Swales admits RCA revival was ‘too little, too late’ in loss
Martin Swales offered an honest assessment of Sunderland RCA’s performance after they fell to a dramatic defeat in a nine-goal thriller at Billingham Town.
Swales’ side looked to be heading towards a heavy defeat as Brad Forster’s firsthalf strike was the sole response to an Alex Bruton hat-trick and a goal apiece from Guillherme Baltazar and Ash Lavan.
But RCA rallied in the last ten minutes of the Northern League Division One encounter as Jonathan Carr, Steven Callen and Nathan O’Neill all found the net to give them a glimmer of brief hope of pulling off a sensational comeback.
But an equalise rev aded them despite some late pressure–and left manager S wales to pond er what might have been at Bedford Terrace.
He told The Echo: “It was too little, too late for us, I think.
“To be fair, we did not deserve a thing, we defended like school kids and we were woeful from back to front.
“We were missing three of our regular back-four and two centre midfielders, so the spine of the side wasn’t there.
“We asked the lads to come in and do a job for us, but they haven’t done that.”
Ry hope CWsuffe red a third consecutive defeat as Whickham claimed all three points at the Recreation Ground.
Scott Robson’s late goal gave the visitors a narrow win after James Ellis had cancelled out an opener from Whickham new-boy Zak Atkinson just before the hour-mark.
Seaham Red Star also fell to a home defeat as in-form Newton Aycliffe secured a 3-0 win at the Ferguson Motor Repairs Stadium thanks to goals from Liam Jarvie, Connor Phelan and Adam Burnicle.
Division One leaders North Shields suffered their first league defeat of the season as a Jordan Blinco brace helped West Auckland Town to a 2-0 home win against the Robins.
Hebburn Town recovered from their midweek defeat against Marc Nash’s side in fine style as they produced a nine-goal demolition of Penrith.
Striker Graeme Armstrong plundered his way to a hat-trick and Hebburn’s new loan signing Lee Mason scored twice, less than 24 hours after agreeing a temporary switch from South Shields.
Cedwyn Scott, Michael McKeown, Robbie Spence and Olly Martin were also on target for the ram pant Hornets.
Andy Toman suffered a defeat in his first game as Bishop Auckland boss as Chay Liddle, Kurt Matthews and Michael Sweet scored for Shildon in their 3-0 win at Dean Street.
Michael Roberts and Kevin Hayes were on target as Stockton Town came from behind to claim a 2-1 victory at Newcastle Benfield and Max Cow burn and Bobby Taylor netted as inform Ashington won by the same scoreline at Guisborough Town.
Northallerton Town and Thornaby failed to trouble the scorers in a low-key affair at the Calvert Stadium.
The Northern League’ s interest in this season’s FA Cup was ended as Consett and Whitley Bay were sent out of the competition by Marske United andBly th Spartans respectively.
Consett suffered a heavy 6-0 defeat on Tees side as Glen Butter worth, Adam Boyes and Matthew Tymon all scored twice for the Seasiders.
And Whitley Bay’ s run came to an end as they battled with ten men for over 50 minutes in their 4-2 home defeat against Blyth Spartans.
Lewis Orr el land Mark Robinson had given the Bay a lead either side of an equaliser from newly named Spartans captain Simon Heslop.
The hosts were reduced to ten men on 38 minutes when goalkeeper Dan Lister was shown a straight red card for a handball outside of his area.
Despite having striker Adam Shanks in goal for the entire second-half, Spartans were made to wait until the last ten minutes to secure their win as Heslop completed a bizarre hat-trick of penalties and Paul Blackett also found the net.
Chester-le-Street Town captain Craig Mar ron described his side’s 3-2 Division Two defeat at ten-man Bedlington Terriers as “a bad day all-round”.
There was just one minute on the clock when the hosts were reduced to ten men when Kyle Dobson saw red for a strong challenge.
The Cestrians made the most of their numerical advantage and had a two-goal lead by half-time thanks to an own-goal from Joe Turnbull and an Andrew Clarkson strike.
But the in-form Terriers staged a remarkable fightback as Liam Anderson, Cameron Fenton and Keelan Nellis all found the net in the last 20 minutes to give their side an outstanding win.
“We were bitterly disappointed; we were poor from minute one if I am being honest,” explained Marron.
“But having a two-goal lead against ten men with just fifteen minutes to go, you have to get something.
“Credit to Bed ling ton, they were by far the better side and they pressed and pressed us.
“We had two sitters to get another goal with ten minutes left and they have punished us.
“They’ re a good side, a hungry side and it was just a bad day all round.”
Didier Agathe is still waiting for his first win as Durham City manager after the Citizens fell to a 6-0 defeat at Redcar Athletic.
Isaac Walker scored twice for the hosts and Adam Preston, Nick Martin, Jack Proctor and Harry Williams all found the net as the Steelmen condemned Agathe’s men to a convincing defeat.