FA Cup dreams are now over for Sunderland RCA and Red Star
Sunderland RCA and Seaham Red Star both saw their FA Cup runs ended by defeats against higher-ranked opposition on Saturday.
RCA put in a brave display against Northern Premier League East Division club Stockton Town before succumbing to a 4-2 defeat at Sunderland LGV Park.
The visitors had taken a two-goal lead by the midway point of the first-half as Kevin Hayes and Mikey Roberts both found the net.
But RCA rallied and had got back on level-terms by half-time thanks to two goals in six minutes from Michael Annang-Colquhoun and Simon Jakab.
However, their dreams of pulling off an upset were ended in the second-half as Hayes doubled his tally for the day and Nathan Steel’s late goal.
StocktonmanagerMichael Dunwelladmittedthathisside had been given a scare and praised RCA for their workrate during an uncomfortable opening 45 minutes.
He said: “We are really pleased in the end, but they gave us a scare in the firsthalf and that’s what these cup games are going to do.
“It’s always a tough place to come, RCA worked really hard first-half, but I think secondhalfwehadtoomuchforthem.”
Red Star’s run was ended by a dominant display from Marske United as an Adam Boyes brace and a goal apiece from Jack Blackford, Andrew May, Kevin Burgess and Craig
Gott helped the Seasiders to a 6-0 win against Mark Collingwood’s men.
Those defeats played a part in a dismal day for Northern League clubs as North Shields, Newton Aycliffe and West Allotment
Celtic were all beaten.
ADeanIngstrikesawNorth Shieldscondemnedtoa1-0defeat at Northern Counties East League side Squires Gates and Newton Aycliffe were beaten by the same scoreline at Mossley
thanks to a Jordan Butterworth goal.
Allotment lost as braces from Sheldon Green and Craig Carney helped Bamber Bridge to a 7-2 hammering of the North Tyneside outfit.
Hebburn Town secured their place in today’s second qualifying round draw as Amar Purewal got the only goal in their shock win at Ashton United.
Sean Taylor’s first-half hattrick laid the foundations for MorpethTown’simpressive6-1 homewinagainstHydeUnited andSouthShieldswere3-1winners at Shildon thanks to goals from Conor Tee, Blair Adams and Darius Osei.