Clubs still await clarity on fate of the current season

A NUMBER of North East nonleague clubs are hoping to receive clarity over the remainder of the 2020/21 season over the coming week.

Northern Premier League quartet Dunston UTS, Marske United, Morpeth Town and South Shields have been without a league fixture since early November as the Covid19 pandemic continues to disrupt the season.

That pattern has been followed in the Northern League and clubs such as Ryhope CW, Easington Colliery and Washington have as many as 28 league games left to play.

However, it seems unlikely fixtures will resume until next month at the earliest, and despite the league season being extended into late May, the majority over clubs are facing up to a hectic fixture list.

There is a small glimmer of hope for clubs at “non-elite” level as the government prepare to announce their roadmap for a route out of lockdown this week.

That announcement coupled with the outcome of the National League’s vote on their own season were cited as two key factors in how leagues across steps three to seven of the non-league pyramid may move forwards.

An FA statement read: “The Alliance Committee (Steps 3 & 4) and Leagues Committee (Steps 5 & 6) met on 8 and 9 February, respectively, to discuss the data that was collated following the recent surveys circulated to Clubs at this level of the game.

“Given that any such update from the Government on 22 February may provide the Committees with additional, relevant information to help determine the preferred route forward, they have agreed to reconvene after this date.

“In addition, the Alliance Committee are also conscious of the ongoing process the National League (Steps 1 & 2) are undertaking and the potential impact this could have on any actions the Committee may choose to take. We will provide an update in due course.”

Meanwhile, the FA have confirmed 12 North East clubs have applied for promotion into the Northern League next season.

Seven Wearside clubs are looking to secure elevation into step six of the non-league system.

Boldon CA, Chester-le-street United and Darlington Town have submitted new applications to add to the existing applications made last year by Gateshead Leam Rangers, Horden CW, Richmond Town and Wolviston.

Northern Alliance trio AFC Killingworth, Blyth Town and Newcastle Blue Star have applied, and North Riding Football League duo Boro Rangers and Redcar Town complete the North East’s compliment of applicants for promotion.

FORMER Sunderland captain George Honeyman was carried off on a stretcher as Hull’s promotion push suffered a major setback at Doncaster.

The second-placed Tigers looked to be soaring to a second straight win as they led 3-1 at the break through a brace of Mallik Wilks headers and a first club goal for Jacob Greaves, with Reece James replying for Rovers.

But Omar Bogle’s 68th-minute penalty gave the hosts hope and after a delay for Honeyman to be carried off, James Coppinger fired home a free-kick to snatch a draw.

The result saw Grant Mccann’s men slide out of the top two, with two goals from Sammie Szmodics and a late effort from Jonson Clarke-harris helping Peterborough overhaul them with a home 3-0 win over AFC Wimbledon.

And it also enabled Lincoln to extend their lead at the top, though they had to come from behind to beat struggling Wigan 2-1 at the DW Stadium.

Callum Lang fired the hosts in front just past the half-hour mark but Anthony Scully equalised almost immediately.

Tom Hopper was Lincoln’s hero, with his 73rd-minute effort sealing victory for the away side.

Portsmouth fell to a shock 1-0 defeat to Blackpool at Fratton Park, with Jerry Yates grabbing an 82nd-minute winner.

MK Dons launched a dramatic late comeback to beat Northampton 4-3 and extend the Cobblers’ run without a win to nine games.

Fraser Horsfall’s second-minute opener for the visitors was cancelled out by goals from Andrew Surman and on-loan Sunderland striker Will Grigg before half-time, but Northampton levelled through Ryan Watson just after the break.

Peter Kioso’s 78th-minute effort looked to have won it but the home side equalised through Cameron Jerome and Charlie Brown nicked the winner two minutes from time.

Shaun Whalley’s 77th-minute equaliser grabbed a point for Shrewsbury at Accrington, who had to settle for a 1-1 draw despite Seamus Conneely’s opener.

Scott Twine’s injury-time strike grabbed three points for Swindon in a 2-1 win over Crewe, who led through Tom Lowery’s fifth-minute effort before a Travis Johnson own-goal hauled Swindon level.

Paddy Madden equalised for Fleetwood in a 1-1 draw against Charlton, who led early through Jayden Stockley’s header, while a brace from John Akinde saw Gillingham beat Bristol Rovers 2-0.

Ipswich were held to a goalless draw at home to Oxford while a similar deadlock at Rochdale saw Plymouth extend their unbeaten league run to nine games.

NORWICH took advantage of defeats for Brentford and Swansea to move seven points clear at the top of the Championship with a 1-0 victory over Rotherham at Carrow Road.

Teemu Pukki’s 15th goal of the season secured the Canaries a third consecutive win, leaving Rotherham two points from safety.

Second-placed Brentford, without 24-goal injured striker Ivan Toney, suffered a third consecutive loss after Coventry strengthened their survival hopes with a 2-0 win at St Andrew’s.

Tyler Walker scored in each half, the first from the penalty spot, to move the Sky Blues five points clear of the bottom three.

Swansea missed the chance to move second after Huddersfield returned to form with a stunning 4-1 home win. Conor Hourihane got the Welsh side back in the game on the stroke of half-time with a brilliant free-kick, cancelling out Fraizer Campbell’s opener.

But the Terriers responded in the first 10 minutes of the second half with a Lewis O’brien goal and Duane Holmes’ double securing a first win in nine league games.

Cardiff and Middlesbrough moved three points off the play-off positions, after Bournemouth lost 2-1 at QPR.

Goals from Stefan Johansen and Todd Kane, either side of Shane Long’s equaliser, gave Rangers a fourth successive triumph and ended Jonathan Woodgate’s unbeaten start as Cherries caretaker boss.

Cardiff claimed a fifth consecutive win courtesy of a 4-0 victory over Preston, who missed two penalties in a minute.

Kieffer Moore’s 16th goal of the season from the penalty spot gave the Bluebirds the lead early on before Josh Murphy netted the second.

North End had two chances to halve the deficit from the spot. Paul Gallagher missed first and after he was fouled attempting to tap in the rebound, Ched Evans was also thwarted by Dillon Phillips, with Marlon Pack and Mark Harris making them pay with further goals for Cardiff.

Nick Powell struck twice and Steven Fletcher was also on target as Stoke beat Luton 3-0 to stay in the hunt for a top-six spot.

Managerless Bristol City suffered a seventh consecutive loss in all competitions after Carlton Morris’ third goal in as many games gave Barnsley a 1-0 victory at Ashton Gate, while Millwall drew 0-0 with rock-bottom Wycombe.

Nottingham Forest condemned Blackburn to a fourth straight loss with a 1-0 success at the City Ground and Birmingham won the bottomof-the-table clash with Sheffield Wednesday 1-0.