Win for Birtley puts pressure on the leaders
BAY PLASTICS NORTHERN ALLIANCE PREMIER DIVISION
BIRTLEY narrowed the gap on the leaders to two points when they picked up a hard-earned three points at Killingworth Town.
Jordan Miller levelled for the hosts after Tony Smith afforded the Green and Whites an early lead.
However, further efforts from Simon Hay and Jack Honour ensured the spoils went back to County Durham.
Shankhouse slipped up at home to Percy Main as a goal in each half from Collinson afforded the visitors a 2-1 win, Young notching for the Hoose.
Newbiggin came through by the same score at home to North Shields Athletic.
Owen Gourley put Athletic in front as early as the fourth minute, the hosts turning things around in the second half when Simon Broatch levelled with half an hour remaining.
Ross Muter popped up with the winner in the closing minutes.
Meanwhile, seven goals were scored in a rain-soaked game at Ponteland, who edged past a plucky Gateshead A 4-3 - coming back from 2-0 down to claim the three points.
Daniel Mailes and Niall Bell had the visitors two up by the half-hour before Ethan Bewley pulled one back ten minutes before the break.
Kieron Green restored Gatshead’s two-goal advantage ten minutes into the second half.
After that it became one-way traffic, Ponteland finally taking control.
Sean McLellan made it 3-2 and Alex Benjamin, levelled with 20 to go before Bewley grabbed his second, and the winner, with eight minutes remaining.
Newcastle University followed up the previous weekend’s mauling of FC United with comfortable progression in the League Cup defeating Second Division visitors Blyth Town 7-1.
Town notched what proved to be a mere consolation effort on the stroke of half-time through Adam Johnson - by which time they were already well adrift.
Keith Douglas had afforded the Premier Division leaders the advantage from the spot after just 11minutes.
Matthew Konadou-Yiadom also notched a brace and Lefteris Alambritis netted.
After the restart Alambritis added his second and the hosts’ fifth before efforts from Zach Thomas and Peter Mairs in the final 20 minutes sealed their victory.
Gateshead Rutherford also progressed, winning 3-1 at Second Division Bedlington.
Tom Bainbridge proved the hero for the visitors, opening the scoring on the half-hour then scoring the decisive third with 12 minutes remaining when the game was still in the balance.
Tommy Wilkinson had levelled for the Second Division high-fliers just before the interval.
Rob Jefferson grabbed Rutherford’s other goal, notching just past the hour to restore their lead.