League gets under way with some surprises
THE Bay Plastics Northern Football Alliance League is now up-and-running for its 2022/23 season, with games across all four divisions, including a new-look Third Division, after several new clubs were welcomed over the summer.
In a surprise start to the season, last season’s Premier Division champions, Killingworth, lost 3-1 at home to Gateshead Rutherford, Benevolent Bowl winners Wallington fell to a 3-1 reverse away to newly-promoted Newcastle Independent, and Winlaton Community were felled 4-0 when at another promoted side, Cramlington United.
In the latter of those, Josh Laverick bagged an opening day hat-trick to put Cramlington top of the pile, whilst
Harvey Walsh netted twice as Independent started off with a big win.
Lee Waugh fired a four-goal salvo as Burradon & New Fordley won 5-2 at home AFC Newbiggin, whilst there was narrow, home wins, for Haltwhistle Jubilee (2-1 over Seaton Delaval), Newcastle
Blue Star (2-0 against visiting Percy Main Amateurs), and Newcastle Chemifca (1-0 against Whitley Bay Reserves).
The remaining game in the top division finished in a 2-2 draw as hosts Alnwick Town, and visitors Ponteland United, shared the spoils, Luke Molloy and Benjamin Bradburn netting for the hosts, James Walker and Joe Rowan replying.
Bedlington began the Reeves Independent First Division season in some style, hitting visitors FC United of Newcastle for ten without reply; leading by just the two at the break, second-half substitute, Joseph Thompson, fired a late hat-trick, with Tommy Wilkinson adding two as well, in the 10-0 win.
Hebburn Town U23s and Willington Quay Saints both started with 2-0 home wins, the former seeing off Wallsend Boys Club, with goals from Dominic Solman and Robbie Gateshill and the latter against Stobswood Welfare as Mackenzie Sharpe bagged an early double.
Under the Friday night lights, Gosforth Bohemians won an eight-goal thriller away to relegated North Shields
Athletic, Callum Bannister with a hat-trick for the visitors in a 5-3 win; Newcastle East End, Newcastle Blue Star Reserves, Rothbury and Whitburn also collected three points on the opening day.
Newcastle Independent Cabrito and Blyth Town U23s, both began with three points and a clean sheet, in the Team Valley Carpets Second Division,
Cabrito won 4-0 away to Seaton Sluice, and Blyth saw off visitors Newcastle Chemfica Amateurs 3-0, Josh Elsander with a brace.
There would also be highscoring games at Newcastle University A (4-3 win over Whitley Bay Sporting Club), Cullercoats (4-2 at home to Morpeth) whilst Ellington and Heaton Stannington A shared the spoils in a 4-4 draw.
The new-look Bluefin Sports Insurance Third Division saw promoted Benton start with a bang, winning 8-1 away to Wallsend Boys Club U23s, Jack Johnson with a hat-trick, Amble saw off their hosts Gosforth Bohemians Reserves 5-2 as Joe Henderson scored three.
Alnwick Town Development won by the odd-goal-in-seven away to West Moor & Jesmond U23s, Whickham U23s beat Blyth Rangers 4-2, and Cramlington Blue Star started with a 3-1 win away to Ashington Reserves.