BAY PLASTICS NORTHERN ALLIANCE PREMIER DIVISION

Newcastle Chemfica ended league leaders Newcastle University’s chances of a quadruple when dumping them out of the Challenge Cup on Saturday afternoon, the visitors winning 2-1 having taken a two-goal interval lead.

Sam Grieveson put Chemfica a goal up after 26 minutes with Chris Homans doubling the advantage ten minutes later; the Students pulled one back fifteen minutes into the second period through Lee Scott but the mid-table side held on to pick up a big win and reach the final where they’ll play either Killingworth or New Fordley.

Just the two games were played out in the Premier Division also as the cold snap took a firm hold – Seaton Delaval hit five without reply away to FC United of Newcastle leading through Paul Blackett’s first half effort before controlling the second half; Michael Butcher hit a brace before late goals were added first by Bailey Morton, then Leighton Bruce to put the seal on a 5-0 win.

The remaining game bore witness to nine goals at the seaside as hosts Whitley Bay A defeated visitors Gateshead Reserves 6-3. Gavin Hattrick gave the Bay the lead inside the opening minute before a quick-fire brace from Jack Warriner and Dan Bennett spun the game on its head before James Parker levelled with just 25 minutes played, Chris Zolden then put the Bay ahead ten minutes before the interval and Corey McKeown restoring parity as the referee blew for the end of the first period.

The second half carried on in much the same vein but it was Zolden who ran the show, he adding another two to the Bay’s tally to complete his hat-trick before Sven Hart added a sixth for the hosts with ten minutes remaining.

REEVES INDEPENDENT NORTHERN ALLIANCE FIRST DIVISION 

Two first-half goals from Michael Laws put Cullercoats on their way to the final of the Combination Cup as they defeated visitors Red Row Welfare 4-0; Dillon Blake added a third seven minutes in to the second half before Laws completed his hat-trick and the scoring for the afternoon, with Coats’ fourth ten minutes from time – they’ll play either Seaton Burn or Prudhoe Youth Club in the final.

There was several high-scoring league matches witnessed with Blyth Spartans Reserves hitting visitors Forest Hall for seven, Karl Lazzari and Louis Anderson both hitting first-half braces in the 7-2 win; Owen Davison also netted for the Spartans in a destructive first half with Harry Johnson pulling one back before the interval.

The second half saw Rui Martins and Louis Hodgson add further goals for the home side after a Michael Lattimer penalty afforded minimal hope for the beleaguered visitors.

Hebburn Town U23s and Wallsend Boys Club both scored four on the road when winning at Newcastle East End and Longbenton respectively.

The U23’s won 4-2 as Jason Blackburn notched two, David Stansfield and Callum Russell the others whilst Darren Turnbull and Callum Larmouth replied; Boys Club meanwhile edged Longbenton in a game which saw seven different scorers as Tony Woods, Michael Clark and Matty Cartwright netted for homesters, George Lindo, Charlie Watson, Cal Lawson and Connor Walker sealing the win. 

The remaining First Division match would see the spoils shared as Hexham held high-flying Bedlington to a 1-1 draw, Michael Robson netted for the hosts and Michael Robinson replied. 

TEAM VALLEY CARPETS NORTHERN ALLIANCE SECOND DIVISION

Blyth FC reached the final of the Amateur Cup with a comfortable 5-0 home win over Jesmond and they’ll play either Coundon or Stobswood for the silverware as Reece Farrell gave the victors the lead right before the break before dominating the second period; Joseph Bolam made it two within ten minutes of the restart, Ryan Stafford added a third and Liam Gibson put them out of sight with twenty minutes to go, Michael Egdell adding the gloss late on.

Plenty of goals were netted in the league including in the top four clash as Cramlington United put visitors Willington Quay Saints to the sword with a 6-1 win. Billy Pullman opened the scoring to which Trae Rowlandson doubled a minute later, a quick fire brace early in the second period from John Wilson had United four goals to the good before Brandon Williams grabbed a consolation from the spot; the closing minutes would see Antony Brannon add a fifth before Rowlandson grabbed his second, and the hosts’ sixth, deep into stoppage time.

Braces from Liam Bainbridge and Nick Doyle featured as Seaton Sluice defeated their visitors Wideopen 7-1, Nathan Watson, Adam Binks and Richie Clarke also netting before Ross Dickinson scored a consolation five minutes from time; Adam Bains also scored twice as Ellington defeated Gateshead Redheugh 5-1 with Andrew Carr, Calum Donohoe and Cameron Elliott also finding the net, Aidan Rutledge netting for the visitors.

A second half double from Gareth McCann helped high-flying Rothbury to a 3-1 win away to Whitburn, Matthew Travis also scoring for the Reds whilst Joe Warren replied and at Spittal Rovers they edged visitors Burradon 2-1 with first half goals from Dmitrijs Paplavskis and Kyle Jeffrey whilst Lee Issbister afforded some hope early in the second period, Rovers holding on for the points.