Unpublished 3: Around the Grounds 22/12/12

Originally we were scheduled to play Carlisle City at home on 22nd December, but when their League Cup game against Wallington was postponed on 15th December, Amble United were parachuted in to play us. All immaterial of course as 72 hours of incessant rain left the pitch like an outdoor swimming pool; however I had penned my usal article and to stop it going to waste, here it is.....

It’s been six weeks since our last programme, which came out for the Whitley Bay A game in mid-November, but little has happened on the pitch since then. Indeed, our home loss to Walker Central on the first of the month has been the only Northern Alliance Premier Division game played in December. Consequently, there has been very little movement in the league table, with today’s visitors Amble United leading the way, six points clear of Heaton Stannington, who have shown their ambition by applying for promotion to the Northern League. To be successful, the Stann will need to finish in the top two and bring Grounsell Park up to the required standard, involving the erection of floodlights, as well as the installation of covered seating; we wish them well. At the bottom of the table, Shankhouse, Rutherford and Reyrolle are all in danger of the drop, but there are still many, many games to play.

Table topping Bedlington Terriers Reserves’ 2-1 win at third bottom Willington Quay Saints on December 1^st was the only First Division fixture played so far this month, though a few clubs have been in cup action. Hexham progressed in the Northumberland FA Minor Cup, cuffing Tyneside Amateur League outfit FOWS Diggers 7-2, while Red House Farm and Chemfica were both too strong for Division 2 Alliance outfits, overcoming Blyth Isabella 5-2 at home and Seaton Burn 3-2 away, respectively. Redheugh were less impressive in the Durham FA Trophy, going down 4-2 at home to Coundon and Leeholme of the Durham Alliance.

Looking for somewhere sunny to spend the winter? Try Birtley, as they’ve not lost a game this wintrer and have moved to the top of Division 2 with three successive home wins: 2-0 over Alston, 14-0 over luckless Swalwell and 3-0 against Longbenton, who were involved in the only other Division 2 fixture to beat the weather this month, when they lost a real Christmas cracker (sorry) 5-4 at home to Wideopen. As well as the games already mention in the Northumberland FA Minor Cup, Alnwick Town Reserves went down 4-1 to North Sunderland, who have reformed after spending a period in abeyance when we drew them in the same competition three seasons ago, and New Fordley overcame Belford of the North Northumberland League 4-2.

In the Northern League, Whitley Bay are fifth in Division 1, as well as still being in the FA Vase, while Team Northumbria lie in 13^th place and Benfield, who fell 2-1 at home to Dunston UTS last Saturday with literally the last kick of the game, are 18^th. Down in Division 2, North Shields lie in 8^th position, having come back from far flung Whitehaven with a point after a 1-1 draw last Saturday and West Allotment Celtic sit in 14^th spot after a crushing 4-0 home loss to Darlington Railway Athletic. Boxing Day fixtures see Benfield hosting Whitley Bay and North Shields at home to West Allotment.

Blyth Spartans continue to find the Evo Stik league a trial, sitting in 15^th spot after 3 successive losses, the latest a 3-0 reverse at Croft Park to Witton Albion. Gateshead have dismissed their most successful boss since the late Ray wilkie, with Ian Bogie leaving the Tynesiders after 5 distinguished seasons that brought an improved league position in each one. Anth Smith is now in charge and his first fixture saw a 1-0 win away to Cambridge United in the FA trophy, a week after Bogie’s final fixture had ironically been against the same side, resulting in a 3-0 reverse.