Great Scotts set Uni on way to win

BRACES from Lee and Chris Scott set the leaders Newcastle University on their way to a 7-1 win at home to lowly North Shields Athletic yesterday afternoon.

Their impressive victory saw them open up a 14-point gap between themselves and the chasing pack.

At one stage the sides were level at one each when Marcelinho Junior equalised for Athletic before the Students ran riot, the Scotts being joined on the scoresheet by Ben McCarthy, Keith Douglas, and a late effort from substitute, and top scorer, Niza Chilufya, whose goal moved him level with Malcolm Morien in the scoring stakes.

Newcastle Chemfica stunned high-flying visitors Gateshead Rutherford when inflicting a 6-1 score on them. Steve McLaughlin, Fergus Lynch and Sam Grieveson hit braces, while Dillon Howarth replied late on.

Alnwick won a mud-strewn game 2-0 at Percy Main as Brendan Balmbra and Brad McClelland scored, and in the other Premier Division game, Wallington also had fun in front of goal, defeating Whitley Bay A 5-0 with goals from Aidan Armstrong, Jake Walton, Simon Broatch, Simon Farrier and Bradley Richardson.

The only cup clash to go ahead saw Gateshead A lose to Sunderland West End 3-2 in the Durham Trophy with the League Cup and Bill Gardner Cup ties awaiting to be rearranged.

Only three games beat the weather in the First Division with Bedlington coming from behind to win 3-1 away to Seaton Burn. The hosts led through Chris Carr before Daniel Robinson, Joseph Thompson and Chris Conway sealed the win.

A quick-fire second-half brace from Liam Shanley, following up Andy Murray’s first-half opener, set Blyth Spartans Reserves up for a 3-1 win against Wallsend Boys Club, Scott Maddison replying whilst a Sam Dibb-Fuller hat-trick featured in Prudhoe Youth Club’s 4-2 win at Hebburn U23s.

Whitley Sporting Club opened a two-point gap atop of the Second Division as they defeated visitors Stobswood 5-2 and Rothbury were held to a 1-1 draw against Ellington; Whitburn maintained their pressure on the top two when they edged past visiting Jesmond 3-2 courtesy of a brace from Warren in the closing stages.

Both Cramlington sides picked up home wins. High-flying United, with braces from John Wilson and Luke Taylor, defeated Spittal Rovers 4-2 and Ben Senior helped himself to a hat-trick for Town as they edged past Seaton Sluice 4-3.

PETER MANN