SWALES SEEKS RCA SURGE AFTER SINKING SYNNERS
EBAC NORTHERN LEAGUE: MEADOW PARK MEN BACK TO WINNING WAYS WITH CLINICAL FOUR-GOAL SHOW
Sunderland RCA walloped winless bottom club Billingham Synthonia 4-0 to move into ninth place in Division One.
The Meadow Park men made a great start when Nathan O’Neill gave them a third-minute lead from the penalty spot, after he was fouled in the box by Craig Hindmarch.
It was 2-0 on the half hour mark, when Luke Page headed in James Cassidy’s corner, giving goalkeeper Adrian Beblowski no chance.
Early in the second half, fit-again Colin Larkin made it 3-0, when he chased a long ball and headed in past keeper Beblowski. Reece Noble added a fourth in the 83rd minute, drilling home his shot.
RCA manager Martin Swales said: “We got back to winning ways and the lads worked hard. Overall, we bossed the game.
“Hopefully we can get a winning run together and push up the league, as we have some games coming up now that we are more than capable of winning.”
Seaham Red Star remained eighth, despite losing 2-0 at home to Whitley Bay.
The visitors took the lead on 15 minutes, when they were awarded a penalty and Thomas Potter converted.
Red Star played fairly well and had two efforts kicked off the line, but a second penalty from Potter, was enough to secure all three points for Bay.
BaylostThibaultCharmey to a fractured fibula, while keeper Tom Flynn limped off with a hamstring injury.
Ryhope CW went down narrowly, 2-1 at Newton Aycliffe, to drop to 10th place, while the hosts moved away from the relegation zone.
Ryhope took an early lead, when Andrew Grant-Soulsby put through his own net, giving goalkeeper James Winter no chance.
However, the home side equalised j13 minutes later, when Craig Hutchinson finished well. The winner came in the 51st minute, when Paul Weldon smashed a free-kick past keeper Jonny Ball. Washington dropped to second-bottom spot after a 2-1 loss to fellow strugglers Penrith. The Mechanics took the lead when Shaun Pickford tapped home a great cross from Robbie Williamson. However, the Cumbrians equalised in the 70th minute, Jonathan Murray neatly beating keeper Daniel Gladstone.
Then, with six minutes left, Murray was first to react to a rebound and gleefully hit home to seal a dramatic win, and a rise to third-bottom spot.
Shildon suffered their first defeat in dramatic circumstances, 2-1 at home to fellow title contenders Marske United.
Billy Greulich-Smith’s close-range finish had the Railwaymen in front when they took command in the second half, after Marske had been the better side in the first 45 minutes.
But James Fairley levelled when his 81st-minute corner went straight into Nick Liversedge’s net.
Deep in stoppage time, Marske won it when former Bishop Auckland and Washington midfielder Fairley showed incredible alertness to smash a quickly-taken free-kick over Liversedge and into the net from almost halfway, sparking wild celebrations from Carl Jarrett’s bench.
Fifth-placed West Auckland and in-form Stockton Town played out an entertaining 2-2 draw.
The hosts stormed two up through Adam Mitchell’s deflected effort and Amar Purewal’s closeange strike. However, the game changed in the 67th minute, when West keeper Adam McHugh was sent off for fouling Nathan Mulligan, who converted the resulting penalty. In the last minute, Jamie Owens powered home a deserved Stockton equaliser.
Consett were well beaten by 5-2 at Newcastle Benfield, after going ahead with Jack Elliott’s goal in 17 seconds.
Paul Brayson’s six-minute brace turned it around, though David Dowson made it 2-2. Dylan McEvoy (2) and Alex Nisbet sealed Benfield’s triumph.
North Shields won 4-1 at Jarrow Roofing to go second, thanks to Richard Pell, Dean Holmes (2) and Gary Ormston, with Dennis Knight replying.
Leaders Morpeth Town were held 1-1 by Bishop Auckland. Stephen Tobin’s own goal had Morpeth ahead, but Andrew Johnson levelled from close range.
Third-placed Dunston UTS had another impressive win, 3-0 at Ashington, courtesy of Mark Fitzpatrick, Callum Elliott and Liam Thear. Fitzpatrick was sent off in the last minute.
Team Northumbria edged Guisborough 3-2, with Ben Dibb-Fuller and Andrei Ardelean (2) scoring before Steven Roberts and Brian Close replied.