The Fourth Enforced Exhalation

We had a great afternoon at Purvis Park on Saturday as Shankhouse were defeated 3-1, allowing us to complete our second double of the season. Sadly Geoff's printer was on the blink so there weren't any programmes, so the following articles didn't get published. Here they are now instead -:

Good afternoon everyone and welcome to Purvis Park for this afternoon’s Pin Point Recruitment Northern Alliance Premier Division game against Shankhouse. I’d like to extend a special welcome to all the players, supporters and officials associated with our visitors today. I trust they will enjoy their short stay with us.

Last week we defeated today’s opponents 2-1 at their Northburn ground in Cramlington. However the result was overshadowed by the most tremendous piece of sportsmanship it has been my privilege to see, not just in the time I’ve followed Percy Main, but in my 39 years of following football. After 19 minutes of last week’s game the Main’s Lindsay Collinson was knocked out cold following a penalty box collision with Jevan Jull. In the absence of a whistle, Shankhouse played on, quite properly, and took the lead. However, when the extent of Lindsay’s injury became clear, Shankhouse sportingly allowed Kevin Westphal to run unchallenged from the halfway line to score an immediate equaliser. Well, immediate in game play; it was nigh on three quarters of an hour in actual time. I must pay tribute to the Shankhouse team for allowing that to happen.

Soon after Kevin put us ahead and, after 21 minutes, we were all wondering if it was to be a repeat of last season’s incredible 6-4 win for the Main. In the end, it proved to be the end of the scoring. No doubt the close proximity of the game will mean that the two sides will have a pretty good idea of each other’s style of play, so let’s hope for an entertaining and open game. Last season Percy Main squeaked home by a margin of 2-1 in a midweek game played in late April, with both Villagers goals being scored by combative striker Jonathon McEnaney.

After today, the Main are off on our travels again, with next Saturday presenting a tough St. Patrick’s Day challenge in the shape of a trip to title challengers Heaton Stannington, who seem to have the Indian sign over us, having completed 4 straight wins since our promotion in 2010. The week after sees us making the trip to Hirst Welfare for a game against Ashington Colliers, before we welcome our old mates from Stocksfield on March 31^st. All Saturday games are now 2.30 kick offs.

Off the pitch, our old Web Teams website appears to have disappeared in to the ether, so all our cyber activity can be found at www.percymainafc.co.uk  with the site being added to and developed all the time. Peter Bainbridge is doing a sterling job by uploading videos of Pierre Luc Coiffait practising his gargantuan throws, while Geoff is publishing Tim Grimshaw’s action shots of the game quicker than The Pink used to hit the streets! 

The website also gives details of the NEW Percy Main Bingo Lottery, which is being overseen by Geoff. It’s very easy to get involved; just pick 6 numbers between 1 and 49, then choose how many weeks you wish to participate, cost of £1 per week for each set of 6 numbers, then see Geoff to pay your stake and get a lottery ticket in return, or email him at geoff@cinix.co.uk 

Please consider joining and do enjoy the game today! 

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While our fixture at Northburn was action packed last weekend, with the added bonus of Division 2’s bottom side Cramlington United losing 1-5 to 11^th placed Alnwick Town Reserves (the only goal I saw was Cramlington’s, so don’t ask for a match report) on the adjoining pitch, the place to be for cup action was Newcastle University’s Coach Lane pitches, with both Northumberland FA Minor Cup semi-finals taking place concurrently.  The final will be between Wallington, who overcame the University by a single goal, and a Chemfica side that were able to hold their nerve in a penalty shoot-out against this season’s surprise cup package Willington Quay Saints. Chemfica prevailed 4-2 after a 3-3 draw after extra time.

The Alliance Premier Division saw half a dozen fixtures, with Carlisle City returning to the summit after a 1-0 win over fourth placed Killingworth at the Sheepmount, overhauling Heaton Stannington who slipped to a 4-2 home loss to a Hebburn Reyrolle side that move up to third. Whitley Bay A claimed 5^th spot ahead of the inactive Harraby Catholic Club, by winning 2-1 away to Seaton Delaval Amateurs, who lie a place and a point ahead of us in 10^th, but with the small matter of 5 games in hand. In the final game, Blyth Town, who are 9^th, ended their recent poor run of form by winning their local derby 3-0 over 8^th placed Ashington Colliers.

In Division 1, the solitary fixture saw Cramlington Town move up to 6^th after a single goal victory over second bottom Morpeth Sporting Club. Meanwhile the First Division Subsidiary Cup, whereby 10 teams (with the exception of Cramlington Town who opted not to participate) are split in to 2 groups of 5 teams, got underway with Amble United winning 2-0 away to Cullercoats in Group A and Forest Hall and Gosforth Bohemians playing out a stalemate in Group B.

Division 2 saw leaders Red House Farm surprisingly held 2-2 by 12^th placed North Shields Athletic. It was 2-2 when second met third as Hexham and Wallsend Boys Club shared the spoils. Fourth placed Harton & Westoe could not benefit from this, as it remained scoreless in Carlisle against fifth top Northbank. Bedlington Terriers Reserves are 7^th after thumping second bottom Swalwell 4-0, while 8^th top Whickham Lang Jacks did their goal difference a power of good by cuffing sixth placed Wideopen 7-0. Finally, in the 9^th v 10^th clash, New Fordley and Alston shared the spoils in a 2-2 draw.

In the Northern League, praise must go to Dunston UTS, 4-3 winners at Peterborough Northern Star and West Auckland Town, who won 2-0 away to Bournemouth; both teams are now in the FA Vase Semi Final. In Division 1, Whitley Bay’s troubled times continued when Spennymoor United came to Hillheads and won by the only goal, while Newcastle Benfield, who are learning to live without talismanic striker Michael Chilton, had a good win 2-1 over Shildon. In Division 2, Team Northumbria moved 14 points clear at the top, with a resounding 4-0 win away to Washington. West Allotment Celtic are only 2 points from a promotion spot after beating Chester Le Street 3-1, while North Shields dropped to 8^th, after they were held at home 2-2 by Birtley Town.

Gateshead’s hopes of a return to the Football League seem to be over, as a 3-2 home loss to Ebbsfleet saw them drop down to 10^th place in the table. Good news for Blyth Spartans though; Tommy Cassidy’s side registered their first away win for 6 months, with a 2-0 success in North Wales against Colwyn Bay. Well done to them; where there’s life, there’s hope!