Apart from plenty of reserve teams, there are four newcomers to the Northern Alliance this season. There's Cramlington Town Independent playing at the Sporting Club, Great Park based up at Druids Park, plus two clubs playing at previous uncharted grounds - Westerhope United and Walkergate. I ticked off these two Newcastle based clubs for their early season midweek fixtures, as well as a visit to Amble AFC.
885. Lemington Football Centre
Westerhope United 7-1 Cramlington Blue Star Inter
Northern Alliance Division 3
Wednesday 16th August 2023
Lemington Football Centre is home to two grass pitches on the former site of Lemington Middle School. The facility opened in November 2018, made possible by the Newcastle United Football Foundation, with the site gifted by Newcastle City Council.
Westerhope raced into a three goal lead, with a side footed volley from Jack Pickering before Martin Matus had an easy finish after an initial effort came back off the foot of the post. In the 35th minute Sonny Branighan toe poked the ball home from the edge of the box for their third, then Crammy Blue Star hit back before half time. Kia Bell rounded the ‘keeper in the 42nd minute, then he should have reduced the arrears just before the break, but was denied with a fine save from the United keeper.
The hosts were even better in the second half with Ryan Pickering adding the fourth and Micheal Strachan tapping in number five with still a quarter of the game remaining. The match finale saw a super-sub appearance from manager Steve Taylor, who missed a penalty but netted the rebound, then rounded the ‘keeper to grab his second and make it 7-1 on full time.
Westerhope United 7(J.Pickering 7 Matus 25 Branighan 35 R.Pickering 65 Strachan 68 Taylor 85,89)
Cramlington Blue Star Inter 1(Bell 42)
Matchday 4/2
6.45pm ko
Att.11hc
887. Amble Welfare
Amble 2-1 Blyth Town Reserves
Northern Football Alliance Division 2
Wednesday 23rd August 2023
Throughout the years there have been several teams playing in the Northern Alliance based in the Northumberland seaside town of Amble. The latest are Amble AFC, who finished fourth in their debut season in Division 3 last season, which was good enough to elevate them into the Second Division for this campaign.
The club plays at Amble Welfare, which I visited back in September 2012 when matches were played on the running track pitch at the far side of the welfare. There's a new football ground there now, fully fenced in where the cricket pitch one stood, with the old pavilion giving a facelift and used for the changing rooms.
Amble trailed at the break to a Kieran Robson penalty, then Blyth Town Reserves wasted several good chances with tame efforts at goal. The match turned upside down with two goals from the home side in the space of three minutes. A lovely through ball was matched by an equally good finish by Josh Baston, then moments later the ball fell to Joe Henderson, who lashed in a first time half volley, which proved to be the decisive goal.
Amble 2(Baston 62 Henderson 64)
Blyth Town Reserves 1(Robson 18pen)
Matchday 4
6.45pm ko
Att.38hc
Walkergate are based at the Fossway Recreation Ground on the A187 road from Byker to Wallsend. The ground has a changing room block, a small car park and two pitches, with the main pitch running alongside the Fossway.
The home team sit top of Division 3, winning 7 of their opening eight fixtures and scoring 56 goals in the process. Their opponents - Wallsend BC U-23, have also had a great start, sitting just three points behind them with a game in hand.
The first period was littered with injuries and stoppages with the three goals coming late in the half. Walkergate took the lead when a free kick floated to the back stick was nodded back across goal for the number 8 to head home.
The visitors hit back with two goals in the eleven minutes of added on time. Owen Kennedy placed a free kick from the edge of the box into the corner of the ‘keepers left hand post, which also resulted in the home goalie injuring himself and having to be replaced. The sub goalkeeper’s first job was to pick the ball out of the net, when a quick Wallsend break was finished off by Stephen Siganbola to give them a 2-1 half time lead.
Walkergate pushed for an equaliser in the second half, but their opponents always looked dangerous on the break. The hosts' frustration showed late in the game when they were reduced to ten men with a red card for dissent, as the young Wallsend side held on for the win.
Walkergate 1(#8 42)
Wallsend Boys Club U-23 2(Kennedy 45+3 Siganbola 45+8)
Matchday 9/8
2.30pm ko
Att.30hc
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