Northern Alliance preview

Posted by Richard Fletcher on Jan 9, 09 06:32 PM in Sport

Only one team - Shankhouse - have reached the half way stage of a Northern Alliance season ravaged by postponements. And the form teams in the Premier Division at the turn of the year have been Alnwick Town, Blyth Town, Walker Central and Seaton Delaval.

Returning team boss Jeff Orr has guided Blyth Town out of danger and into a respectable mid-table berth and a side beaten only once in six recent games will try to keep their run going when they visit Newcastle University. With four goals in five previous games Aaron Hicken may start for Blyth after being on the bench for last Saturday's 1-1 home draw with Harraby Catholic Club.

Walker Central are now leading the field with games in hand of both Seaton Delaval and Alnwick Town, only a point behind them in joint second spot. The Central look determined to set up a robust defence of the title they won last term and are still unbeaten at home. Striker Dave Thompson has found the net in every one of their last six league and cup games.

Peterlee Town visit Monkchester as the only team to have beaten Walker this season but a repeat looks extremely unlikely. In the reverse fixture on 1st October the Newtowners won 4-2 but since then they have had little joy. They've been hammered 6-0 by both Wark and Ponteland and this weekend at Walker another heavy reverse could be on the cards.

Seaton Delaval's narrow defeat by last weekend's visitors Shankhouse dented their title aspirations but manager Nicky Gray is expecting a quick recovery at the expense of today's bottom rung hosts Wark.

Meanwhile Alnwick Town - still playing down the possibility of an early return to the Northern League - were given bad news last night when their game away to Carlisle City was postponed due to a frozen pitch.

There's no doubt that the Cumbrian duo of Gillford Park and Harraby Catholic Club will be using their crop of games in hand to influence the title race. Gillford - 1-0 winners over in Carlisle - have a league double in their sights away to Ponteland United. Pont are hoping defender Andy Rendall will be available for selection again.

The game between Harraby and Murton has been switched to Murton's ground and will be classed as the latter's home game and reliable goal-scorer Lee Otway may be recalled to the Cumbrians' starting line-up. He only made a late appearance as substitute in last weekend's draw at Blyth.

Ashington Colliers will hope to secure all three points at home to Heaton Stannington to drag themselves clear of the basement while Cramlington Town, facing similar problems to the Colliers, are seeking only their second away win when they take on Heddon at Bullocksteads.

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