Local sides exit Northern Alliance League cups

The visitors, currently sitting joint second in the Premier Division, were always going to be tough opponents for the Development Division side.

And so it proved as they passed the ball around well, switched play often, and in general were the better side throughout.

North Sunderland did well to hold them to 2-0 at half time, but a penalty in the second half stifled any hope they had of getting a foothold in the game.

On Saturday (November 2), North Sunderland, who are currently fourth in the Development table, are back in league action with an away match against Heaton Stannington, who are just one point and one place behind them.

Also in the Gardner Cup, Lowick’s poor run of form continued when they suffered their eighth successive defeat with a 5-1 home loss at the hands of Division One side Gosforth Bohemiens.

Lowick, who are 13th in the Development table, take on Morpeth FC at home in the league on Saturday, and they will be wanting to fare a bit better than the last time the two teams met. Lowick travelled to Morpeth for a league game just three weeks ago when they were on the wrong end of a 10-1 result.

Wooler had been due to travel to Whitburn and Cleadon for. Gardner Cup tie, but unfortunately the weather intervened and the game was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.

On Saturday the Glendale side, who are eighth in the table with 15 points, are scheduled to face Swalwell away in a league game.

Alnwick Town did not have a game at the weekend - they played in midweek when they went down to a 3-1 home defeat at the hands of Blyth Spartans Reserves in the League Cup.

Alnwick got off to a flying start with Thomas Forster powering in a first half drive from outside the box.

Blyth equalised from the penalty spot with ex-Town favourite Jonny Quinn levelling.

Alnwick were then put at a numerical disadvantage when Michael Brown was sent off in the second half for two yellow cards. Spartans took the lead when Andrew Beadling slid in at the back post after an hour and Richie Clarke added the third on the break to seal the victory.

On Saturday Alnwick are again in cup action with a home match against Wallington in the League Cup.

Alnwick Town Development returned to action hosting Cullercoats U21s at St James’ Park in the Newcastle Combination League, and they took all three points with a slender 1-0 victory.

In what proved to be an entertaining game the home side enjoyed most of the possession and they inflicted the first league defeat on the current Division 1 leaders in more than 12 months.

It was 0-0 at half-time, but on 57 minutes Alnwick went close to breaking the deadlock when Paul Muers had a shot saved by the Cullercoats goalkeeper, only for Thomas Forster to see his shot from the rebound to hit a post.

The only goal of the game came eight minutes from the end when Evan McEwan rose to head in his first goal of the season.

Alnwick survived a late scare when the visitors pressed forward for an equaliser but their final effort was guided into the side netting.

Alnwick U23s were also in action at the weekend, and like the Development team, they faced top of the table opposition in the shape of Newbiggin Blacks in a Combination Division 3 game.

The game was played at Shilbottle and again Alnwick turned in a decent performance to take a point from a battling 0-0 draw.

Alnwick Ladies got back to winning ways, when they faced Blyth Town away on Sunday in the NE Women’s League. They chalked up an impressive 9-2 win with Michelle Stewart scoring five goals. Also netting were Caitlin Black (2), Jenny Patterson and Emily Henderson.