Swales sees positives after depleted RCA suffer defeat
Sunderland RCA manager Martin Swales was left to rue a number of absentees as his side fell to a 3-1 defeat at Consett.
The likes of Greg Swansbury, Mark Davison and Stephen Callen were all unavailable as RCA fell to their third consecutive defeat in all competitions.
The Steelmen had put themselves in control of the game the midway point of the first-half as former Morpeth Town and Newcastle Benfield striker Dale Pearson scored twice.
Luke Carr stretched their lead to three just before halftime and RCA were unable to mount a second-half comeback but midfielder Dylan Elliott did manage to grab a late consolation goal.
“It could have been a lot worse with the side we got togetherthere ,” admitted S wales.
“We were missing eight players that could have started the game and we were playing a good side. I would have taken a draw up there, but the players that were missing would have made a massive difference to us. There were positives from the game because the lads just never gave up and we matched them during the second-half. But the damage was done in the first-half – but we will now focus on a massive game against Hebburn Town in midweek.”
Seaham Red Star fell to a heavy home defeat against Newton Aycliffe and they remain second from bottom in the Division One table.
Ay cliff es trike rD ea nT hex tonput in the outstanding individual display of the weekend as he struck four goals and Gerard Richardson was also on target on a disappointing day for Mark Collingwood’s side.
Ryhope CW were held to a 2-2 draw at home in a keenly contested game against Bishop Auckland.
Bailey Judson put the visitors ahead less than 60 seconds after half-time – but the game was turned on its head as Ryhope took the lead with two goals in ten minutes from Danni Lay and Robbie Bird.
But the spoils were shared as Daryll Hall fired home an equaliser 13 minutes from fulltime.
Division One leaders Hebburn Town fell to a shock home defeat against struggling Thorn a by. The visitors arrived on South Tyneside without a win to their name and that run looked set to continue when Luke Sullivan fired the Hornets ahead inside the first five minutes. But Adam Preston and Jack Bailey both scored twice to help the Teesside outfit to a 4-1 win at the Energy Check Sports Ground.
West Auckland Town’s recent up turn inform continued as David Dowson hit a brace and Adam Mitchell and Amar Purewal both grabbed a goal apiece in their impressive 4-0 home win against Shildon.
Cameron Cunningham, Scott McCarthy and Kyle Patton were on target in North Shields’ 3-0 win at Penrith and Billingham Town were 3-1 winners against Northallerton Town thanks to a free-kick from Jamie Davis and two late goals from substitute Kallum Hannah.
Guisborough Town’s positive start to the season continuedas Son ni Coleman and Josh Row both am both found the net in their 2-1 home win against Ashington.
Whitley Bay and Whickham both failed to find some form after recent defeats as they failed to break the deadlock over an uneventful 90 minutes at Hillheads.
The Northern League’s participation in this season’s FA Cup ended on Saturday as Stockton Town fell to a brave defeat at National League North club Guiseley. An owngoal from Anchors captain Adam Nicholson was the difference between the two side sat Net her moor. The result means that th eS hild on side of 2003 remain the last Northern League team to reach the First Round proper.
Meanwhile in Division Two, Durham City’s miserable start to the season continued as they crashed to a 4-0 home defeat against Bedlington Terriers.
On-loan Whitley Bay striker Michael Colquhoun scored twice for the visitors and Citizens duo Harris Saunders and Adam Ivison both put through their own net to round off a sobering day for Billy Harper’s men.
Washington failed to build on their home win against Willing ton as they fell to a narrow defeat at Heaton Stannington.
Lewis McGeoch grabbed another goal deep in secondhalf injury-time, but the hosts had already claimed the points thanks to goals from Richie Hoggins and Regan Paterson.
Ben Pollock got the only goal of the game to help Billingham Synthonia to a narrow win at Chester-le-Street Town.
Redcar Athletic moved four points clear at the top of the Division Two table with a narrow home win against Esh Winning. There was more good news for Redcar as West Allotment Celtic crashed to a 4-0 defeat at Crook Town.