Shilbottle promoted to Premier Division as league champions

Shilbottle CW are the champions of the Northern Alliance Division One.

The team had already guaranteed their promotion to the Premier Division, but they made sure they went up as champions after taking maximum points from two games played during the past week.

Birtley St Josephs 2

Shilbottle CW 4

Shilbottle secured the title after this hard fought victory at the Birtley Sports Complex on Monday evening.

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This was the Colliers’ third successive league championship and has seen them rise from the North Northumberland League to the Premier Division of the Northern Football Alliance in just over a couple of years.

The Colliers got of to a bright start as they chased the victory necessary to take the title. Matty Graham had an early chance following a Josh Hay free kick, but they took the lead after 15 minutes when a Danny Lowes free kick was headed on by Josh Hay for Ross Straughan to force home from close range.

However, the Colliers suffered a set back when Birtley scored two goals in a five minute spell around the half hour mark to put them on the back foot.

They drew level just before the break when a ball into the box from Joe Henderson was headed over the keeper and into the net by Matty Graham.

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The sides were level at 2-2 at the interval but Shilbottle gradually began to get on top following the restart. They eventually went ahead again on 70 minutes when a good through ball saw Liam Brooks race clear for a fine finish.

Birtley had a man sent off shortly after and when Jordan Giles set up Brooks for an easy finish with only minutes to play the game was over and the championship won.

Shilbottle CW 8

Hebburn Reyrolle 0

Shilbottle proved much too strong for the Hebburn side in what was their final ‘home’ game of a protracted season.

The Colliers got off to a flyer and took the lead after 8 minutes play when Liam Brooks swept home a Josh Hay cross to open the scoring.

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An identical move saw Brooks score again after twenty minutes and in truth he could have had half a dozen before he set up Josh Hay for the third on the half hour.

The Colliers led by 3-0 at the break and it was little more than one way traffic following the restart. Joe Henderson quickly made it four, with Brooks completing his hattrick on 50 minutes before being substituted.

The goals continued to f The team had already guaranteed their promotion to the Premier Division, but they made sure they went up as champions after taking maximum points from two games played during the past week.

Birtley St Josephs 2

Shilbottle CW 4

Shilbottle secured the title after this hard fought victory at the Birtley Sports Complex on Monday evening.

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This was the Colliers’ third successive league championship and has seen them rise from the North Northumberland League to the Premier Division of the Northern Football Alliance in just over a couple of years.

The Colliers got of to a bright start as they chased the victory necessary to take the title. Matty Graham had an early chance following a Josh Hay free kick, but they took the lead after 15 minutes when a Danny Lowes free kick was headed on by Josh Hay for Ross Straughan to force home from close range.

However, the Colliers suffered a set back when Birtley scored two goals in a five minute spell around the half hour mark to put them on the back foot.

They drew level just before the break when a ball into the box from Joe Henderson was headed over the keeper and into the net by Matty Graham.

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The sides were level at 2-2 at the interval but Shilbottle gradually began to get on top following the restart. They eventually went ahead again on 70 minutes when a good through ball saw Liam Brooks race clear for a fine finish.

Birtley had a man sent off shortly after and when Jordan Giles set up Brooks for an easy finish with only minutes to play the game was over and the championship won.

Shilbottle CW 8

Hebburn Reyrolle 0

Shilbottle proved much too strong for the Hebburn side in what was their final ‘home’ game of a protracted season.

The Colliers got off to a flyer and took the lead after 8 minutes play when Liam Brooks swept home a Josh Hay cross to open the scoring.

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An identical move saw Brooks score again after twenty minutes and in truth he could have had half a dozen before he set up Josh Hay for the third on the half hour.

The Colliers led by 3-0 at the break and it was little more than one way traffic following the restart. Joe Henderson quickly made it four, with Brooks completing his hattrick on 50 minutes before being substituted.

The goals continued to flow with Ross Straughan, Jonathan Colley and Matty Graham all on the score sheet to complete a resounding victory.

Alnmouth United 1

Gateshead A 3

Alnmouth’s final home match of the season on Saturday morning was also expected to be their most difficult as they took on runaway champions Gateshead and so it appeared when falling two goals behind within five minutes but thereafter they held their own and threatened a surprise for a spell.

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The pace and movement of the young Gateshead side’s attackers proved difficult for the home defence to cope with from the off and after barely a minute’s play Joe Hailes finished off a lightning break as the ball was squared across the goal face.

Soon after, the lead was doubled by an almost carbon copy move, this time Callum Johnston applying the successful strike.

To their credit, the Seasiders ensured there would be no rout as they upped their work-rate and concentration and played their way back into the match on the half hour when Andy Murray found the right corner of the net with a left foot drive, having been supplied by his brother Peter at the end of a fine move also involving Dec Turnbull & Ryan Taylor.

While the visitors lively front runners were always a threat, Alnmouth looked to be holding mid-field and had hopes of some reward until soon after the interval when a swift break down the left ended when Scott Johnson let loose early from the angle of the area to spectacularly restore the two goal advantage.

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Neither ‘keeper was to be seriously tested again but there was certainly no let-up in effort. low with Ross Straughan, Jonathan Colley and Matty Graham all on the score sheet to complete a resounding victory.

Alnmouth United 1

Gateshead A 3

Alnmouth’s final home match of the season on Saturday morning was also expected to be their most difficult as they took on runaway champions Gateshead and so it appeared when falling two goals behind within five minutes but thereafter they held their own and threatened a surprise for a spell.

The pace and movement of the young Gateshead side’s attackers proved difficult for the home defence to cope with from the off and after barely a minute’s play Joe Hailes finished off a lightning break as the ball was squared across the goal face.

Soon after, the lead was doubled by an almost carbon copy move, this time Callum Johnston applying the successful strike.

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To their credit, the Seasiders ensured there would be no rout as they upped their work-rate and concentration and played their way back into the match on the half hour when Andy Murray found the right corner of the net with a left foot drive, having been supplied by his brother Peter at the end of a fine move also involving Dec Turnbull & Ryan Taylor.

While the visitors lively front runners were always a threat, Alnmouth looked to be holding mid-field and had hopes of some reward until soon after the interval when a swift break down the left ended when Scott Johnson let loose early from the angle of the area to spectacularly restore the two goal advantage.

Neither ‘keeper was to be seriously tested again but there was certainly no let-up in effort.