Leaders feeling Blue as Athletic end glory run
NORTHERN ALLIANCE
PREMIER DIVISION Leaders Newcastle Blue Star saw the gap at the top cut to just one point on Saturday after they suffered their first defeat of the season, losing 2-0 at home to North Shields Athletic – and the two sides beneath them, Newcastle University and Ponteland United, both won.
At Blue Star goals in each half, John Wyres on 27 minutes and Wyn Davies on 67 minutes, earned Athletic their first win of the season.
Nicky Langston gave hosts Gateshead Rutherford the lead just before the half hour against a tough University side and they levelled through free-scoring Niza Chilufya on the stroke of half-time.
The Uni hitman put the visitors in front eight minutes into the second half and Langston levelled a few minutes later.
Hopes for the hosts were quickly dashed when Keith Douglas gave last season’s champions the lead again just before the hour mark, and Oily Walden chipped in with a late fourth to consign Rutherford to just their second defeat of the season.
Ponteland were away to Percy Main Amateurs, with Owen Lewis Thompson striking twice in a 5-0 win. Other goals arrived through William Morris, Reece HavelockBrown and Samuel White.
AFC Killingworth won their topsix clash at home to Whitley Bay A as Malcolm Morien helped himself to five goals in their 7-3 win and, although they are six points off the pace, they have two games in hand on the leaders.
A hat-trick from Sam Johnson featured as Seaton Delaval won 4-2 away to Gateshead A, while Michael Angus and John Paxton notched for Wallington who continued their change in fortunes with a 2-0 home win over Shankhouse.
Jonathyn Quinn scored a second successive penalty as he opened the scoring in Alnwick’s 3-1 win at FC United of Newcastle, while Newcastle Chemfica and New Fordley shared the spoils in a 2-2 draw.
FIRST DIVISION Blyth Town maintained their 100% start to the season with a 3-0 home win over Wallsend Community courtesy of Jak Ditchburn’s brace, Christopher Laidlaw adding a third in stoppage time, while secondplaced Bedlington lost a seven-goal thriller away to Winlaton.
At Winlaton, goals from Kieran Barker, Connor Brierley, Derek Waters and Jack Moulding had the hosts four goals to the good just past the hour mark, but taking their foot of the pedal nearly proved costly as Bedlington struck back with late efforts from Chris Conway, Tony Williamson and Karl Porter.
At Cullercoats a sole strike from James Hedley was enough to see off Spartans Reserves.
Red Row, meanwhile, and Phillip Airey in particular, tore apart bottom club Newcastle East End. Airey scored five times in a 13-1 demolition job, Kieron Bell adding four and Max Anderson three in the rout.
There was a nine-goal thriller at Gosforth as lowly Bohemians were edged 5-4 by visitors Hebburn U23s.
Adam Greenwood scored twice as Prudhoe Youth Club defeated their visitors, Hexham, 5-1, and Forest Hall won 2-0 away to Seaton Burn.
A couple of sides were on Minor Cup duty as Felling Magpies progressed in the Durham version, winning 4-2 against Blackhill & Ebchester, while Blyth FC won 6-0 at Ellington Reserves and Wallsend Boys Club defeated Alnwick Reserves by the same score.
SECOND DIVISION The clash of the day came in the Second Division as the top-of-thetable duo collided at Rothbury.
A seven-goal thriller ensued between them and Jesmond, both newcomers enjoying a great start to life in the Alliance.
The visitors edged the game 4-3 to take over leadership of the division. Andy Hall helped himself to a hattrick, with Daniel Whybrow scoring the other. Rothbury replied through a brace from Daniel Thompson and one for James Jackson.
Ellington, another Alliance newcomer, also had an enjoyable afternoon as Adam Bains smashed a five-goal salvo in their 8-0 home win over Cramlington Town.
In the cup, Coundon exited the Durham Minor away to Wheatley Hill while Burradon (4-3 against Cramlington United Reserves), Cramlington United (7-4 against Eden Blyth), and Spittal Rovers (4-0 against Newcastle Chemfica Amateurs), progressed in the Northumberland Minor.