PONTELAND UNITED 0

NEWCASTLE CHEMFICA 0

Only a handful of games survived the wintry weather at the weekend and those that did were forced to switch to 3G pitches including Ponteland United's first home action of 2023 against Newcastle Chemfica in the Northern Football Alliance Bay Plastics Premier Division.

Due to a combination of injuries and unavailabilty, the hosts were forced to make five changes to the side that had picked up a point in a goal-less draw against Percy Main Amateurs the previous week with George Brady, Owen Lewis-Thompson, Henry Rawlinson, top-scorer Joe Rowan and recent signing JJ Waugh replaced by Shaun Kirkup, Reece Havelock-Brown, Shay Carey, Dylan Howourth and Charlie Maddison.

The in-form visitors were on a roll having won their last 3 games in all competitions, scoring 9 goals in the process, and the only change to the side that had beaten AFC Newbiggin 4-2 seven days earlier saw Jordan Smith replaced by 20-year-old central defender Jacob Daglish.

From a 3rd minute free-kick won by Ponteland winger Shay Carey, a couple of poor defensive headers in the box presented a half chance for Shaun Kirkup who saw his firm strike blocked and cleared away for a throw.

On 9 minutes, the hosts lost possession just outside the box when trying to play out from the back once too often but Newcastle Chemfica captain Sam Brown couldn't take advantage as his right-footed effort went wide of the far post.

The visitors then started to enjoy more possession and territory. A through ball from centre forward Kenan Layton was headed on by Oliver Ure and home keeper Grady Wilson was off his line smartly to clear the danger just ahead of intended target Euan Potts.

Full back Karl Morrison fired high and wide from 20 yards at the end of a good passing movement before Ponteland tried to hit back on the break. Carey's pace took him clear down the left but a wayward pass halted the attack. They came again with Havelock-Brown, Maddison and Carey combining well on the left before Havelock-Brown lost possession at the crucial time as he broke into the box.

Normal service was soon resumed as Chemfica's pacy 20-year-old winger Joe Davey cut inside from the left, beating two men before firing wide. Layton then failed to convert a great opportunity after being put clear on 22 minutes when his shot was saved by Wilson's legs, and must still be wondering how he missed an even easier chance minutes later after sending a close range effort inches wide of the back post when unmarked.

The visitors stayed on the front foot, forcing three corners in quick succession with the initial delivery punched clear by Wilson and continued to look far more likely to break the deadlock.

Centre forward Howourth had a shot blocked in the box at the end of a quick-fire Ponteland break and the hosts defended another corner before James Walker's speculative half-volley from 35 yards flew wide of Reece Monaghan's goal.

On 35 minutes, the ever dangerous Davey was brought down half-way inside opposition territory by full back Amrit Punia who injured his knee in the tackle and had to be replaced by Reece Richardson. He deserves a special mention after coming straight from a night-shift to take his place on the bench and probably didn't expect to be called into action so early in the game.

A pinpoint cross from the left was headed over the bar by Davey as the visitors were still unable to make their dominance count.

On 44 minutes, against the run of play, the hosts created their best chance of the half. After being fed just inside the Chemfica half, Havelock-Brown's pace took him into the box and his angled drive from the left side went wide of Monaghan's far post.

Clear-cut chances were at a premium in the opening 15 minutes of the second half as the visitors failed to make the most of another two corners and wasted a quickly taken free-kick in a promising position on the right of the box.

They began to show a bit more urgency and injected more pace into their game. Morrison curled a 30 yard effort straight at Wilson and a flowing move ended with the same player's 20 yard drive being deflected for a corner. The resulting set-piece delivery was punched clear by Wilson. The visitors then freshened things up by bringing on Josh Mottram and Lennon Mills in place of Darryl Basham and Joe Davey.

Ponteland briefly rallied and a long ball over the top from Havelock-Brown picked out Carey who lost possession as he tried to turn the last defender.

A poor defensive header from Monaghan's long goal-kick dropped nicely for substitute Ronan Sparks who saw his effort deflected wide for yet another corner.

Heading into the last 20 minutes, the hosts created a decent half chance when Sam Bullock's through ball found Carey in space inside the box but his attempted chip shot didn't get high enough to clear Monaghan who then had a let-off when he failed to gather a free-kick under pressure and home substitute Gary Cook couldn't turn in the loose ball.

At the other end, a weak header from Mills was easily saved by Wilson and Sparks curled a free-kick over the bar. Following slick inter-play down the right between Oliver Ure and Mottram, the latter dragged his shot wide of the far post.

Both sides continued to press for a winner as the clock ticked down. After being put clear, Havelock-Brown missed a gilt-edged one-on-one opportunity when his low shot was saved by Monaghan and, on 84 minutes, his free-kick nearly resulted in a wonder goal from Cook who fired just over the bar after a great turn and volley in the box.

Carey won a corner in their next attack and Richardson's delivery rebounded fortuitously into Monaghan's hands.

Wilson palmed away a Morrison corner in the 86th minute and the home defence comfortably dealt with two more corners in stoppage time.

The hosts counter-attacked at pace in one final throw of the dice which ended with Carey's shot being saved by Monaghan shortly before referee Dan Taylor blew for full-time.

Newcastle Chemfica manager Connor Jennings said: ''We were probably the better side but lacked the quality and composure in the final third of the pitch to win the game,'' while Ponteland manager Liam Bell was happy with another solid defensive display and clean sheet from his side.

My man of the match for Ponteland was 17-year-old keeper Grady Wilson who dealt with everything fired at him, was very decisive when opting to punch clear any corners and showed his alertness when sprinting out from his goal to clear away any long balls over the top of his defenders.

Ponteland are this season's draw specialists in the Premier Division with 7 in 17 games and find themselves only 5pts clear of the relegation zone in 12th place after five months without a win. They urgently need to recapture the form which saw them score 25 goals in 7 games at the start of the season, picking up 12pts in the process, and will be hoping the imminent move to a new ground next to Ponteland Leisure Centre brings a change of fortune. Crucially, they still have 3 of the 4 teams below them in the table, Seaton Delaval, Whitley Bay Reserves and Winlaton Community, to play at home.

By Peter Burgon