AN injury time winner from 18-year-old Simon Farrier saw Wallington get the better of Northern Alliance Premier Division rivals Ponteland United.

The 1-0 victory enabled the in-form hosts to tighten their grip on fourth place in the league, in what was a closely contested match.

Fifth-placed Ponteland made several changes, bringing in Christopher Hibbitt and Steven Satterthwaite, while there was a welcome return for long-term injury victim John Pendlebury.

After a high-tempo start from both sides, some good defending by David Short and Connor Rainey swept up an early Wallington attack.

From a Henry Rawlinson free kick, Louis Calvert headed over the crossbar without troubling home keeper Aaron Carr.

United were holding their own and had another good chance when Rawlinson found Thomas Bainbridge running clear towards goal.

But Carr came out and blocked the goalbound shot, and then denied Reece Havelock-Brown with a diving save at the foot of the post.

Midway through the half a poor clearance by Ponteland was returned by Wallington’s midfield to the lively Farrier, who was initially held up by Short, before reaching the by-line and firing a low ball across the goalmouth.

Ponteland keeper Anderson was called into action after a good ball by Jake Walton found Farrier, who turned Rawlinson superbly before firing in a low cross which was safely gathered by Anderson. Shortly before half time, the United keeper saved a header from a corner.

On the hour mark, Havelock-Brown collected poor clearance and played the ball to Calvert, who turned well but fired a shot straight at the keeper.

Pendlebury had a couple of shots in the area blocked, before the ball dropped to Satterthwaite, but his effort sailed wide. Havelock-Brown then dribbled down the line before pulling the ball back to Calvert, who saw his flick at the near post saved by Wallington keeper Carr. Then Pont’s Anderson pulled off a tremendous one handed save to deny Walton, whose shot from 20 yards seemed destined for the top corner until it was palmed away to safety.

In stoppage time, Ponteland lost the ball in midfield and Wallington quickly turned defence into attack with their best move of the match.

Link-up play from Thomas Truscott and John Paxton saw the latter slip the ball through for Farrier, who confidently found the top corner to notch his fifth goal of the season. But Ponteland weren’t finished, and from a free kick, Carr reacted brilliantly to palm away a header by teenager Miles Darwent.