Ponteland miss chance to close gap
AS leaders North Shields Athletic were inactive, with their game at Shankhouse postponed, secondplaced Ponteland again failed to close the gap; instead joint third sides Newcastle University and Whitley Bay A moved to within a point themselves.
Away to lowly Ashington Colliers, Ponteland were stunned by a David Brown hat-trick as the Colliers look to edge away from relegation.
Joe Moscrop added the killer fourth less than ten minutes into the second half , Glenn Ford had levelled midway through the first.
Newcastle University followed up their five-goal haul against the Pont last week with another, visiting Birtley Town hit 5-1 with first-half goals from Callum Horn and Oliver Walker, before Matty Konadu-Yiadom, Keith Douglas and Peter Mairs netted after the break. Birtley replied through Dan Irvine on the hour.
Whitley Bay A smashed six of the best against lowly Northbank Carlisle, Peter Glenn Ravenhill scoring four and Liam Brooks two.
The top-seven clash between Walker Central and Killingworth Town finished 3-3. The hosts scored via Michael Trodd with two penalties and Michael Baxter, the replies by Michael Bowman, Louis Howe and Lee Waugh.
At Newbiggin, Jordan Miller scored twice for the hosts with Seaton Delaval replying via Paul Dunn and Jack Foalle.
Goals from Ricky Tanoh and a late, deflected free-kick from Daniel Thompson saw the spoils shared between Wallington and Gateshead Rutherford.
First Division leaders Gateshead A won 4-2 at Gosforth Bohemians, Callum Johnston scoring twice, while secondplaced Grainger Park kept up the pressure with a 6-0 demolition of visitors New Fordley, Liam Anderson with a four-goal salvo.
Monkseaton hit Hebburn Reyrolle for five, the former now within touching distance of the top five as both Ben Senior and Jonathon Storey scored twice.
There were wins on the road for third-placed Hexham, 3-0 at Seaton Burn, and fourth-top Cullercoats, who won 7-2 at Gateshead Redheugh – Robert Nolan scoring three and Rui D’Sousa Martins a brace.
In the Second Division, the top two both lost on the road; leaders Killingworth YPC crashed 3-2 away to Red Row Welfare, and Forest Hall fell to a 3-0 reverse at mid-table Hazlerigg Victory.
Willington Quay Saints won 4-3 at home to Bedlington Town, coming back from three goals down with Mark Henderson scoring a hat-trick in the final 13 minutes. Cramlington United won 3-0 away to basement club Ryton, and Whitley Bay Boys Club won 2-0 at home to Spittal Rovers.
PETER MANN