Six of the best from Welfare

THE first cup match of the new campaign was played in the Team Valley Carpets Combination Cup - First Division high-fliers Stobswood Welfare travelling to Armstrong Park to face fellow top-five side Rothbury.

It would be the visitors who came out on top, claiming their sixth straight victory and having scored four times in each of their last four outings.

They took this encounter 4-1, having to come back from an interval deficit.

Josh Nelson opened the scoring for the hosts on the stroke of halftime.

However, in the final half-hour Stobswood stormed to victory, Jake Baker notching a hat-trick alongside a goal from Max Anderson.

Stobswood manager Stefan Townsley said: “Fitness and squad depth has been a big key for us in games as we have been scoring goals regularly in the second half.

“We have been playing some very tidy football but find we are starting to open teams up even more after the break in games.

“Hopefully we can continue with the way we have been playing but we know it is going to be a tough season this year.”

In the Bay Plastics Premier Division only Gateshead Rutherford out of the top five were at home - going down 2-1 to Newcastle Independent.

Burradon and New Fordley still lead the way ahead of Newcastle Blue Star after both collected wins - , the former 3-2 at Haltwhistle, Lee Waugh with a brace of penalties in the final 15 minutes, while the latter triumphed 4-0 at Alnwick, Luke Carr and Nelson Ogbewe netting two apiece.

Cramlington United are level with Independent after they won 5-2 at home to Seaton Delaval, Niall Younger with a hat-trick.

Wallington andwhitley Bay Reserves both notched four times, Wallington defeating Winlaton 4-0 thanks to a brace from Keelan Nellis, and Harry Poole with two as the Bay saw off Ponteland 4-2.

Percy Main prevailed 3-2 at home to Killingworth, Jordan Stephenson with a brace.

Newcastle Blue Star Reserves head up the Reeves Independent First Division following a 1-0 win at home to Willington Quay Saints.

Beneath the leaders, just four points split the next six sides.

Hebburn Town Under-23s topscored with a 6-0 win at Hexham as Ryan Varley netted a hat-trick.

Lee Orr also notched three as Whitburn won 5-0 at home to North Shields Athletic and West Moor and Jesmond came through 4-3 at home to Newcastle East End.