By DAVID COULTER

Published at 09:10, Monday, 08 October 2012

Ponteland United 2Willington Quay Saints 3

AFTER two successive victories, Ponteland United were dealt a setback when their poorest display of the season saw them lose 3-2 to Willington Quay Saints.

Making two changes for the game, Ponteland made an uneasy start.

Gareth Powell was called into action early on when both central defenders missed headers and he had to dive at the feet to deny centre forward Glen Gallon.

Individual mistakes have proved costly to United this season and once again led to a setback, Chris Armstrong’s back pass well short of Powell to allow Kane Chirnside to open the scoring with a dink over the advancing keeper with 15 minutes played

United then showed glimpses of their capabilities and levelled the scores on 25 minutes when Billy Holden cut inside from the left and shot past keeper Carl Henderson, aided by a deflection.

But the lead belonged to Saints again 10 minutes before half time, Gallon left unchallenged to head a cross over Powell and into the net.

After receiving a blow when Marc Findlay left the field with an ankle injury, WIllington made it three right on half time. A long free kick beat Ponteland’s tall defenders and dropped invitingly at the feet of the surprised Gallon who was left with the simplest of chances to fire past Powell.

The second half saw Ponteland take the game to the visitors and for long periods they were encamped in Willington’s half but they failed to threaten Henderson.

The visitors sensed their first victory of the season but Ponteland made them sweat with a second five minutes from the end.

Mick Rankin belted in Armstrong’s shot to ensure it crossed the line, but the goal was too late in the day to trouble Saints.

It could have been more embarrassing for Pont late on when Powell missed a Chris Flynn back pass, resulting in a mad scramble back to his goal line to clear the ball.

Published by http://www.hexhamcourant.co.uk