Ryhope suffer defeat at hands of West Auckland
ELLIS’ GOAL IN VAIN AS TITLE FAVOURITES COME FROM BEHIND TO CLAIM THREE POINTS
Ryhope CW fell to a 3-1 defeat to EBAC Northern League Division One title favourites West Auckland, despite taking the lead in the early stages.
James Ellis had headed the hosts in front after six minutes when he rose highest at the near post to divert Lee Chapman’s corner past keeper Shane Bland.
West responded almost straight away when Nathan Fisher tested Jonathan Ball for the first time, and it wasn’t long until the striker levelled the scores.
After Anthony Bell was fouled in the box, Fisher made no mistake with the spot-kick – aiming it out of the keeper’s reach into the top right corner.
Less than five minutes later on 22 minutes, the home side’s defence failed to deal with the run of Adam Mitchell through the middle before he teed up, Amar Purewal for 1-2.
Despite their best efforts in the second period, Fisher added his second in the 73rd minute to stop the hosts from making it two wins from two.
In Division Two, Washington were left devastated as Chester-le-Street netted a last-minute winner.
The Cestrians thought they had initially won it when Andrew Clarkson scored in the final 10 minutes, but Washington showed character to react.
However, as the game got stretched in the dying minutes, Kieran Megran slid home to maintain the Mechanics losing start to life in Division Two.
Durham City preserved their unbeaten start, but left disappointed not to find a way past Bedlington Terriers. On Saturday, the Citizens earned a credible 1-0 win at Willington in their opener.
Elsewhere, newly-promoted Hebburn Town withheld late Ashington pressure to 3-2.
Goals from former South Shields stars – Luke Sullivan, Michael Richardson and Graeme Armstrong – proved enough as former Hornet Channon North netted before Zak Atkinson made it a tense last couple of minutes.
Birtley Town marked their Northern League return on home soil with a remarkable 5-0 victory. A second-half Matt Soulsby double helped them on their way.