QUICKFIRE MECHANICS SEAL REPLAY SUCCESS
BUTLER AND DAVISON STRIKE EARLY TO STEER WASHINGTON PAST CUP HOSTS PICKERING
Washington secured an excellent FA Cup replay victory at Pickering Town last night.
Steve Hutchinson’s Mechanics were held 2-2 at home by the Northern Counties East League outfit in the preliminary round.
But a blistering start to the replay in Yorkshire guided Washington home 2-1, clinching a home first round qualifying tie against Shildon on September 3.
John Butler made the breakthrough in just the eighth minute, with Mark Davison adding a second goal three minutes later.
Ryan Blott gave Pickering hope with a response in the 55th minute, but Washington defended admirably to secure their victory.
Chester-le-Street remain bottom of the Ebac Northern League First Division after they were thumped 4-2 at home by Ashington.
The Cestrians were first to score on 38 minutes, when Andrew Grant-Soulsby tapped in from a cross from the right.
A minute into the second half, though, Kyle Downey equalised, finishing off a free-kick.
Ashington took the lead on 56 minutes as Andrew Bulford headed in a rightwing cross, and Damien Stevens made it 3-1, slamming home a right-wing cross, after a mistake by the keeper.
Chester pulled one back through Craig Marron on 81 minutes, driving home an effort from 30 yards.
But Bulford finished off a right-wing pass to seal Ashington’s success in stoppage time.
Seaham Red Star fought valiantly before going down 2-1 at South Shields, in front of a 916 crowd at Mariners Park.
Shields led from the ninth minute, with Barry Smith’s cross headed in by Gavin Cogdon.
Shaun Newbrook was beaten again by former team-mate David Palmer on 63 minutes, when the exSeaham midfielder turned his defender and rifled home from outside the box.
Red Star had Dan Hislop sent off for a tackle from behind before grabbing a consolation goal, when Paul Gardiner capitalised on a defensive error.
In Division Two, Tow Law lost their unbeaten record, going down 3-0 to visitors Bedlington Terriers.
Kyle Oliver’s free-kick opener was added to by star man’s Jonathan Wright leftfoot shot past Jack Patton, before defender Gary Bailes headed home a third.
Whickham beat Thornaby 4-0, with Joe Mole firing a hat-trick and sub Ross Nicholson on target.
Soennymoor Town’s EvoStik League Premier Division match at Ilkeston was postponed, while Blyth Spartans twice came from behind to draw 3-3 with Ashton United at Croft Park.
Dan Maguire and Stephen Turnbull (penalty) twice levelled for Blyth in the first half, and they led with a Sean Reid strike only for Lee Gaskell to equalise late on, after charging down a clearance by keeper Peter Jeffries.