Bleak mid winter

Ponteland United in an unprecedented run of poor form and without a win in their last seven games visited an in form team Hebburn Reyrolle who had won 5 of their last six league outings. Elliott Huart, Chris Flynn and Dan Dunn returned to the Ponteland starting line.
A confident Hebburn started at a fast pace and were rewarded after only five minutes when a quick one two down the right allowed Ray Oshin to get to the bye line and his cross picked out Alan Pegrun just inside the 18 yard line to fire strong and true into the bottom corner. The powerful running and control of the Hebburn team made things difficult for Ponteland as they became over run all over the pitch. The instrumental Pegram played a lovely ball out to Andrew Bell and his pass found McDonald in front of goal with only Blair to beat but he shot wide. Pegram then hit a half volley from a corner which Dunn cleared off the line. Things looked ominous for Ponteland and on 25 minutes they went further behind when Pegram played in the strong running Ray Oshin who fired low past Blair. Five minutes later the young keeper was picking the ball out of the net again when Andrew Bell capitalised on a defensive mistake to put the game well beyond the struggling visitors. Huart was working hard in midfield for Pont but was cautioned after one or two overzealous challenges. For the third week running a shell shocked Ponteland were finding it difficult to get any foothold in the game and it wasn't until the 35 minute before they had their first attempt on goal when Kwalangana headed Jones' cross into the arms of Newbrook. There then followed a flurry of goals. Five minutes before half time a free kick on the left by Watson was poorly defended and it went through the defence and past an unsighted Blair. Surprisingly Pont then pulled one back when Rankin fired a firmly struck left foot shot into the bottom corner to lift Pont's spirits but only momentarily. A goal mouth scramble ended with powerful striker Channon North poking home a fifth and three minutes into stoppage time of the first half McDonald put further misery on Pont to make it six at the half way stage.

Manager Havelock made an immediate change at half time bringing on Wood for Kwalangana and Pont suffered a further set back when Huart had to be carried off with a knee injury to go to hospital and was replaced with Anderson. To their credit the Ponteland lads did much better in the second half with Wood and Dunn, after he moved into the middle, getting greater ownership of the ball,and although not creating too many chances did control more of the game although it could be argued with a six goal lead Hebburn took their foot off the gas. The surprising thing was that no further goals were scored which would have meant an even more embarrassing afternoon for the visitors. Blair made two fine stops to deny North and at least a second half clean sheet and the players playing some decent football gives the team some positives to take into their next game. Heads never dropped in the second half but the team needs to increase its work rate and concentration throughout the game to match teams at this level. Until Havelock can find a way to stop conceding goals at an alarming rate Pont without a natural striker will struggle to win games, The fact that Hebburn had six different goalscorers illustrates the difference.