FOOTBALL: WHILE some players dread it, a penalty shootout always provides plenty of entertainment and excitement to a game of football.

And in a new twist to this year’s Clayton Charity Cup, they will follow all group games regardless of the result from the proceeding 90 minutes!

The organising committee has decided to follow each game with pens, in case there is any doubt about who should progress to the final as occurred a few years back when there were three teams in each group.

As six local teams will again contest the Tynedale only pre-season tournament over two groups, the addition of the shootouts should ensure there is no confusion from now on.

David Tiffin said: “We have decided that the games will have a shootout in case there‘s two teams tied at the top of the group at the end.

”You might have a case where two teams have both won 1-0 and drawn their match against each other, so it would then be decided on the outcome of the penalties.

“It will add excitement and mean that a team who loses their first game but wins that shootout, could go through to the final if they win their next game. So it should be rather interesting.”

Group One is made up of Northern Alliance sides Wallington and Ponteland United, and Wearside Leauge outfit Prudhoe Town. All group games will be played at Wallington.

Group Two consists of Tyneside Amateur League’s Heddon St Andrews, who will host the group stages, and Northern Alliance sides Hexham and Prudhoe Youth Club.

The schedule is as follows: Group One (to be played at Wallington with 6.45pm kick offs): Prudhoe Town v Ponteland United (July 13); Ponteland United v Wallington (July 15); Wallington v Prudhoe Town (July 22).

Group Two (to be played at Heddon): Hexham v Heddon St Andrew’s (July 13); Hexham v Prudhoe YC (July 15); Prudhoe YC v Heddon St Andrew’s (July 22).

The final between the two group winners will be held on Wednesday, July 29, at Haydon Bridge. The Stan Jackson Cup for the teams who finish bottom of the groups will be played on Monday, July 27.