Stobswood Welfare currently sit proudly on top of Division One of the Northern Football Alliance and the highest ranked side in the competition sent out a message to their rivals as they romped to a 7-1 success at fellow Division One team Wallsend Boys Club. 

Stefan Townsley’s in-form side will be the outfit that everyone will want to avoid pulling out of the hat in the fourth-round draw as they have been beaten just once in the League this season and are taking that hot form into the Stelrad Minor Cup.

Max Anderson and Jake Baker both netted twice with Aaron Costello, Luke Baston and Jack Small also getting on the scoresheet in the impressive win.

Newcastle East End were beaten Stelrad Minor Cup finalists in a thrilling penalty shoot-out at Blue Flames last season and they also went goal crazy in a 7-1 success over Cullercoats, who were themselves beaten finalists in a showpiece at St. James’s Park in 2019. East End will hope to go one better this year as they comfortably saw off the Doves who are now playing in the Alliance Second Division. 

The biggest irony in First Division Rothbury’s 2-0 success over Ellington was that both of the Reds’ goalscorers – Evan Dunn and Ryan Gair - hail from the coastal village, rubbing salt into the Alliance Second Division team’s wounds somewhat.

Willington Quay Saints also went into the hat for the fourth-round draw as they overcame West Moor & Jesmond 3-2 in a tight all-First Division affair. Elliot Mitchell, Ben McDermott and Sean Conway netted for Saints with Myles Ferraro and Kyle Gilmour replying for the visitors.

Hexham were firing on all cylinders as they hit Westerhope United for six and Division Two’s Wideopen pulled off something of a surprise with a stunning 5-1 victory against Seaton Burn who play their football in the Division above. Taylor Smith and Jack Desmond both bagged braces with Charlie Cave netting the other.

Stocksfield have had a tough start to the season in the Alliance Third Division where they sit bottom of the table but they turned things around to defeat fellow Third Division side Ashington Reserves 5-3.

North East Christian Fellowship team North Shields Community Christians have enjoyed some good runs in the Minor Cup in recent seasons and they went through with a 1-0 win against Northern Alliance Division Three’s Gosforth Bohemians Reserves thanks to a superb Michael Hogg strike. The Bohs Development side, who play in the Northeast Combination, advanced with a walkover against Burradon Juniors while Christian Fellowship side Eden Blyth were hugely disappointed as they had to forfeit their tie against Newcastle University A. 

North Sunderland of the Northern Alliance Division Two won 6-2 at Blyth Rangers A of the Northeast Combination League and Alnwick Town’s young Alliance Third Division Development side had a thrilling 6-4 win over Newbiggin Hall while North Shields Athletic Reserves also advanced with a 3-1 win at Newcastle Blue Star’s u18s.

Heaton Stannington A are currently bottom of the Alliance Second Division but saw off Blyth Rangers of the Division below 2-1 and New Hartley Juniors were 3-2 victors over Blyth Town U23s of the Alliance Second Division.

Ponteland United Reserves, also of the Alliance Second Division, were comfortable 7-0 winners over Cramlington Town Independent of the Northeast Combination. 

Jon Tait