Students are given A real fight by Bay
BAY PLASTICS NORTHERN ALLIANCE LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION
LEADERS Newcastle University opened up a four-point gap at the top - but were made to work for all three points at Whitley Bay A.
The hosts kept the students in touching distance through efforts from Connor Campbell and Glenn Lewis.
However, Callum Horne, Olly Walden and Matthew KonadouYiadom ensured the leaders claimed the points.
Shankhouse maintained the pressure on the top three with a comfortable 4-0 home victory over Gateshead Rutherford.
Christopher Marshall and Leighton Bruce both struck braces, Bruce hitting his late in the second half.
Ashington Colliers helped themselves to a 5-1 success over visitors North Shields Athletic.
Two ahead inside ten minutes and three at the break, the Colliers saw goals flow through a Connor Andrews double and one apiece from Tyrone Stobbart, Andrew Welsh and Paul Dunn with Johnny Wyres netting a second-half consolation.
Killingworth Town also netted five times at basement outfit FC United of Newcastle thanks mainly to doubles from Louis Howe - in the opening ten minutes - and Connor Hoyle, also in the first half.
Liam Harris was also on the mark while Ronnie Short notched a consolation with 13 minutes remaining.
The mid-table clash at Newbiggin went in favour of the hosts as they defeated visiting Northbank 3-0, Bradley Higgins opening and closing the scoring and Bailey Morton also on the scoresheet.
Birtley Town emerged comfortable victors from their trip to Seaton Delaval in the semi-final of the George Dobbins League Cup - collecting a 4-0 win.
Tony Smith opened the scoring on 20 minutes and doubled the title contenders’ lead two minutes after the restart.
The score remained that way until the final ten minutes when Jack Honour bagged a late brace, adding number three with ten minutes left and the fourth in the dying seconds.