Competition: Northern Football Alliance Premier Division
0 vs 4 Newcastle Independent vs Heaton Stannington A
Following a superb win on Wednesday, we travelled to Newcastle Independent looking to secure back-to-back victories for the first time in well over a month and also full of trepidation for which version of our opposition we were going to face. On a tricky pitch where the grass could have done with being cut before the game kick off, both sides struggled for rhythm and with our momentum also not helped by the trigger happy linesman that was running the opposition’s defensive line in the first half and who became an increasing source of frustration as the half went on. Chances also came and went at both ends, and we were indebted to both Reece Dunbar Phillips and Zamo Khalil for an outstanding last-ditch table and huge save, respectively. The second half followed a similar pattern until the introduction of 17-year old Harlan Croft in the 60th minute and it was he, less than 5 minutes later, who was on hand to turn home a cross by Ryan Milburn in an attack that he had started. By then, the tackles were flying, but the lads were managing the game really well until the officials intervened with five minutes to go, with a penalty awarded in circumstances where virtually nobody appealed and Zamo had made a save. In the aftermath, and still reeling from being pegged back by the penalty that was struck home with aplomb, we found ourselves down to ten minute as well, but this farcical episode only served to galvanise the lads as we went looking for 3 points. And as Dan Morton whipped another cross back into the box, George Riley rose about the opposition keeper to nod towards the back post and in his desperate attempt to clear the ball, the opposition’s defender made sure that the ball crossed the line. However, there was only George Riley looking to claim it. A late scare saw the opposition hit the bar a couple of minutes later, but we hung on and took another big step towards hopefully achieving a top 5 finish.
Russell Ward
4 vs 1 
1 vs 2 4 vs 2 Heaton Stannington A vs Newcastle East End
On the back of a difficult afternoon at Ponteland Utd on Saturday, we returned to our current second home at Coach Lane full of hope that we would be able to get things back on track. Injuries and unavailability continue however to a detrimental effect on the squad and no more did this prove to be pivotal than on Wednesday evening. A strong start saw us take the lead as George Riley volleyed home a long throw from Charlie Digby, and at that point it seemed only a matter of time before a second followed. However, a double change had to be made before half an hour that saw most of what was available on our bench have to be used early. Although we retained control through to half-time and then extended our lead after Harry Poole won and then despatched a penalty, fatigue started to set in and with players having to soldier on in a game where they would otherwise have been replaced. Nonetheless, we stood firm until the 80th minute, but unfortunately a melee in the box saw East End head home and that had the double whammy effect of getting their tails up and increasing the pressure on us. It looked however as if we had seen it out, but then a very questionable decision in the last minute of injury time, and with significant pressure exerted on the referee by the opposition on and off the pitch, saw a free-kick put into our box from wide and the ball fortuitously dropped to one of their forwards to bundle the ball home.
Russell Ward
2 vs 2 
2 vs 0 4 vs 2 Heaton Stannington A vs Haltwhistle Jubilee
With both sides locked together in the league, and fresh off the back after penalty shootout heartbreak last weekend, we were looking for revenge as we played host to a strong Haltwhistle Jubilee side that we had beaten us 3-1 at their place a few days before Christmas. Unfortunately however, the result didn’t reflect the performance as a combination of missed chances, superb goalkeeping from the opposition shot-stopper and some basic defensive errors saw us end up on the wrong side of a 4-2 reverse. This was in spite of the fact that we had the better of the first 44 minutes, only for a lapse in concentration just before half-time see a catalogue of errors culminate in an own goal. Despite suffering that setback, the second half quickly followed the same pattern as we were denied by the woodwork, then by the opposition keeper and finally by some wayward finishing before we were caught on a counter and found ourselves down by 2-0. A third and then a fourth soon followed in a crazy period where our senses deserted us, and at which point subs were introduced and the boys gathered themselves before rallying. Harper swiftly slotted a penalty into the top corner after Charlie Nagel had been brought down and that same combination was then twice denied in a matter of minutes as chance after chance came and went. Charlie Nagel eventually netted the goal his performance deserved from a Zac Evans corner, but it ultimately provided only to be a consolation, and especially where a third goal in injury time was controversially ruled out. Lessons learned for the players and the management team, but a performance nonetheless to be proud of. We go again on Wednesday.
Russell Ward
2 vs 4 