A TRADEMARK header from Kieran Russel proved decisive as Prudhoe YC Seniors got the better of Wallington in the Northern Alliance George Dobbins League Cup.

Underdogs Prudhoe, of Division One, won 1-0 against their Premier League opponents after a close encounter at Oakford Park to book their place in the quarter-finals.

Hosts Wallington could have scored four times in the first half. John Paxton missed the target from close range, Michael Angus fired over twice and Kyle Reardon also cleared the crossbar.

It was goalless at half time, and the Greens paid the penalty for failing to hit the target when Prudhoe defender Russel broke the deadlock in the 50th minute.

The centre half came up for a set piece deep in the Wallington half. Matty Robinson’s superb delivery from the right was met by Russel, who headed home confidently from six yards.

Prudhoe club secretary Duncan Graham praised the efforts of his players, including man of the match Ste Forster, who starred for the visitors after finishing a night shift at Prudhoe’s Essity tissue mill.

He added: “It was a good all-round performance from us. We were very solid, disciplined and well organised. We didn’t allow Wallington to create too much in the second half, although they did have a couple of good chances during the first half.

“We kept our shape and hit them going forward whenever we could, and we played some good football at times. But it was quite a cagey game, with not a huge amount of action for either keeper.”

Wallington midfielder Reardon said: “It was a fairly close game which could have gone either way, but ultimately we ran out of ideas. We could have scored a few goals in the first half.

“Prudhoe scored early in the second half and after looking like we’d get back into it, we perhaps lost out way in the last 20 minutes. We couldn’t break them down and it was a disappointing result.”

Representatives of both sides were complimentary of each other, and it’s easy to see why. Both clubs have much to look forward to in the coming weeks.

Wallington travel to Blyth Town on Saturday as they return to Premier Division action. With several games in hand on teams above them, the Greens will be looking to re-establish themselves in the top six.

Prudhoe are second in Division One, and will resume their league campaign with a trip to Bedlington on Saturday.

An eagerly anticipated derby clash with Hexham awaits them on January 18.