IN-FORM Ponteland United have now won four games on the bounce in 2020.

They followed up a 3-1 victory over Whitley Bay Reserves in midweek by getting the better of Shankhouse, by the same scoreline, on Saturday.

Struggling Shankhouse agreed to switch the fixture to Ponteland due to an unplayable surface at their home ground at Action Park, Dudley.

It was the first time the two sides had met this season, and will go down as a home fixture for United.

Ponteland were quick out of the blocks and attacking down the left with Reece Havelock-Brown and Zac Bewley combining well.

The latter found himself through on goal but experienced keeper Robert Joyce spread himself well to block Bewley’s shot.

Shortly afterwards, United teenager Harrison Turnbull hit the top of the bar with a cross from the left. The hosts continued to have early joy down the left and Joyce again thwarted Bewley, palming his shot round the post.

The resulting corner was taken by Havelock-Brown, and recent signing Joe Collins stood his ground to head home with only eight minutes on the clock.

On 30 minutes, Stephen Little headed over from another Havelock-Brown’s corner. With the wind slightly in their favour and half time approaching, Pont had another good opportunity when Bewley found Collins unmarked with a cross on the edge of the area, but the latter’s shot on the volley cleared the bar.

Despite Ponteland’s first half dominance, Shankhouse levelled just three minutes after the restart. They were awarded a penalty when a forward was ruled to have been impeded. Andrew Anderson drilled home the spot kick.

The goal had an uplifting effect on the visitors. Shankhouse forward Bradley Higgins was causing problems with some timely runs beyond Ponteland’s back line, with other players in support. On the hour mark, Shankhouse keeper Joyce could only palm Shaun Kirkup’s drive back out into the penalty area for Havelock-Brown to shoot into the unguarded goal. However, his celebrations were short-lived as the linesman flagged for offside.

Erhann Nurettin was another of the visitors’ danger men, but they wasted two corners before having a penalty appeal turned down after a coming together in the box.

On 65 minutes, a Ponteland free kick was delivered with pace into the crowded goalmouth, and ended up in the net. A slight deflection may have helped it past the unsighted keeper.

Five minutes later, Collins powered a superb header into the net from Gary Cook’s bullet cross from the right for his second goal, and Ponteland’s third, to secure the points.

With a two-goal margin, United manager Liam McIvor introduced all five substitutes in the last 15 minutes to see the game out.

Despite their lowly position in the league, Shankhouse can take some comfort from their determined spell early in the second half, but Ponteland could have been home and dry during their dominant first half performance.

Since beginning the new year with a George Dobbins League Cup tie victory over Jesmond on January 4, Ponteland have since won three consecutive games in Northern Alliance Premier Division.

They host Gateshead Rutherford on Saturday, in a bid to put three more points on the board.

Alan Birkinshaw