WHILE most of the teams in the Northern Alliance were frustrated to have their games at the weekend called off, Ponteland United Reserves were happy to take advantage of their game at home to Lowick.

Played on the all-weather surface at Druids Park, in Woolsington, the Reserves were in fine goalscoring form as they hit seven goals without reply to extend their lead at the top of the Northern Alliance Development Division.

United made it 11 wins from their opening 14 league games, opening up a 12 point cushion ahead of Morpeth, who have four games in hand over their title rivals.

Stephen Cape took the plaudits for Kennie Malia’s team as he capped a man of the match display by finding the back of the net.

But it was a real team performance which helped the Reserves to all three points, with Steven Knox, Toy Spratt, Jason Watson, James Hepple, Jake Lynch and Lutfur Karim also adding their names on the scoresheet.

Manager Malia described the victory as a big win at the top of the table, putting the emphasis on the chasing pack to catch up.

Scoring hasn’t been a problem for United this term, and they have found the back of the net 47 times in their 14 league games. Only second placed Morpeth have scored more, scoring on 49 occasions from their 10 fixtures.

Ponteland’s ability to convert has transferred into fine results this term, the team losing just once in the league, that coming in a 3-2 reversal away to fifth placed West Jesmond.

United will be looking to move up to Division Two at the first time of asking since the Alliance expanded to four divisions following the folding of the Tyneside Amateur League, which Ponteland won in 2017 and Haltwhistle Jubilee won last year.

Away from their league ambitions, Ponteland have a tough cup tie ahead, weather permitting, as they are due to entertain Wallington from three divisions above on Saturday.

With the George Dobbins League Cup game likely to go ahead with Pont drawn at home on their all-weather pitch, it should finally signal a return to action for the visitors after an absence of six weeks.

Wallington have been frustrated by the weather and have not kicked a ball in anger since they lost 2-1 to AFC Newbiggin in the Northumberland FA Les Todd Senior Benevolent on Bowl on October 12.

Having played just seven games in the Premier Division, they have slipped down to 10th in the table.

Divisional rivals Ponteland United are due to be in county cup action at the weekend with a trip to Blyth Town.

A place in the Senior Benevolent Bowl semi-finals is the reward if United are able to defeat a team nine points and four places ahead of them in the table. Ponteland will be hoping to continue their scoring form after putting 10 past struggling Seaton Delaval last time out.

Hexham will hope it’s third time lucky as they try to get their Northumberland FA Minor Cup tie at Heaton Hawks Seniors played after two successive postponements.

The same applies to Prudhoe YC Juniors Development Squad who have been drawn away to Newcastle University in the third round of the same competition.

Prudhoe’s Seniors team have been firing on all cylinders this year and they will hope to put the pressure on the teams at the top of Division One.

They could go top if they manage to come away from Rothbury with maximum points, hoping to defeat a team they beat 2-1 in the League Cup just last month.

Another team looking good value to challenge for league honours is Division Two leaders Haltwhistle, who enjoy a three point advantage over AFC Newbiggin with a game in hand. Halty are due to visit Ellington on Saturday.