Challenge Cup brings big scores as New Fordley hit 9

ON a day of high-scoring action in the Bay Plastics Northern Alliance, Burradon & New Fordley, in the Team Valley Carpets Premier Division Challenge Cup topscored with nine, although they were run close by Amateur Cup challengers, Newcastle Independent, who hit eight past Newcastle Blue Star U23s.

New Fordley ran a weakened Percy Main Amateurs side ragged, while in the same group, AFC Killingworth scored five without reply when away to Ponteland Utd.

Newcastle Blue Star are all but assured of a place in the knockout stage after they registered their fourth straight victory, a narrow, 2-1 home win, over visiting Winlaton Vulcans, Sam Norris and Dan O’reilly netting, with Wallington matching that in their match at home to Shankhouse, John Paxton with a brace.

Blyth Town continued setting the pace in the final Challenge Cup group, winning 2-0 at home to Seaton Delaval, both goals coming in the closing minutes as Alnwick Town were snatching a last minute draw home to North Shields Athletic.

The Combination Cup would see Prudhoe Youth Club earn the point needed to guarantee progression, drawing 1-1 away to Red Row, who dropped to third after Whitley Bay Sporting won 1-0 at Wallsend Boys Club.

The see-saw battle between Bedlington and Rothbury continued, the former leapfrogging their visitors after claiming a 4-1 home win, Connor Straughton with a brace, and the other two groups also remain relatively tight.

Whitburn’s 7-0 win away to FC United of Newcastle sent them top of their group as Haltwhistle saw off previous leader Hebburn U23s, 3-2, and in the remaining group, it’s advantage Hexham and Cramlington United after both picked up wins, 3-0 and 1-0 respectively.

A beleagured Newcastle Blue Star lost 8-0 to Newcastle Independent.

In the remaining Second Division games, Wideopen and Stobswood drew 2-2, West Jesmond and Ponteland Reserves 1-1, and Newbiggin won 1-0 away to Newcastle East End.

Gateshead Redheugh won 4-2 away to Ellington, Red House Farm and Blaydon Community shared four goals on Friday night in the Neville Cowey Cup with Newcastle East End Reserves drawing 1-1 away to Whitley Sporting A yesterday in Group B, and in

Group A, Morpeth took over top spot with a 2-1 win at home to Cullercoats Reserves, and Heaton Stannington A defeated North Sunderland 2-0.