Blue Star, Killi keep the pressure on Uni

BAY PLASTICS NORTHERN ALLIANCE PREMIER DIVISION

NEWCASTLE Blue Star (second) and AFC Killingworth (fourth) maintained the pressure on leaders Newcastle University with comfortable home wins.

Blue Star narrowed the gap to eight points with two games in hand on the leaders when triumphing 7-0 at home to Whitley Bay A, who dropped a place to tenth.

The hosts took the lead after just 24 seconds through Richard Coulson.

Coulson then ensured Blue Star’s comfort with a further two goals to complete his hat-trick inside 20 minutes before Mitchell Ramsay added the fourth on the half-hour.

The score stayed that way until the closing stages when Ethan Bewley got in on the act with a late double and Shaun Kirkup also scored.

Ten goals were registered at Killingworth, eight in favour of the home side as they defeated bottom club FC United of Newcastle 8-2.

Malcolm Morien grabbed four to take his tally in the league to 22, three behind Uni’s Niza Chilufya while Konner Lamb (2), Liam Hudson and Sam Bramley - on his debut - also netted.

The hosts’ consolations came from Dillon Swann and Mark Hewitson.

The other two Premier Division matches also produced home wins .

Shankhouse came from behind to defeat Gateshead Rutherford 2-1, Oliver Young and Andrew Anderson cancelling out Niki Langston’s opener.

Strikes from Ben Fenwick and Andrew Bell gave Wallington the points in a 2-0 defeat of Percy Main.

The only Challenge Cup quarterfinal to go ahead went to extra-time and produced seven goals, hosts Newcastle Chemfica edging past a plucky Gateshead A side who kept themselves in the hunt throughout.

Sam Grieveson proved to be the home team’s hero with a hat-trick, Darryl Basham adding the other counter.

Replies for the Heed arrived via Brandon Slater, Lewis McGeoch and Jack Warriner.