Goals galore as new term starts in style
THE season began with Seaton Delaval notching five on the road while Birtley and Shankhouse both scored four, against Wallington, Northbank and Whitley Bay A respectively.
Matty Hayton and Mark McDonnell scored twice as Delaval won 5-2 at Wallington, Michael Trodd also scoring, with replies coming from Jordan Nellis and Kyle Reardon.
Anthony Smith notched a brace for Birtley as they defeated 10-man Northbank 4-1 at home.
Graham McTaggart and Aaron McEwen also scored, the reply coming through Josh Morley. Shankhouse opened with a 4-2 success over Whitley A as Chris Marshall scored twice.
Ponteland won 3-1 at Newbiggin, Zack Bewley and Reece Havelock-Brown and Gary Cook scoring. Newcastle University won 2-1 at Gateshead Rutherford as Keith Douglas cancelled out Andrew Wright’s opener before Callum Horne notched the winner. Ashington Colliers won 3-2 against Percy Main, Joe Moscrop notching a brace.
Gateshead A fell 2-1 at North Shields Athletic, while Grainger Park lost 3-1 at Killingworth Town, Jordan Miller scoring a hat-trick.
In the First Division, promoted sides Forest Hall and Killingworth YPC clashed at the Hall, the visitors winning 3-0 with goals from Conner Lamb, Martin Roper and Colin White.
Hexham won 4-2 at home to Gosforth Bohemians as Kurtis Harvey scored twice, while Wallsend Community, Wallsend Boys Club and New Fordley collected 3-0 wins, the latter being at home to Felling Magpies. The two Wallsend sides defeated Monkseaton and Red Row Welfare respectively.
Farndell scored twice for Hazlerigg as they won 4-0 at Seaton Burn while Cullercoats beat Hebburn Reyrolle 3-1.
In the Second Division, Whitley Bay Sporting Club won 5-4 at home to Gateshead Redheugh, Liam Shanley and Dan MacDonald notching braces. Blyth Town and Spittal Rovers drew 4-4 with Jack Fennel (Blyth Town) and Stuart Coyle (Spittal) notching respective doubles.
Bedlington opened with a 4-2 win at home to Willington Quay Saints with Chris Conway notching twice for the hosts and Joe Connor hitting a double for the Saints. Blyth FC and Cramlington United claimed 3-2 wins at home over Wideopen and Seghill respectively. Coundon & Leeholme crashed 3-0 at Whitburn.
Blyth Spartans Reserves entered the Northern Alliance in emphatic fashion winning 4-0 at Winlaton Vulcans.