PRUDHOE YC Seniors need a huge response on Saturday after a gutless display during their midweek hammering at the hands of Winlaton Vulcans.

Manager Duncan Graham had a squad of 21 to chose from on the day, and he will be seething that not even a handful performed for him on a night to forget.

In fact, his team gave him nothing all night as they were second best to a hard working and committed Winlaton side, who more than deserved their first points of the season.

Graham’s son Darren was the player who stood out most for the hosts as he ran through a brick wall to try to restore some dignity, while both Phil Murray and Sam Mannion grew into the game after the break following poor first halves.

Young winger Sam Dibb-Fuller showed brief flashes of the brilliance which has earned him selection to the Northumberland U18 side, scoring an excellent solo goal and beating his man several times. Centre half pairing Danny Driver and David Burns admirably battled hard all night even with things mounting up against them, with Burns showing composure on the ball throughout.

Every player in the green of Winlaton left the field with their heads held high after putting in a great shift, former Prudhoe Town man Liam Henderson running the show in the middle of the park while the directness of pacy wide man Sean Best caused problems all night.

Full back Connor Jacques did well to contain the threat from Dibb-Fuller, while centre half Jack Moulding was involved in everything, whether defensively or going forward, during a man of the match display.

Prudhoe went into the game after a positive start to the campaign, a good performance in the defeat to strong favourites Blyth Spartans Reserves followed up with a 3-0 victory over Seghill courtesy of goals from man of the match Matty Robinson, Freddie Allan and Jack Bell.

But Winlaton were ahead after just five minutes when a poor pass from Mannion was seized upon, and Best burned past Paul McCain before playing in Henderson to send a great first time strike past Jack Walker.

Things didn’t get any better for Prudhoe as they were two behind on 12 minutes, goalkeeper Walker presenting his opponent with the ball. He was forced into a low save as a result, and Niall Codling was on hand to tap home the rebound.

Prudhoe showed some attacking intent with Mannion’s header coming back off the post, and Dibb-Fuller blazing over from close range from Murray’s lofted cross.

Winlaton responded and went 3-0 up on 33 minutes in another swift counter attack. Murray surrendered possession cheaply and a brilliant switched pass from Henderson had Best in on goal, his control and shot on goal impressive as he left Walker with no chance.

Dibb-Fuller, who had largely been anonymous, then gave his side a glimmer of hope when he dribbled his way past three defenders to make his way into the area, his scuffed shot deceiving Andrew Wright and nestling in the bottom corner.

But all hope was extinguished again when, on the stroke of half time, Moulding lifted the ball over the head of Walker to make it 4-1.

Graham snr was looking for a big reaction after the break as he replaced McCain and sole striker Allan with Shay Hudson and Aaron Ridley, but Winlaton had three quick chances as Moulding nearly added a second and Walker kept out Dean Hall.

But Prudhoe reduced arrears to two after a mix-up between Moulding and Wright saw the goalkeeper gather the ball from his back pass, Lee Blackburn smashing the ball over a line of bodies from seven yards out.

The fifth Winlaton goal on 65 minutes killed the game as a contest, though, with substitute Pete Smith getting a second bite at the cherry to slide the ball past Walker, the referee choosing to ignore the offside flag.

Driver was then unfortunate to put the ball in his own net, directing the ball home as he slid to prevent an opponent from tapping home.

The seventh Winlaton strike was a real sickener for Prudhoe as they weren’t alert to a short corner, Best collecting the ball from Henderson and firing on goal with Blackburn’s attempted clearance hitting off the bar and crossing the line.

There was one bright spark for the Youth Club in the dying moments, the ball looping up into the path of Jack Dixon who sent a rocket of a volley on goal from 20 yards out which was well saved.