United were at full strength with Liam McIvor returning upfront after a three match suspension back in December and welcomed newcomer Jeff Forsyth into the starting line up for his debut..

The two sides had drawn in an earlier encounter, but the Town forged ahead this time and were three goals to the good after 50 minutes thanks to Stuart Hepple (2) and Kevin Long.

There were two quick replies from Heddon's Ben Haddock and Mark McEwen but they could not save the game.

Heddon and Newcastle University seem certain to end the year propping up the rest - with the students only three points better off than their fellow strugglers.

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Pictured: Cramlington Town's Stuart Hepple (yellow and blue) battles for the ball with a Heddon player. Photo by Steve Miller

Heddon made a great start for their new team boss and were two goals up inside three minutes thanks to Daniel Robinson and John Pearson.

Michael Forrest opened the University's account after half an hour, but Daryl Lucas was on target to restore Heddon's two- goal lead just before the changeover. Will Deledicq then notched a second for the visitors to rekindle their hopes and struck again in the 89th minute to salvage a point.

Meanwhile, Heddon St Andrews Saints booked their place in the Churches Together Football League Cup final by triumphing 7-2 over Whitley Bay Dynamos.

They will meet St John's A in the final on March 27 next year.

The vastly-experienced Warren Fisher, who has been helping out at Gateshead Rutherford, will be taking over the reins at Bullocksteads with immediate effect - and he hopes to bring in an assistant in the next fortnight.

Heddon are languishing at the foot of the table and were beaten 6-2 by hosts Wark in last Saturday's top-versus-bottom encounter.

Mark Rasmussen on the left for Walker was looking lively in the early stages and had one good long range effort saved by Havelock and cleared by Dummett. The early pressure remained with the hosts but they were stunned after 10 minutes when Ponteland broke down the left and a cross from Dummett was headed on by Wood to Kent who hit an unstoppable shot into the top corner from the right hand side of the goal area.

The Northumberland side remain isolated at the bottom, equal on points with Newcastle University who have played six games less than the Bullocksteads outfit.

Entertaining an Alnwick Town side which had just lost three league games on the trot, Heddon were beaten 2-1 as their misery continued.

Late in the first half, two goals by Kevin Elliott and Tony Brown set Alnwick up for the kill - and they held on for the points after Daniel Robinson got their hosts off the mark.

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Rugby's easy when you stick to the basics, and at Ponteland that's what head coach Alan Moses has been at pains to drive home.

When the RFU Regional Development Officer took over as player-coach last season, Ponteland had just suffered relegation from Durham/Northumberland One. After a solid first year, the club now find themselves level top of DN2, and battling hard with Ryton for the chance to return from whence they came.

Harrison, director of coaching at Matfen, set the lowest total in the event since 2001 as he finished on 14-under 270 at Pestana Golf Resort's Vale da Pinta course, breaking 70 in all four rounds. It was the lowest aggregate 72-hole score since Steve Stull's ten-shot victory eight years ago.

"It was fantastic. I'm really chuffed and I'm delighted to get my card," said Harrison, who becomes eligible for the Senior Tour when he turns 50 in May.

More information about the event and how to donate a prize for the charity raffle is available by calling Guy Tiffin on (01434) 602-212.

They won 3-2 in their cup clash with Walker Central at Monkchester.

The Central had been comfortable 5-1 winners in an earlier league fixture, and Liam Mulligan's successful spot kick midway through the first half gave them the lead this time.

This alarming drop in form is somewhat surprising considering the number of quality and experienced players they have in their squad and no easy encounter was envisaged by Jarrod Suddick's team.

An early brace for Scott Smith gave the Colliers a great start, and although Ian McElroy quickly replied for Heddon, Ashington's tally was completed by Glen Bolton in the second half.

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