Thanks to Ian Cusack for yesterday's match report;

Percy Main Amateurs continued their early season theme of scoring wonder goals, along with conceding terrible ones, in a thrilling 3-3 draw away to Ponteland United. This was the Main’s debut performance at Pont’s new ground at the Leisure Centre, though trivia fans would have noted this was actually the fourth pitch used for contests between the two sides over the years and, remarkably, the third in the last 10 months. Certainly, this facility has all the attributes of Ponteland’s original home, in boasting a huge, flat, well-grassed pitch that provides ample space and encourages both sides to play football, which is what contributed to such an entertaining contest.

After an encouraging opening that saw the Main take the game to their opponents, Kieran Brannen opened the scoring on 11 minutes, putting the Villagers ahead with a precise lob from almost 30 yards that sailed over stranded home keeper John Jenner, and nestled snugly in the right corner of the goal. It may not have had the flamboyance of Brannen’s strike against Rutherford the week before, but it was a finish worthy of the warm applause it garnered. The lead was almost doubled soon after, when Brannen cleverly worked space in the area, but saw Jenner spread himself to block a powerful low effort. Jenner also had to be alert to gather a fizzer from Mark McDonnell as Percy threatened to run away with the game.

However, Ponteland came back into the game and levelled on the half hour when a corner fell invitingly on the left foot of Nathan Close, who despatched the ball with some aplomb beyond the despairing visitors’ back line. Brannen again went close with a delicious curling effort from the edge of the box that Jenner did well to palm away. Instead, it was the home side who took the lead on the verge of half time when Jude Mattera evaded both the Percy offside trap and the desperate efforts of keeper Callum Elliott, to run from deep and clip the ball home.

Immediately after the break, things got appreciably worse for Percy when an unmarked Close was allowed the freedom of the penalty area to nod home a well-flighted free kick from the far touchline. This blow seemed to take the game decisively away from the Main, and the game entered a period of low intensity keep ball from both sides, where little in terms of penalty box action occurred. However, things changed with 20 minutes remaining. Firstly, a spill in the box by Jenner, after a free kick had been awarded for handling outside the area, spotted by eagle-eyed assistant, the legendary Keith Scoffham, caused a proper scramble that just failed to see the ball forced home. Perhaps this was the encouragement the Main needed, as substitute Olly Emmerson took matters into his own hands, and halved the arrears with a stunning 25-yard effort that flew into the top corner.

From then on, the Main forced Pont back in search of an equaliser, but with the clock running down it seemed as if their quest would be in vain, until substitute Jack Fishburn collected a through ball on the edge of the box, evaded two challenges and sent a composed low finish across the stranded Jenner to bring the scores level and spark riotous celebrations among the visiting contingent. It was, in fairness, the correct result and another very entertaining game. Let us hope the Main can now concentrate on scoring tap-ins and keeping clean sheets for a change.

Percy Main MOM - Ben Bradburn

Next up - Killingworth at home in the league cup on Saturday, 2pm kick off.