IN the weekend's single top-flight encounter, a 1-0 local derby victory away to Harraby Catholic Club took Carlisle City to within three points of current joint leaders Wark and Walker Central, writes Bill Gardner.

City's important winner was put away by Scott Priest with nine minutes to spare.

All the other sides in the Alliance's Premier League were involved in county cup action and Murton were beaten 4-1 by hosts Stockton Town in the Durham FA Trophy.

NORTHUMBERLAND FA SENIOR BENEVOLENT BOWL, ROUND ONE

TWO of the ties involving Alliance clubs went into extra-time and Ashington Colliers needed the further half-hour to beat visiting neighbours Cramlington Town 3-2.

Goals for Joe Moscrop and Scott Smith gave the Colliers a clear interval lead but an own goal gifted by Ashington's Adam Ryder got Cramlington off the mark. The visitors then levelled through Jordan Watson, only for Marc Richardson to restore the Colliers' lead at the end of the first extra time period.

Cup holders Blyth Town recorded a 6-4 victory in a great cup tie against Whitley Bay A at Hillheads.

After 90 minutes it was all square at 2-2 but Blyth progressed with goals supplied by man-of-the-match Danny Beresford (2), Tom Haigh, Mark Waugh, Adam Gladwin and Chris Lisle. The Bay's goals were shared by Ian Lee, Dean Porter, Gavin Hattrick and Mark Waite.

Wark sailed into the second round by beating visitors Shankhouse 4-0 and after having Tony Lancaster, Phil Thompson and John Hamilton on target in the first half, their tally was completed after the interval by Matthew MacLoughlin.

Alnwick Town claimed an impressive 3-0 verdict at home to Walker Central. Scott McMullen opened Alnwick's account within two minutes of the start and after 65 minutes Ben Keenan doubled their lead. In the 85th minute the Town's third goal was supplied by Richard Brown.

Two teams — Killingworth Sporting and Stocksfield — completed league and cup doubles with their respective 2-1 victories in the Bowl's first round.

Killingworth's visitors Ponteland United had Liam McIvor finding the net to end 75 minutes of stalemate but United were hit by a double whammy late in the game as Killy emerged as 2-1 victors.

To open the scoring Pont's hard-working midfielder Joe Dawson passed to Billy Holden and when he transferred the ball to McIvor he went round home keeper Aiden Ames to score.

Killingworth made a double substitution for the final quarter hour and the move paid off. With five minutes to go a right wing cross was palmed into the air by away keeper Michael Havelock and home striker Frank Di Pietro fired home the loose ball.

Then only two minutes later Killingworth stole a winner when Havelock was beaten again, this time by substitute Jorge Bollado's volley.

Stocksfield were presented with an own goal opener by visitors Newcastle University when a Students' defender turned Patrick Finnerty's hard-driven flag kick into his own net.

The University's Edwin Tizard equalised soon after the change-over but Stocksfield wrapped up the tie midway through the second half. A quickly-taken throw-in by Anthony Dowson released Wayne Stewart who was able to pick his spot only seconds after coming on as a substitute for the Tyne valley outfit.

Ben Gardner (2) and Craig Deighton were the Cullercoats marksmen in the Seasiders' 3-2 home win against Heddon and Heaton Stannington made progress by beating Seaton Delaval 2-1 at Wheatridge Park.

Lawrence McKenna's opener for Heaton was cancelled out by Delaval's Stephen Howes, but Kevin Carr scored a vital second goal for the visitors before the break.

DIVISION ONE

THIRD-placed Amble United, with a game in hand, pepped up their league challenge in the First Division with a 3-1 win away to mid-table opponents South Shields United.

Greg Dance opened the scoring for Amble with an absolute screamer midway through the first half. Shortly after the break Kyle Yorston got Shields back on terms but the visitors' lead was restored by Ross Gair and with three minutes to go, Amble's third goal was claimed by regular marksman Darren Riddell.

There's little doubt that Morpeth Sporting Club will figure prominently in this season's race for the First Division title. They made it seven wins on the trot by beating lowly Seaton Burn 4-1 with goals shared by Lee Donnelly, Micky Hanlon, Mike Dixon and Scott Pocklington. The Burn's single reply came from Stu Taylor.

Gateshead Rutherford have won five and drawn one of their last six games and stayed in pole position after their 4-1 victory away to Newcastle East End. Lee Chapman was a lone marksman for the Eastenders who have now lost four home games on the trot but this result was no reflection of the play.

The Rutherford scorers were Aaron Sheriff, David Loughlin, Andrew Reay and Craig Horsfall, with three of their goals put away inside the last ten minutes.

In second place Percy Main are just three points short of Rutherford's total and, like Amble United, they have a useful game in hand.
The Villagers were rather fortunate to beat hosts Gosforth Bohemians 1-0 to extend their unbeaten run to eight games.

The Bohs had their central defender sent off only a minute after the kick off, but it still took Percy Main another 73 minutes to open the scoring through Dean Morgan. At that point they were playing against nine men after Bohemians' striker Danny Sherwood also received his marching orders.

At the tenth attempt, Northbank finally picked up their first league points from their 3-2 win against visitors Berwick United, who are still pointless away from home.

Two first half strikes, both by Sergio Royo, put the Cumbrians in charge and Neal Thorley scored their third goal.

Chris Falconer and Paul Richardson hit back for Berwick but they couldn't find an equaliser and are now propping up the table.

Peterlee Town are also making a bid for promotion this time and have won four of their last five games, culminating with a 4-1 victory at home to Wallington who had been enjoying a successful run themselves.

Paul Callan's early opener for the Newtowners was cancelled out by Wallington's Brad Smith before the break. Callan netted again to restore Peterlee's lead and went on to complete his hat-trick after his colleague Jack Turner scored a third goal for the home side.

Meanwhile, Hebburn Reyrolle and Chopwell Officials both passed preliminary round tests in the Durham FA Trophy.

Chopwell hammered cup visitors Durham Garden House 6-1 and Simon Jacob (2) and Ray Oshin netted for Hebburn in their 3-0 home win against Hartlepool St Francis Under-21's.

DIVISION TWO

BOLSTERED by a couple of games in hand, Amble are in top spot in the Second Division and sharing the same points total with nearest rivals Wideopen & District. Both teams made home advantage count to secure maximum points as they continued to set a hot pace.

Wyn Fremlin's two goals for Amble included a second half penalty and their other scorers were Adam Shanks and Stu Marshall. Chemfica replied through Anthony Bruce and Dean Calvert but were always chasing the game and are still seeking their first point away from home.

Wideopen, just edged out of top spot by Amble on the basis of goal difference, conceded another three goals but still managed to beat visitors Newcastle BT 4-3.

Martin Roper turned out to be a hat-trick hero for the winners, whose other scorer in the 90th minute was famously-named new signing Niall Quinn. BT were unlucky to lose after goals by Greg Palmer, Darren Whitfield and Colin Galbraith had promised a share of the spoils.

The two current leaders have opened up a four-point gap at the top as third-placed North Shields Athletic were knocked back.

They became the latest victims of in-form hosts Stobswood Welfare and were beaten 5-2. The Welfare clocked up their sixth successive league win with goals supplied by Steve Gibbard (2), Matt Graham, Josh Hay and Mike Hogg, with James Baker and Bryan Murray replying for their opponents.

Wallsend Boys Club are still just on the fringes of the promotion race but have lost only once in six recent games and featured in a creditable 1-1 draw away to Willington Quay Saints.

The Saints, who had won their last four games on home turf, were fired into a 50th minute lead by Mark Henderson but after 72 minutes substitute Josh Walsh restored parity for the Boys Club.

Forest Hall still have a lot to do if they are to revive their promotion hopes, but they're still unbeaten at home after earning a 3-1 result against visitors Wallsend Town.

The Hall's Mark Knights put the ball into his own net to give Wallsend a boost but he was saved embarrassment by the goal-scoring exploits of his colleagues Dean Smith, Jamie Kennedy and Ryan Anderson.

Hexham beat bottom rung visitors Tynemouth United 2-0 but had to wait for around 80 minutes for substitute Darren Dobson's brace which settled the issue in their favour.

And after failing to fulfil the previous Saturday's fixture, Whitley Bay Town returned to action but were beaten 4-1 at home by Swalwell. Stuart Rook and Craig Robinson bagged two goals each for the winners with Whitley's single reply scored by Luke Jamieson-Yip.

In a clash featuring two new clubs at the wrong end of the Second Division table, Cullercoats Custom Planet ended a seven-match losing run by beating hosts Cramlington Blue Star 3-1.

James Fitzpatrick (2) and Liam Graham found the net for the Planet with Jamie Evans replying for a Blue Star side still waiting for their first point at home.