The immediate and most galling effect of the late goal we
conceded at Rutherford last week was to drop Percy Main from 8th
spot, down to 11th as things begin to get very tight in mid and
lower mid table in the Alliance Premier Division. In addition, the vast
variation in the number of games played, from 9 to 15, gives the league an
unbalanced and indistinct look. Those who benefitted from our misfortune, in
rank order, were Seaton Delaval Amateurs, who returned from Cumbria with a more
than creditable point from a tough tussle at Gillford Park against fourth top Harraby
that ended 1-1. Inactive Stocksfield are 9th and Wallsend Town moved
a place above us with a notable 3-1 home win over Blyth Town who stay in 5th.
Shankhouse dropped to the foot of the table, crashing 7-1 to table toppers
Amble, whose lead over Heaton Stannington was stretched to 6 points, with the
Grounsell Park outfit being without a game. Directly below us, Killingworth
Sporting leapfrogged Walker Central who lie in 13th place, with a resounding
5-0 away win at Monkchester Green. The final fixture saw third placed Carlisle
City win 2-0 at Hillheads against a Whitley Bay A side that are 7th.
In Division 1, pride of place went to the Combination Cup
quarter finals; the game of the day saw Gateshead Redheugh win 5-4 away to
current leaders Cramlington Town, while Red House Farm triumphed 5-2 at Links
Avenue over Cullercoats and a single goal was enough for Heddon to prevail over
Bedlington Terriers Reserves. The solitary home win saw Ponteland United
progress at the expense of Chemfica by a margin of 4-2. In the league games,
Wallington moved up to second with a convincing 5-2 victory over third bottom
Willington Quay Saints, while fifth placed Northbank Carlisle enjoyed their
trip to Morpeth Town A, condemning the basement side to a 4-0 drubbing.
Newcastle University, who have been deducted 4 points, remain in the relegation
spots, after losing 2-1 at home to Gosforth Bohemians, who are in 12th
spot. Finally, Hexham, who must be rueing the loss of 3 points earlier in the
season, cemented seventh place in the table with an entertaining 4-3 win away
to ninth top Forest Hall.
The Amateur Cup quarter finals also took place for second
division sides, with the biggest win seeing Longbenton prevail 5-0 away to High
Howdon. They were joined in the semi-finals by Blyth Isabella, who saw off
Wooler 3-0, Birtley St. Josephs, 2-0 winners over North Shields Athletic and
Seaton Burn, who progressed past local rivals Wideopen with a single goal in
extra time. Three Division 2 games also took place; firstly Swalwell remain
second bottom after losing 2-0 at home to Wallsend Boys Club who are seventh.
It was a 1-1 stalemate, when fourth top were held by fourth bottom, in the game
between New Fordley and Alston. Finally, Benfield Reserves moved to 11th
with a 3-1 home success over 9th placed Alnwick Town Reserves.
In the Northern League, the story of the day was at Coach
Lane, where Team Northumbria had their record crowd of 482 against Darlington of
which over 400 were away fans; in contrast, Gateshead only drew 312 for their
2-0 FA Trophy win over Macclesfield. Peter Watling’s double gave the Students
the points and a famous scalp. Elsewhere in Division 1, Whitley Bay won 1-0 at
Consett while Benfield contrived to lose 2-1 at Marske after being a goal up in
injury time. In Division 2, North Shields had a comfortable 3-0 home victory
over Whickham and West Allotment lost 4-1 at home to Northallerton, in a game
that probably had 400 less spectators than the one down the hill at Team North.
In addition Blyth Spartans, 2-0 losers to Whitley Bay in the Northumberland
Senior Cup during the week, drew 1-1 at home to Nantwich. They host FC United
of Manchester today, in what promises to be an intriguing contest.
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