Northern Alliance review

Mar 13 2011 Sunday Sun

HARRY TULIP fired a hat-trick as Ponteland United opened up a three-point gap at the top of the Premier Division.

With second-placed Alnwick Town’s fixture at Heaton Stannington falling foul of the weather, Jarrod Suddick’s United took full advantage at Callerton Lane with a 4-0 win over Killingworth Sporting.

Although Ponteland have now played two more games than their St James’s Park title rivals, they currently enjoy a superior goal difference.

Tulip took just 10 minutes to get on the scoresheet. Five minutes later he was celebrating again as he shook the rainwater off the net with another smart finish.

Richard Kent added a third with five minutes to go and Tulip completed his treble in the final minute.

Third-placed Carlisle City won 4-1 at Wark. Olly Driver grabbed a double with Craig Cherry and Chris Major also on target for the Cumbrians, who trail Alnwick by seven points.

Matthew Blackett netted for Wark.

Seaton Delaval Amateurs went into the final of the Northumberland FA Senior Benevolent Bowl with a 5-0 success at Walker Central.

Steven Anderson put Delaval ahead in the ninth minute and added a second from the penalty spot in the 20th. Tom Wilson made it three in the 35th minute and further goals came from Steven Bell (58) and Michael Fenwick (75) to send Delaval into their second cup final of the season.

Waterlogged pitches played havoc with the rest of the Northern Alliance programme and the games at Blyth Town and Shankhouse were also unplayable.

Harraby’s visit to Whitley Bay A in the Kicks Leisure George Dobbins League Cup was postponed, as was the other Northumberland FA Senior Benevolent Bowl semi-final between Percy Main Amateurs and Ashington Colliers.

A number of pitches in Division’s One and Two were also sodden with water, but First Division leaders Hebburn Reyrolle’s game against Cullercoats went ahead and they kept their promotion ambitions on track as goals from Ray Oshin, Channon North and Sean Sweeney extended their unbeaten run to 14 games.

Heddon are second after a 5-1 drubbing of Berwick United. Daniel Robinson scored four and Ross Greenhill was also on target.

Chris Tait pulled one back for Berwick, but they were soundly beaten and could have no complaints.