MCDONALD KEEN TO BRING IN MORE STARS TO SEAHAM
Jon McDonald revealed that Seaham Red Star are close to adding new faces to their squad in the aftermath of Saturday’s 4-0 home defeat against Guisborough Town.
The former West Allotment Celtic and North Shields manager was added to the management team at Red Star ahead of the meeting with the Priorymen.
McDonald chose to take a watching brief for the game and admitted that there is work to be done if the club is to improve on a record of just one win from 10 league games so far this season.
He said “I think looking at Saturday there are some very good players at the club.
“But, as a team, you can see why we are struggling.
“There is a lack of confidence there and that is why we are where we are.
“It’s a big challenge and it’s similar to when I was at West Allotment Celtic.
“There wasn’t a great deal between Guisborough and ourselves, but three of the goals were down to individual mistakes.
“Despite the defeat, there are positives to work with and that is down to myself and Mark Collingwood to make that happen.
“We will be looking to bring in some players over the coming weeks and hope to have some in within the next few days.”
SunderlandRCAmanager Martin Swales cut a frustrated figure after watching his side throw away a two-goal lead as they took a point from their trip to Consett.
Goals from Colin Larkin and Mark Davison has RCA in complete control as the meeting of Division One’s top two sides headed into the last 10 minutes.
But late goals from Matty Cornish and Michael Mackay ensured that the points were shared at Belle View. Swailes explained “I am frustrated and disappointed, but it says something about how far we have come as a club that we are disappointed to only draw at Consett.
“We were the better side throughout and even when they had more possession in the second half, they weren’t really hurting us.
“They are one of the top sides in the league.
“We were flat at the end and it’s funny because we would have taken a draw before the game.
“We move on to the Sunderland game in the Challenge Cup and it’s the start of a big couple of weeks for the club.”
Ryhope CW continued their recent improvement with a comfortable 3-1 home win against Whickham.
A brace from James Ellis and a goal from Nathaniel Skidmore helped Gary Pearson’s side complete the league double over their visitors and move up to 11th place in the Division One table.
Matty Pattison scored Whickham’s consolation, and the struggling visitors also had striker Lewis Teasdale shown a straight red card.
Hebburn Town’s inconsistent form goes on after they fell to a shock defeat against struggling Newton Aycliffe.
Early goals from Vinny Gash and Shaun Hudson gave Aycliffe a two-goal advantage inside the opening 20 minutes.
That lead was extended by Matty Pennal’s secondhalf strike and they took the points, despite Graeme Armstrong pulling a goal back for the Hornets in injury-time.
Bishop Auckland moved up to fourth as a Callum Patton penalty gave them a 1-0 win against Shildon and Tom Wade secured the first win of his second spell in charge of Newcastle Benfield as a Scott McCarthy hat-trick inspired them to a 4-1 win over struggling Penrith.
A Zak Atkinson brace wasn’t enough to help Ashingtontothreepointsagainst West Auckland Town as Amar Purewal and Alex Francis twice pegged back the Colliers to secure a draw at Woodhorn Lane.