McDONALD: DRAW GIVES US SOMETHING TO WORK ON
NON-LEAGUE FOOTBALL
Seaham Red Star coach Jon McDonald was heartened by his side’s display in their draw at Penrith.
Red Star made the trip to Cumbria with a number of new signings in their squad, including former Blyth AFC midfielder David Robinson after he joined the club from Newcastle Benfield on Friday.
It was the Bonny Blues that took a first-half lead thanks to spectacular longrange chip from striker Carl Lofthouse.
Chances came and went for Red Star, before they finally got back on level-terms with an injury-time equaliser from defender Anthony Myers.
“You can see that there is something to work with here,” explained McDonald.
“Everyone was up for the game, the new lads did well and settled in quickly and I think, if we are honest, we probably deserved all three points.
“It was frustrating because we missed a number of chances.
“Their goal was a good goal, but we looked pretty solid at the back after a lot of hard work in training.
“David Robinson, Levi Collins, Michael Chilton and David Henderson all look like they’ll add something to the side and Adam Rundle showed his real quality throughout the game.
“We have something to build on now and it’s very important that we do that.”
Red Star face another crucial league fixture next weekend when they host fellow strugglers Whickham at the Ferguson Motor Repairs Stadium.
Ryhope CW put on a brave display before falling to a 3-0 defeat against Stockton Town at The Coverall Stadium.
Ryhope arrived in Teesside on the back of a good run of form but things soon turned against them when they were reduced to ten men midway through the first-half.
Full-back Corey Nicholson was shown a straight red card for a professional foul on Chris Stockton, just minutes after Ryhope forward James Ellis had seen a goalbound shot deflected wide.
Ryhope proved difficult to break down for last season’s FA Vase finalists and it was until just after the hourmark that Mikey Roberts got the first goal of his hat-trick.
The former Whitby Town striker then scored twice in the last ten minutes to give the Anchors a hard-earned win.
The result leaves Ryhope in twelfth place in the Division One table ahead of next Saturday’s home game against Newton Aycliffe.
Consett moved three points clear in Division One as Darren Holden’s first goal for the Steelmen gave them a 1-0 win at Newton Aycliffe.
A Mark Fitzpatrick penalty was all it took for Dunston UTS to take all three points against Guisborough Town at the KGV Stadium.
Two Amar Purewal goals put West Auckland Town on their way to a 2-1 win at North Shields.
Gary Day pulled a goal back for the hosts with 12 minutes left on the clock, but West held on to move within three points of the top three.
Zak Atkinson’s secondhalf equaliser cancelled out Kieran Brannan’s opener as Ashingtoncamefrombehind to secure a point in Ashington’s 1-1 draw at Whitley Bay.