No change at the top as three title hopefuls prevail

THE top three all won comfortable to maintain the status quo in the title race.

Ponteland United Reserves continue to lead the way after a 7-2 success over Red House Farm.

Steven Knox celebrated a hat-trick for Pont with Peter Scott, John Lancaster, Darren Parkes and Daniel Troughton also on target.

Shahab Makyandi and Oscar Mann countered for Red House Farm.

Morpeth are in third, having beaten Wallsend Boys Club Development 5-2.

Morpeth’s hat-trick hero was Darren Smith, Jamie Crosbie and Will Pritchard also netting.

Charlie Watson and Jack Fishburn responded for Wallsend.

Second-placed Haltwhistle Jubilee beat West Jesmond 8-1.

Ash Lally netted a treble on his debut, Jack Barker bagged a brace and Paul Wilson, Dennis Thitle and Scott Jacobsen completed the scoring. Mark Emmerson replied for West Jesmond.

Jubes are three points behind Pont with three games in hand but still face key games against each of their title rivals before the end of the campaign.

Newcastle Chemfica Reserves beat Swalwell 3-1 in a rematch of their Neville Cowey Cup semi-final.

David Jones, James Nowosielski and Ellis Bowen notched for Fica, Gabriel Klempar netting for Swalwell.

The John Hampson Memorial Trophy kicked off with Wideopen A overcoming Gosforth Bohemian Reserves in Group B.

Ben Fisher registered a hat-trick for Wideopen.

Daniel Haggerston was also on target in their 4-2 success, achieved despite strikes from Andrew Etherington and Aaron Baylis.