and Walbottle Cricket Club where, coming down the slope, I took 4/16 (all bowled) on my last visit a couple of years ago. That night, a NCSL game was taking place on the adjoining 4G pitch, as it was again today; Westerhope United v Blackfyne to be precise. Heddon were using one of the grass pitches, which was slightly oddly marked, as an athletics track had been added to the outer edge. Strangely, one lane was incorporated in the pitch and so the line was effectively the juncture between lanes 2 and 3. Baffling and slightly disconcerting to look at.

Thus far in 2022/2023, I’d only seen Hezzy once; a 9-2 massacre of West Moor and Jesmond Under 23s, who called time on their Alliance campaign the week after, having suffered a 20-0 evisceration by Wallsend Boys Club Reserves. I’d sponsored the match ball for that first game as well. As regards Heddon, I must admit I’ve not seen them at their best. Well-beaten at Blyth Rangers back in November, when they appeared to run completely out of steam around the hour mark, they were bullied into defeat against Stocksfield in early February. Looking at the form of the two sides going into this game, I sensed an away win was on the cards. However, and I’m stating this unequivocally, Heddon were vastly improved since the previous times I’d seen them. They were organised and had purpose to their play but were up against a decent and determined Hezzy outfit who scrap like terriers for every ball.

The visitors took the lead on 12 minutes through Kieron Liddle’s clever finish. Moments later it should have been 2-0, but when presented with the opportunity to score the replica of Callum Wilson’s second at West Ham, the Hezzy forward opted to impersonate Chris Wood at Hillsborough instead. As a result, it remained 1-0 until the break, being a tight, competitive game on an unforgivingly bumpy surface. After the break, Hezzy doubled their lead early on when Mitchell Ramsay scored. Despite forcing the Hezzy keeper into a couple of notable stops, including a block that forced him to limp off injured, Heddon just couldn’t score, and it was left to Ramsay, rushing from his own half and beating any thought of offside, to complete the scoring after evading the keeper and rolling in from a tight angle.

A decent afternoon and encouraging to see two clubs looking in such good health. Hopefully, they’ll all enjoy a rest over the summer and come again with confidence next season.