Many thanks to Ian Cusack for our latest match report:

There hasn’t been much to cheer about for Percy Main Amateurs during the 2024/2025 season thus far; managerial changes, an endless turnover of players, the lack of a settled squad, poor results, not to mention repeated wanton vandalism and burglary at the ground. However, on a cold and damp afternoon at Seaton Delaval’s Wheatridge Park, all the stars aligned for once and the Villagers put in a first-class performance from first whistle to last, where three points and some superb goals (including one in our own net!) were cheered to the rafters by the Percy contingent, shivering on the sidelines. This truly was a fantastic birthday present for manager Steve Hurd.
More changes from last week’s unlucky loss to Newcastle East End saw the introduction of new arrivals Kurt Burns, Zak Munir and Calvin Payne, as well as the welcome return of striker Matty Hayton. Delaval themselves were augmented by the imposing presence of Hayton’s team mate at the inactive Ryton & Crawcrook Albion, centre back Lacquan Esdaille, though it was to be the Main striker who came out on top.

Perhaps because of the introduction of players from a higher level, this game did not have the feel of a relegation clash from the outset. Good football on a good surface saw an absorbing contest that flowed from one end to the other. As early as the second minute, Main keeper Jack Snowdon had to be alert to block an effort by Cole Sharp. The confidence engendered by this save was to prove vital five minutes later when skipper Marcio Dalia was harshly judged to have brought down the dangerous Bradley Higgins in the area. Higgins himself took the spot kick, but Snowdon was equal to it, flinging himself to his right to get a solid hand to the ball and sending it well away from danger. Would it be too biased to say justice had been done? At the other end, all of the Main’s promising build up came to nothing, as Esdaille orchestrated a highly efficient, totally infuriating offside trap that saw visiting attackers repeatedly thwarted by the assistant’s flag. Delaval’s best chance since the penalty also fell to Higgins, but he skied the ball when well placed in the middle of the box, meaning the two sides went into the break with a blank scoreline. How this was to change after the interval!!

Very early in the second period, a pinpoint Dan Souter cross was just missed by a diving Hayton, before claims for a penalty after a barge on Oyindamola Ajayi were waved away. Soon the breakthrough would come though. On 51 minutes, Chris Laidlaw accepted an astute lay off from Hayton on the halfway line. He surged forward unimpeded and as the Delaval defenders backed off, the first an accurate low finish into the bottom corner past the despairing dive of Luke Pelton. It was a fine goal and did justice to the absorbing contest between two organised and committed teams. Soon after Alex Berhan was inches over with an audacious lob from inside his own half that caused the retreating Pelton no end of worries. However, Berhan’s moment was still to come.

The next goal arrived on 70 minutes and effectively end the 2024/2025 Percy Main Goal of the Season contest. From almost on the left touchline, about 30 yards from goal, Hayton turned and clipped the most exquisite of lobs that kissed the far post and dropped into the net. If this didn’t ensure the points were on their way to Purvis Park, then Berhan did three minutes later. After Ajayi had been upended on the angle of the box, Berhan fired a brilliant low free kick round the wall and into the corner of the net.
There was still time for Souter to register a stunning own goal, diving full length to flash a header into the net, to stunned silence from the entire ground. Thankfully it was of no great consequence as two minutes later, substitute Payne completed the scoring by rolling a loose ball into an empty net after Pelton had dropped a cross. In all honesty, 4-1 did not flatter the visitors who were a credit to the club throughout.

Percy Main Man of the Match: Kurt Burns
Next up: North Shields Athletic at home next Saturday