First team returned to football action for the first time in 2021 with a difficult game away to Burradon & New Fordley in the quarter final of the NFA Football Safety Officers Benevolent Bowl Competition. With the hosts pitch unavailable the game was played at the Darren Persson Stadium home of North Shields FC.

United were without star players Stevie Little and Zac Bewley who had decided to follow former manager Liam McIvor to highly ambitious Newcastle Blue Star last month. Continuity was maintained however at Pont with Assistant Manager Liam Bell stepping up into the manager's role and supported by a new management team of Chris Blench and John Ludlow along with Ryan Monaghan, who has moved from todays opposition.

The match opened brightly with Pont creating the first opportunity when a great ball from Turnbull found Calvert but his shot went over the bar. Rawlinson then found striker Ethan Bewley who did well but his shot was deflected for a corner. At the other end Ian Lee released Joe Besford but his shot went wide of the post.

It's fair to say that Pont were settling well into the game and causing early pressure down their left side and on 25 minutes another good ball from Turnbull found Calvert who shot early but again over the bar. With half time approaching a short corner by the home side found Alex Patterson but his shot on the volley sailed over the bar. Pont then conceded three corners in quick succession but broke quickly when the the third was cleared through Kirkup to find Bewley who headed the ball into the path of strike partner Calvert but his shot went wide of the mark which was the story for both teams in the first period.

All to play for in the second half with Pont edging the first half with new central pairing of Hadfield and Thompson defending stoutly against the physical presence of Lee and Hudson and Bewley & Calvert looking dangerous in offensive areas. Were it not for some rusty finishing Pont could and should have been in front at the interval.

Five minutes into the second half Punia came on for the injured Rawlinson. The home side had a free kick 23 yards from goal in a dangerous central position but Scott Pocklington curled his shot wide of the post. At the other end Calvert enticed Turnbull into a wide position down the left but his cross was cleared behind for a corner. Excellent close control and neat pass by Bewley played Calvert through on goal but again his shot was deflected for a corner. Shortly afterwards Calvert was again in the action first hitting the post before hitting the rebound over the bar. Pont continued to press and like the home side in the first half forced three corners in quick succession before keeper Tom Shanley cleanly caught the third. On 75 minutes the hosts broke the deadlock when centre back, Chris Jewels, not for the first time this season, cut inside his marker at the back post and planted his header past Whinham. Dispirited after their efforts Pont had it all to do but B&NF sensed victory in the final ten. Whinham denied Mitch Ramsey with a fine save but then saw Pont concede a penalty which Besford despatched clinically. Collins and Max Bell came on in a late change for Havelock- Brown and Bewley but by then the match was lost and Pont conceded a third when Conor Sheriff collected a loose ball to run through on goal and round the exposed Whinham. The final scoreline flattered the victors somewhat and Pont have to pick themselves up for their first match in the Challenge Cup mini league competition on Wednesday when they travel to Amberley Playing fields to face AFC Killingworth.

Again unfortunately under current guidelines no spectators are allowed.