A TREBLE from Marc Nixon (right) earned Hexham a fantastic 4-1 victory over their nearest rivals Ponteland United .

The striker found the back of the net three times for his side‘s second league win of the season, inflicting a third defeat on Clayton Charity Cup champions United in the process.

Hosts Hexham have enjoyed a steady start to the season as they find their feet under the new coaching team led by former professional Bobby Howe, but Saturday’s showing proved that they are able to challenge in Division One.

It was Nixon‘s strike partner Kurtis Harvey who got the ball rolling against Ponteland, good work from Steven Coates and Tony Lancaster down the left seeing a wicked low ball played into the area which was diverted towards goal by the lunging Harvey.

Hexham dominated throughout the encounter and were two goals to the good just before the break when a Matthew Wilson corner was not cleared at the far post by Zac Bewley, resulting in the alert Nixon turning and firing past Michael Bertram in the Pont goal.

It was three not long after the restart, Nixon using his strength to muscle his way past a defender and tapped in Coates’ cross from close range after Bertram shouted but failed to connect to the ball.

United looked to come back into the game but were unable to test debutant Graham Gradwell in the Hexham goal too much, although Ethan Bewley clawed one back when his well struck volley from distance went under the keeper.

But Pont started to lose their shape and composure as they started to grow frustrated, and they were reduced to nine men in quick succession.

Captain Peter Scott was dismissed for an alleged kick in the centre of the pitch, and he was soon followed by Billy Holden who saw red for pushing an opponent in the Hexham penalty area.

To add to their misery, Ryan Potts fell awkwardly on his ankle with nobody around him just minutes after replacing Mark Murtagh and was unable to take any further part in the game.

The space afforded to Hexham saw them dominate the midfield and Mark Robson and Lancaster were the pick of the bunch, while substitute Sam Armstrong impressed in a fleeting appearance before he heads back to university.

It was over to Nixon to deal the final hammer blow to United, again the sharpest in the area to head home a Coates corner.

The league action will take a back step for the next three weeks with cup games coming in thick and fast.

Wallington recorded a third win of the season as a 4-2 triumph over Percy Main Amateurs lifted them to seventh in the Premier Division.

The deadlock was broken after just six minutes when Kyle Reardon found the back of the net with a neat left footed drive from the edge of the area.

Josh Laverick then got his first goal for the club when he sent a deft back heel home from an Ashley McAlpine cross, while Greg Reardon joined his brother on the scoresheet as a cross cum shot caught out the Main keeper.

The scoring was rounded off on the stoke of half time when Jake Walton put the game beyond their visitors, Wallington keeping things tight to see out the second half.

Prudhoe YC Seniors remain on six points in their debut season in Division Two, a disappointing performance seeing them go down by three goals to Seaton Burn. They hope for better fortunes on Saturay when they travel to New Fordley in the cup.

In the Wearside League, Prudhoe Town put in a valiant display against high flying Stockton Town but came away without reward.

Last season, Prudhoe were the only team to defeat their opponents as they cruised to the title and they again gave their visitors a big scare at the weekend.

With a number of changes made again, The Citizens battled hard but strikes from Tom Coulthard and Tony Johnson meant that Prudhoe dropped to 18th in the table.

Alston Moor Sports Club‘s opening home game of the campaign ended in victory as they ran out comfortable 3-0 winners over Crook in the Colin Waites Cup group game.

Missing many regulars and forced to start young defender Liam Thompson in goal, they still managed to dominate and were ahead after 20 minutes when Jordan Norris bravely headed home Adam Dickson’s pin point cross.

Alston continued to pour forward but were denied a second on two occasions just before the break as last gasp defending from Crook saw them clear off the line.

Crook looked likely to level after the break, but Alston‘s nerves were settled when Jack Rogan capped off a man of the match display when he fired home after working his way into the box.

It was game over soon after when Nathan Frazer rifled home a third, while Thompson kept hold off his clean sheet in spectacular fashion when he clawed a goal bound effort from under the crossbar.