Ashington Colliers fall to title challengers Harraby

Posted by Richard Fletcher on Apr 20, 09 12:36 PM in Sport

Blyth Town became only the second team to claim the NFA Senior Benevolent Bowl in successive seasons with a 2-0 victory over league colleagues Percy Main at Whitley Park.

Joe Race's 75th minute free kick gave Blyth the lead and it was doubled nine minutes later by Danny Beresford.

Gillford Park have played one game more than Walker and Gillford in the Northern Alliance, and after beating Heddon 2-1 in the Challenge Cup Final in midweek extended an unbeaten run to eleven games with a 1-1 draw at home to Alnwick Town.

Chris Grainger was the Park's scorer and Ben Keenan was on target for the visitors.

With games in hand, Harraby Catholic Club are the only other side with hopes of success in the title race. They stayed in third spot but in their fifth game in eleven days were fortunate to beat visitors Ashington Colliers 1-0. Their winner was from a free kick put away by Ian Cummersky in the 85th minute after Rob Bainbridge was felled on the edge of the area.

Seaton Delaval's successful run in away games was halted by hosts Heaton Stannington who emerged as 5-3 victors. Gary Yates completed his hat-trick for Heaton whose other goals came from Joe Wear and Adam Donaghey. Delaval's marksmen to put them 3-2 ahead at one stage were Stephen Howes, Craig Johnson and Connal Reed.

Murton and Peterlee are propping up the Premier Division table but Murton earned themselves a morale-boosting 4-1 win at home to Wark. Wark opened the scoring through Martin Hardy but Karl Garside levelled from the spot before half time. And Murton made the precious points secure when Garside scored his second and Paul Wintrip bagged himself a brace.

Cramlington Town aren't out of trouble yet and suffered a 2-1 defeat by Heddon at Bullocksteads. Heddon ended their own lengthy lean spell by scoring first and last through John Dunn and Liam Heenan. David Atkinson replied for their visitors.

Meanwhile, Walker Central went two points clear at the top after hammering Peterlee Town 8-1.

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