‘I felt a bit sorry for them, as we were just too good’
Seaham Red Star manager Mark Collingwood admits he felt some sadness for Penrith after his side condemned the Cumbrians to relegation on Saturday.
Two goals from Louis Anderson and one apiece for Adam Lennox and Joe Hailes helped Collingwood’s men to a 4-1 win at Frenchfield Park as they rounded off their own season in Northern League Division One in fine form.
Although final confirmation of Penrith’s demotion is yet to arrive, it does seem likely they will spend next season in the second tier.
Collingwood praised his own players for their performance - but felt a contrasting emotion as he turned his attention to their opponents.
He told The Echo: “We played really well and we’ve played well for weeks now.
“It could have been an avalanche if we had stamped our authority on the game, and I felt a bit sorry for Penrith to be honest.
“I don’t think it was that they didn’t play well, they showed heart - but we were just too good for them.
“There is some sadness that they look like they’ll be relegated because Penrith are an honest football club.
“They come over to the North East week-in, weekout and they have true football people involved.”
Ryhope CW rounded off an impressive league season
with a 1-1 draw at Guisborough Town as a James Ellis penalty was cancelled out by former Sunderland youngster Cole Kiernan.
Elsewhere, Bishop Auckland escaped relegation with a 2-0 win at Crook Town as goals from Brad Mills and
Sonni Coleman kept the Two-Blues in the top tier.
Tom Marron and Nathan Stephenson scored a goal in each half as Northallerton Town earned a 2-0 home win against Billingham Town, and Consett rounded off their own season with a 4-4
home draw with Ashington.
The two sides looked to be heading into half-time on level terms as Steelmen duo Scott Heslop and Dale Pearson cancelled out goals from Dean Briggs and Lewis Suddick. However, Briggs’ second goal of the day edged the visitors in front at the interval and they looked on their way to all three points when Suddick matched that feat six minutes into the second half. But the hosts would not be denied, and earned a point thanks to goals from Calvin Smith and Jake Orrell.