3 PM Reports

Me & Norman have decided we're going to do a programme at Percy Main again. However, the next home game isn't until October 14th, when Chemfica are the visitors, which means these match reports I've written will be too long out of date to feature in print. Consequently, here they are -:

Ponteland United 3 Percy Main 3:

August 16^th, 2023

Percy Main Amateurs continued their early season theme of scoring wonder goals, along with conceding terrible ones, in a thrilling 3-3 draw away to Ponteland United. This was the Main’s debut performance at Pont’s new ground at the Leisure Centre, though trivia fans would have noted this was actually the fourth pitch used for contests between the two sides over the years and, remarkably, the third in the last 10 months. Certainly, this facility has all the attributes of Ponteland’s original home, in boasting a huge, flat, well-grassed pitch that provides ample space and encourages both sides to play football, which is what contributed to such an entertaining contest.

After an encouraging opening that saw the Main take the game to their opponents, Kieran Brannen opened the scoring on 11 minutes, putting the Villagers ahead with a precise lob from almost 30 yards that sailed over stranded home keeper John Jenner, and nestled snugly in the right corner of the goal. It may not have had the flamboyance of Brannen’s strike against Rutherford the week before, but it was a finish worthy of the warm applause it garnered. The lead was almost doubled soon after, when Brannen cleverly worked space in the area, but saw Jenner spread himself to block a powerful low effort. Jenner also had to be alert to gather a fizzer from Mark McDonnell as Percy threatened to run away with the game. 

However, Ponteland came back into the game and levelled on the half hour when a corner fell invitingly on the left foot of Nathan Close, who despatched the ball with some aplomb beyond the despairing visitors’ back line. Brannen again went close with a delicious curling effort from the edge of the box that Jenner did well to palm away. Instead, it was the home side who took the lead on the verge of half time when Jude Mattera evaded both the Percy offside trap and the desperate efforts of keeper Callum Elliott, to run from deep and clip the ball home.

Immediately after the break, things got appreciably worse for Percy when an unmarked Close was allowed the freedom of the penalty area to nod home a well-flighted free kick from the far touchline. This blow seemed to take the game decisively away from the Main, and the game entered a period of low intensity keep ball from both sides, where little in terms of penalty box action occurred. However, things changed with 20 minutes remaining. Firstly, a spill in the box by Jenner, after a free kick had been awarded for handling outside the area, spotted by eagle-eyed assistant, the legendary Keith Scoffham, caused a proper scramble that just failed to see the ball forced home. Perhaps this was the encouragement the Main needed, as substitute Olly Emmerson took matters into his own hands, and halved the arrears with a stunning 25-yard effort that flew into the top corner.

From then on, the Main forced Pont back in search of an equaliser, but with the clock running down it seemed as if their quest would be in vain, until substitute Jack Fishburn collected a through ball on the edge of the box, evaded two challenges and sent a composed low finish across the stranded Jenner to bring the scores level and spark riotous celebrations among the visiting contingent. It was, in fairness, the correct result and another very entertaining game. Let us hope the Main can now concentrate on scoring tap-ins and keeping clean sheets for a change.

Percy Main Amateurs 7 Stobswood Welfare 3:

August 26^th, 2023

After a brace of disappointing home losses to Killingworth in the George Dobbins Cup and Newcastle Independent in the League, Percy Main returned to winning ways in a thunderous encounter with in-form Stobswood Welfare, who had themselves won their previous 4 games. Ironically, considering the fireworks that were to follow, the opening passage of play was a decidedly tepid affair, with neither keeper tested in the opening 10 minutes.

The game burst into life on 12 minutes, when Dillon Blake showed great determination on the right edge of the Stobswood area, to dispossess a visiting defender, caught with the ball under his feet from a throw-in. Once in control of the ball, Blake calmly slotted the ball into the bottom corner of the net. Ten minutes later, the lead was doubled, as was Blake’s goal tally. Jordan Stephenson nodded a loose ball back across the goalmouth and Blake pounced to rifle it into the top corner of the net. Unfortunately, this was to be Blake’s last contribution, as he limped off soon afterwards with a hamstring strain. Thankfully, any fears that this meant the end of the Villagers as an attacking force were soon dispelled as Stephenson himself got in on the act after 34 minutes, racing through on the right and finishing at the second attempt. Two minutes later, it was 4-0. McKenzie Sharpe hit the bar with a header and Stephenson was the first to react, stroking the rebound emphatically home.

At this point, the Main were utterly dominant and Stobswood were utterly unable to offer any kind of response, as the half ended 4-0. Credit though to the Northumbrian visitors, who didn’t give up at any point. Indeed, they got one back on 50 minutes, when a needless push in the penalty area gave Max Anderson the opportunity to cut the deficit from the spot. However, moments later the Villagers had restored their 4-goal advantage with a spot kick of their own. Sharpe was flattened on the edge of the area and got up to fire the penalty home. Stobswood’s veteran striker Josh Hay was largely kept quiet by the excellent Harry Twinn, playing in an unfamiliar centre back role, but the imposing forward got one back when pouncing on a loose ball after 61 minutes, to make the score 5-2.

Chances came thick and fast at both ends after that, with debutant Main keeper Aaron Steavens twice denying Hay before Stephenson completed his hat trick on 67 minutes. Substitute Kieran Brannen tore down the right and sent over a glorious cross that Stephenson planted into the roof of the net. There was still time for Anderson to notch his second penalty, before Brennan gloriously completed the scoring with an exquisite finish into the bottom corner, to make the final score a scarcely credible 7-3 to the home side.

Percy Main 2 Burradon & New Fordley 0;

September 2^nd, 2023

After a succession of goal gluts and defensive mishaps in the early part of the season, Percy Main came into this game on the back of a stalemate away to Hebburn Town Reserves. Considering Burradon and New Fordley had inflicted a 5-0 hammering on The villagers when the teams last met at the back end of last season, it was particularly gratifying to record a second successive clean sheet, as The Main notched up another excellent home win. It may not have had the fireworks of earlier contests against Rutherford and Stobswood, but this was perhaps a more enjoyable win as the boys from Purvis Park controlled the game from start to finish. In all honesty, the score told the truth about the game; this was a comfortable win for Percy against a side whose reputation counted for far more than their attempts on goal on the day. The reasons for that must include the assured and dominant displays at centre half by Harry Twinn and Man of the Match Thomas Bramley.

Conditions were perfect for football, as the game began in bright sunshine on a warm afternoon without a breath of wind to spoil proceedings. From the very off, the contest was played as a breakneck pace, with play switching rapidly from one end to the other. Kai Charlton had the first chance for the home side after one such lightning break, but his effort lacked sufficient power to trouble Thomas Shanley in the visitor’s goal. After 17 minutes, Callum Elliott proved why he is such an asset to The Main with a quite extraordinary save, tipping over Henry Rawlinson’s stinging effort from fully 30 yards. Again play switched to the other goal and Mackenzie Sharpe was inches wide with a header, though the home side were ahead a minute later when Charlton picked up a loose ball from a corner and drove it emphatically home through a knot of players in the six yard box.

It was no more than the Main deserved and despite a flurry of yellow cards for the home team, following a degree of unpleasantness with the volatile Sean McRoberts, Percy went in at the break a goal to the good. Soon after the resumption, the lead was doubled in superb style, when Sharpe collected the ball on the left touchline, cut inside and fired a low shot into the corner of the net that left Shanley motionless. This was effectively game over and the Main could have added to their tally, as Sharpe, on three separate occasions, Jordan Stephensonall went close. At the other end, all-action skipper Mark McDonnell made a brilliant goal saving tackle, just as it seemed Sam Bullock was about to pull a goal back.

There was still time for Elliott to make another blinding, full length save from Dean Walker, before the final act of a great win for the home side saw McDonnell denied by Shanley’s knee as the whistle was about to be blown. An absorbing win and a thoroughly merited 3 points for a determined and attractive Percy Main side.