Unpublished 1: Around The Grounds 22/08/12

Last season, every time a Percy Main home game fell victim to the weather, I put the stuff I'd done for the programme that would not now see the light of day on here. This season I'll do the same. However, the game versus Wallsend Town on 22nd August did go ahead (we won 5-3), but the programme didn't appear because of a computer malfunction. Regardless of reason, here's the piece I wrote for the programme -:

We should now be three games in to the Northern Alliance season, but the incredible rain of Wednesday and Friday last week has, as ever, caused havoc with fixtures. As a result, only 5 teams have played all their fixtures; poor Shankhouse have only managed a single game and that was a 3-0 defeat away to Carlisle city. The Cumbrians sit proudly on top of the Premier division after 3 straight wins, the latest of which was a single goal victory over a Hebburn Reyrolle outfit still looking for their first point. Amble and Harraby have 100% success rates, but didn’t play yesterday, while Whitley Bay A moved up to fourth with a 4-1 win over Rutherford, who prop up the division. Champions Heaton Stannington are 5^th, with 2 wins out of 2, the latest being a 2-0 success over Seaton Delaval. The other game to take place in the Premier Division on Saturday 18^th, saw Wallsend Town continue their unbeaten start with a 2-1 win over Killingworth sporting, despite having 2 players red carded in a fiery encounter.

In Division 1, the pace setters are Cramlington Town, who are benefitting from a long break after last season. Having opted out of the Supplementary Cup, they finished competitive action at the back end of March and have come roaring out the blocks with 3 straight wins, including a 2-0 success away to Cullercoats on Saturday. The other high flyers are newcomers Northbank Carlisle, who have also taken 9 points out of 9, the latest coming from a 2-1 success at Forest Hall. Heddon, who we face in the Northumberland FA senior Benevolent Bowl on October 6^th at Purvis Park, were inactive yesterday, but have 6 points from 2 games. Morpeth Town, who are here on September 22^nd in the George Dobbins League Cup, were trounced 6-1 at newly promoted Hexham on Saturday. Chemfica went one better, defeating a Bedlington Terriers side who’ve lost all 3 games and languish at the foot of the table, 6-0. The other 2 games saw a brace of 2-2 draws; Ponteland United being held at home by Gosforth Bohemians and Willington Quay Saints playing out a similar scoreline with fellow promoted club Red House Farm at the Barking Dog.

Things are tight in Division 2, with only new boys Wooler (3-1 victors away to fellow rural outfit Alston) and North Shields Athletic (who fell 2-0 victims at home to debutants Birtley St. Joseph’s) having played their full complement of 3 games. Wallsend Boys Club are top, having collected full points from 2 games, having beaten Longbenton 2-0 on Saturday, taking over from the inactive Wideopen. The other games saw 8 goals shared in a 4-4 cracker between Blyth Isabella and New Fordley, while Swalwell and Newcastle Benfield Reserves had a more modest sounding 2-2 draw at Derwenthaugh Road. The final game saw last campaign’s wooden spoon side Cramlington United win 3-0 away to Grainger Park Boys club at Newburn Leisure Centre. It is very early days yet.

That message must also be the mantra of Newcastle Benfield boss Perry Briggs, who saw his side dumped out of the FA Cup last week by a returning Durham City side and then fall 3-2 away to West Auckland. Whitley Bay started their league campaign with a 2-1 success at Billingham Town. Team Northumbria lost 2-0 at Spennymoor in the Craven Cup (the Northern League Charity Shield); then fell 3-0 to the same opponents in the league. Astonishingly, there was a sell-out crowd at Bishop Auckland, though it was for the visit of Darlington 1883, who prevailed 3-1 in their first game at this level since the 19^th Century. Gilford Park have changed their name to Celtic Nation, for some reason, and it was under this moniker they celebrated their first game in Division 1 with a 1-0 home win over South Shields. Not quite as impressive as Division 2 newcomers Ryhope CW, who won 7-0 away to Stokesley. North Shields lost 1-0 at Jarrow Roofing, after going out the FA Cup at Birtley Town in a replay and West Allotment Celtic drew 3-3 away to Seaham Red Star. In the Conference Gateshead were held at home 1-1 by Forest Green, in front of 531, while 494 saw Blyth Spartans lose 2-1 to Witton Albion.