11:21AM, Mon Apr 2, 2012

Team Northumbria Chase Promotion, Professional Contracts and Degrees

By Phil Forster Location: Benton

A university football team is proving that hard work can lead to success as they maintain their place at the top of the league.

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Team Northumbria have a three point advantage at the top of the Northern League Division Two after a 2-0 win over Darlington RA.

Goals either side of half time from Tom Davies and former Newcastle United Academy player Dean Critchlow were enough to give Paul Johnson's side a victory.

The squad is made up of former professional players who have been given the chance to study at Northumbria University on the scholarship programme.

One of those is former Sunderland reserve captain Gavin Donoghue. He said: "It is a good option for former professionals. You get to study at a good university as well as play football at a good standard."

Donoghue, who captains Team Northumbria, said he was pleased with his team's win ahead of their vital game with Newcastle Benfield in the Northumberland Senior Cup Semi Final on Monday night.

Donoghue added: "All the lads put in a good shift and it was important we got three points and we can now take our momentum into the Benfield game."