Re-Max Northern Alliance Round-Up
May 11 2009 The Journal
IF they beat Wark at Monkchester tonight, Walker Central will claim the Premier Division title for the second year running.
And their management duo of Paul Bennett and Andy Wood will bow out on a high note before taking over at West Allotment Celtic next season.
Walker took a massive step towards another championship triumph by beating second-placed rivals Gillford Park 2-1 to retain their unbeaten record at Monkchester.
Top scorer John Campbell gave them an interval lead but the Park’s Ian Grainger levelled five minutes after the break.
Unfortunately for the Cumbrians, however, Walker were presented with a 70th-minute winner as visiting defender Craig Thompson put the ball into his own net. With Walker having the league title almost sewn up, the battle for the runners-up spot is continuing, with Gillford Park under threat from neighbours Harraby Catholic Club.
The latter kept the pressure on by beating visitors Heaton Stannington 3-0 with goals by Aaron Roberts, Mike Swift (penalty) and Rob Bainbridge, all in the last 12 minutes.
Harraby are now only four points behind the Park with a game in hand and if they manage to overtake their rivals, they will deprive Gillford of their chance to step up to the Northern League.
Seaton Delaval look almost certain to finish in fourth spot and ended a run of three drawn games on the trot with a comprehensive 4-0 victory away to Wark. Player-manager Nicky Gray led by example by scoring two of Delaval’s goals and Steve Anderson also bagged a brace.
While there are still some twists and turns to come at the top of the table, results on Saturday condemned Murton and Peterlee Town to relegation. Both were beaten in respective penultimate games and Peterlee Town were soundly beaten 3-0 by hosts Ashington Colliers, whose goals were shared by Richard Brown, Glen Bolton and David Brown.
Murton suffered a 2-1 defeat by visitors Newcastle University. After Tom Clark had given them the lead, they were reeled back in after 80 minutes by Ben Burte’s equaliser and five minutes later, Joe Foote snatched the University’s winner. Ponteland United and Shankhouse each extended unbeaten runs to nine games and Ponteland featured in a goalless stalemate with hosts Carlisle City, who have drawn their last five games at Sheepmount.
And Shankhouse beat Alnwick Town 2-1 at Northburn after trailing to Paul Yeadon’s opener for the Town. Darren Naylor got Shankhouse back on terms and with only two minutes to spare Anthony Moran claimed their winner. Chris Taylor bagged a brace for Blyth Town in their 2-2 draw at home to Heddon, who had twice been fired in front by Liam Heenan and Andrew Hall.
BILL GARDNER
