RCA LOOKING UP AFTER TRIUMPH

SUNDERLAND RCA remain second- bottom of the First Division, but, following Saturday’s performance and result against Newcastle Benfield, are now in a position to move out of the relegation zone.

Benfield arrived on Wearside having improved under new boss Steve Bowey but Martin Swales, recentlyappointed at RCA, came out on top.

Swales’ side made a dream start as Michael Charlton tapped the ball into the net from close range after latching onto a pass from Joe Hughes.

Ross Preston headed narrowly wide but RCA were quickly back to double their lead through Anthony Coe, who proved to be an astute substitution.

With his first touch he lobbed goalkeeper Andrew Grainger and, in the last minute, RCA’s 3- 0 victory was sealed as Coe struck again.

It was only the Wearsiders’ second win but they have games in hand on the other three sides in the bottom four and just one victory would lift them clear of the relegation places.

Durham City were involved in a nine- goal thriller – but it was championshipchallengers Dunston UTS who came out on top when they scored a dramatic added- time penalty for a 5- 4 win.

Fortunes ebbed and flowed throughout the afternoon with Scott Fenwick ( 2), Andy Bulford and Lee McAndrew netting Dunston’s first four goals.

Kallum Patton rifled a hat- trick and Johnny Davis converted a penalty and, at 4- 4 going into injury time, a draw looked the likely outcome.

But, in the 92nd minute, Dunston were awarded a spot- kick for a handling offence which resulted in Lewis Gibbons being sent off. Fenwick kept his cool and drove the penalty wide of City goalkeeper Mark Cook.

West Auckland Town scored

five times in the second half to defeat fifth- top Bedlington Terriers 7- 2.

There was nothing to choose between the teams in the opening 45 minutes. West twice led with a brace from Colin Larkin but Terriers levelled, first through Dylan Williamson and then Lee Scott.

The second half, though, was all West. Larkin completed a hat- trick, Wearsider Jake Fowler bagged a brace with Mattie Moffat and Stephen Richardson also on target.

Marske United, who defeated Billingham Synthonia with goals from Reece Kelly and Danny Brunskill, are second and North Shields remain third following victory over Celtic Nation with a Dean Holmes strike.

Jarrow Roofing, like North Shields, were promoted at the end of last season and they, too, are holding their own in the top flight.

They are up to seventh following victory over Bishop Auckland. Dan Kirkup scored the only goal after 36 minutes. Six minutes earlier, Bishop’s John Butler was shown a straight red card for elbowing Kirkup.

Shildon, the last ENL side still involved in the FA Cup, are in the tonight’s draw for the first round proper. They drew an ill- tempered game in Stoke against Norton United 1- 1.

Spennymoor Town looked to be on their way into the draw when they led AFC Telford United by two goals, thanks to Joe Tait and Liam Henderson, going into added time – but amazingly the visitors grabbed a home replay with two late goals.

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