Re/Max Northern alliance

Aug 25 2008 The Journal

HARRABY Catholic Club were Premier Division champions in 2007 and runners-up to Walker Central last season. And the Cumbrians claimed an early top spot at the weekend.

They dislodged midweek leaders Seaton Delaval after winning 2-1 at home to Peterlee Town. Goals in the first half hour for Marc Shiel and Alan Casey set up Harraby and although Nathan Liddell netted before the break for the Newtowners an equaliser eluded them.

Seaton Delaval, beaten 3-2 at Alnwick in midweek, drew 3-3 at Ponteland United. Carl Pennington fired the visitors into an early lead but Glen Ford and Andrew Davidson hit back for United.

Goals by John Fitzpatrick and Geoff Allison put Delaval in charge but in the 85th minute Richard Kent’s goal salvaged a point for Pont.

Like last season, Heddon have established themselves among the early front-runners and they won 3-1 at home to Alnwick Town. Strikes by Lawal Zubairu and Lee Garwood gave Heddon an interval lead which was extended by Garwood’s second before Neil Catlow got the visitors off the mark after 65 minutes.

After scoring 22 league goals for Cramlington Town last season, Jeff Fuller has joined Blyth Town and scored against his old team-mates at Cramlington. Blyth won 2-1 after Fuller put them in front midway through the first half.

Jonathan Mann doubled the visitors’ lead and Cramlington had to wait until the 85th minute for a reply from David Atkinson.

Shankhouse visited newly-promoted Murton and were beaten 3-0. First-half goals by David Paul and Andrew Upperton gave Murton a strong advantage at the interval.

Paul Wintrip’s goal five minutes after the changeover completed the scoring and Shankhouse just couldn’t make any impression on a solid home defence.

Defending champions Walker Central have been the victims of several postponements, only managing to fit in one game in the first fortnight of the new campaign. First Division fixtures were also badly hit again.

Both Stocksfield and Whitley Bay ‘A’ were in action however and with 100% records in four opening games are sharing top spot in the First Division.

Stocksfield won 6-2 away to Newcastle East End with goals supplied by Danny Beresford (2), Ben Pearson (2), Cairns Kettles and Scott Johnson. The Bay continued their run with a 2-1 victory at Westerhope where their goals were scored by Simon Reay and Mark Fenwick.

BILL GARDNER