News to 28/3/11

POSTED 28th MARCH 2011

PHOTOS FROM SATURDAY
The photos from Saturday's Alliance game at Gateshead Rutherford are here. The player stats are updated here. Robbie Mather now leads the way with 4 man of the match votes this season.

UNDER 11s UPDATE
A report on City under 11s' 5-1 win over Stanwix on Saturday is here. 

UNLUCKY CUP LOSS FOR CITY
In the quarter-final of the Conway Cup on Saturday, City lost 2-1 at home to Premier division Longtown.

UNDER 12s COUNTY CUP FINAL
The final of the under 12s County Cup will be between Upperby Park and Northbank, after those two sides beat Carlisle City Reds and Cleator Moor Celtic on Saturday

POSTED 27th MARCH 2011

FIRST STALEMATE OF THE SEASON

City drew 0-0 at Gateshead Rutherford in the Northern Alliance yesterday. Manager Steve Bellas was forced to play the first half in goal, as Michael Ballantyne made his way to the ground after work. Both sides had good chances, especially in the second half, but the stalemate was City's first scoreless draw of the season. The match report is here, with photos to follow later. Scott Woolnough is pictured about to make a clearance.

NORTHERN ALLIANCE ROUND-UP
Ponteland have moved five points clear at the top of the table, following a comfortable 3-0 win at Walker Central, who still have relegation worries. City and Harraby stay 3rd and 4th, although Harraby were held 1-1 at home by Heaton Stannington, and needed an equaliser from Archibald to claim their point. At the bottom, Cramlington Town were beaten 4-1 at home by Seaton Delaval, but Murton gained a useful point from a 1-1 draw at Ashington Colliers. Form team Killingworth won for the fourth time in the last six games, with an easy 5-0 victory over Stocksfield. In the other games, Blyth Town drew 1-1 with Shankhouse, and Percy Main won 3-2 at Wark. The league table is here.

POSTED 25th MARCH 2011

WEEKEND PREVIEW

In the Northern Alliance tomorrow, City travel to Gateshead Rutherford, looking for a league double following their 3-2 win at the Sheepmount in February. City are likely to be without Phil Hetherington, Olly Driver and Craig Cherry, although Carl Murphy and Stuart Kilgour should return.

In the quarter-final of the Conway Cup, City meet Longtown at the Sheepmount (k.o. 2.00). This will be a tough task against a side going well in the Premier division of the County League.

Tomorrow morning at Hammonds Pond, City's under 12s Reds meet Upperby Park in the semi-final of the County Cup. City will be looking to make amends for their penalty shoot-out loss last weekend in the League cup.

NETHERHALL INTO COUNTY CUP FINAL

Netherhall won 2-0 at Northbank yesterday with both goals from Keith Anderson. They will meet either Carlisle United, Wigton or Gillford Park in the final.

POSTED 23rd MARCH 2011

WALKER CENTRAL FIXTURES NOW SWITCHED

City's two games in the Northern Alliance with Walker Central have now been switched. On 2nd April, the two sides will meet at the Sheepmount (k.o. 2.30), whilst the game at Monkchester Green will be played on 16th April. The switch has been made due to the difficulty in booking coaches from Carlisle on the weekend that Carlisle United are at Wembley in the Johnstones Paint trophy final.
The season's stats for the Alliance team have been updated here, and the photos from last Saturday's game with Shankhouse are here.

CITY QUIZ

Please remember to be putting your team entries in for City's quiz on 23rd April. Full details are here.

UNDER 7s UPDATE
A report on City under 7s v Stanwix, from Saturday morning, is here.

ALLIANCE FIXTURE CHANGE
City's fixture at Walker Central will now be played on Saturday 2nd April, brought forward from 27th April. The game will be refereed by Tom Davie, in charge of a controversial game at Stocksfield earlier this season.

POSTED 19th MARCH 2011

BAD DEFEAT FOR CITY

City were beaten 3-1 at home today by Shankhouse in the Northern Alliance. Falling behind in the 17th minute to a Hanlon goal, City always struggled to gain a foothold in the game. Dormand added a second after 80 minutes, followed by Rooke pulling one back for City in the 85th minute. Dormand clinched the game in the 94th minute, with Steven Bell then being sent off for foul language. The match report is here, and photos will follow later.

SHOOT-OUT HEARTACHE FOR UNDER 12s REDS
City's under 12s Reds were beaten 3-2 on penalties this morning by Northbank in the League Cup semi-final, after the game ended 1-1 after extra-time. Luke Moore gave City the lead in the 13th minute, but Northbank equalised nine minutes into the second half.
Extra time produced no further goals, and the dreaded penalty shoot-out saw both sides miss their first kick, but Northbank then scored three in a row. City's third kick was saved, but a miss by Northbank's fifth taker meant the possibility of a sudden-death situation. However, City's last kick struck the post and Northbank will move on to play Upperby Park in the final at Brunton Park.   Photos from the game will be on-line tomorrow.

NORTHERN ALLIANCE ROUND-UP

The top two sides in the Premier division strengthened their positions on Saturday, with away wins. Ponteland won 2-1 at Cramlington, and Alnwick triumphed 2-0 at Wark. At the bottom, Murton gave themselves a lifeline with a 3-2 win over Stocksfield. Murton are now just four points behind their Tyne Valley opponents. Killingworth are on a good run, and they moved up to 5th with a good 1-0 win at Heaton Stannington. The league table is here.
Harraby Catholic Club were neaten 1-0 by Whitley Bay A in round 3 of the League cup, and Northbank lost 3-2 at Wallsend Town in the semi-final of the Amateur cup.

COUNTY LEAGUE UPDATE
City enjoyed a comfortable 7-0 win over Parton United on Saturday. They are 2nd in the table behind Borough, who were 2-1 winners at South Workington. Borough now only have four games left to play, whilst City still have nine. The league table is here.

POSTED 24th MARCH 2011

PROPOSAL TO CHANGE YOUTH ACADEMIES

Proposals have been made to radically change youth football academies, operated by professional clubs. The proposals will create four categories of academy, with the lowest grade taking players released from other clubs. Another proposal will see players not beuing allowed to join academies before the age of 11. Details have been placed on our messageboard here, and comments on the subject will be welcome.

THREE PEAKS CHALLENGE

Please remember to look out for sponsor forms for the 3 Peaks challenge, being taken by seven City members in early-June. Full details are here, including the option to donate to the challenge via Paypal.