RA pull off big shock against league leaders

The RA have produced a great revival in recent weeks under manager Peter Mulcaster, picking up ten points out of the last twelve, to lift them out of relegation danger to safety, and this was their best yet against a team that had lost just five times previously all season.

“It was a great result,” said veteran manager Mulcaster. “For an hour we looked like the team at the top of the league but the last half an hour we stopped working at our gameplan which allowed them back in the game. The win was fully deserved, because the lads have put in a huge amount of effort in recent weeks.”

Ben Dibb-Fuller fired Team North into the lead on 15 minutes, but Glenn Donaldson headed the RA level before half time.

Dan Flounders then scored an excellent individual goal, dribbling past several players before firing home, then Paul New made it 3-1. Aiden Heywood pulled a goal back for Team North, but Isam Mohamad superbly put the RA 4-2 up. Ross McKeown scored again for the home side, but the RA held on after that for a great win.

Guisborough Town gave themselves some real hope of avoiding the drop into the second division with an excellent 4-1 away win at Chester-le-Street The Priorymen moved to within two points of safety with their third successive victory, after going into a three goal lead in the first 32 minutes through Louis Goldsack, Connor Smith and David Onions. Jack Honour pulled a goal back from the spot just before half time, but then had another spot kick saved by Guisborough keeper James Dawson. Mason McNeil made sure of the points late in the game.

Chester are now relegated after just one season in the first division.

Guisborough manager Gary Forster said; “We’re delighted. We were very good in the first half, but Chester took the game to us in the second and were the better team but we defended really well and looked to do them on the break . I don’t think we could have done that before, so happy with our progress.”

Chester-le-Street manager Colin Wake said; "A really poor first half cost us the game when we went 3-0 down, a penalty just before half time gave us hope. We gave a much improved performance in the second half but missed a vital penalty which would have made it interesting. Relegated, but still proud of the effort the players have given me this season.”

Guisborough’s chances of staying up were also boosted by Sunderland RCA’s 10-1 demolition of fourth bottom Washington, the first time RCA have scored ten in a Northern League game.

The first half hour was goalless, but it was only 3-0 at half time with goals by Stephen Callen (2) and Michael Charlton, but the floodgates really opened within three minutes of the restart with a Colin Larkin strike. Charlton, Jonny Butler (2), Greg Swansbury, Steven Stewart and James Armstrong all added further goals, with Washington pulling a goal back through Micky Laws when the score was 9-0.

Sunderland RCA manager Marty Swales said; “It was a great performance, We bossed the game from the first minute. The only surprise was the amount of chances that we missed also. We were strong right throughout the side. I’m a bit gutted for Washington, they’re young lads learning the Northern League so not very nice for them, but credit to them they never stopped.”

At the top, South Shields are now just six points behind leaders North Shields with three games in hand after beating Bishop Auckland 1-0 at Mariners Park, their 29th successive win in all competitions.

Bishops’ Andre Bennett had a shot saved, but at the other end Gavin Cogdon went close then former Shields keeper Scott Pocklington saved from Michael Richardson and Alex Nicholson.

Stuart Thompson was inches wide at the start of the second half for Bishops, but Shields took the lead on 63 minutes when Barrie Smith hit the post and Michael Richardson scored from the loose ball.

Bishop Auckland manager Steve Riley said; “We were disappointed not to get something out of the game. One lapse in concentration has costs us. I thought we contained Shields well in the first half and hit them on the break. We gave them too much space in the second half and dropped too deep and they managed to sneak a goal. Although we have an horrendous injury list, the lads who played worked so hard for the team and on another day would have come away with a deserved draw.”

Whitley Bay are hoping for a top six spot after beating Consett 2-1 at Hillheads.

After Whitley had a chance cleared off the line, they took the lead when Thibault Charmey scored with a left foot shot into the corner of the net, and midway through the second half Kyle Patton scored the second from close range. Michael Sweet pulled a goal back for Consett.

Newcastle Benfield ended Jarrow Roofing’s eight match unbeaten run with a 2-1 home win.

Roofing took the lead just after half time through Dan Kirkup’s 20 yarder, but Benfield levelled when Paul Brayson rounded the keeper to score his 50th goal of the season. Dylan McEvoy fired the winner for Benfield from a Brayson assist.

Jarrow Roofing manager Richie McLoughlin said; “It was a good game, either team could have won. But overall they got the winner, so no complaints.”

Ryhope CW drew 2-2 with Dunston UTS after twice being in the lead in the game.

James Ellis and Lee Chapman in turn gave Ryhope the lead, with Richie Slaughter and Dale Burrell in turn equalising.

Ryhope CW manager Gary Pearson said; “Over a draw may have been the fairest result but we squandered chances in both halves and that cost us all three points. Although Dunston’s equaliser was from a grerat piece of individual skill, I’m disappointed at how three of our players were so easily danced past without any physical challenge.”

Dunston UTS manager Chris Swailes said; “I thought we deserved a draw, especially as we came from behind twice.”

Seaham Red Star manager Chris McCabe was furious with his players after they were easily beaten 4-1 at home by Ashington.

Ben Harmison put Ashington into the lead from close range, but Luke Proctor levelled for Seaham when he fired home through a crowd of players.

But Seaham collapsed at the start of the second half, conceding goals to Dale Pearson and Andy Bulford, then Kyle Downey scored from the spot for the fourth after Liam Hodgson was sent off.

Seaham manager Chris McCabe said; “I was very disappointed in my players, a few of them have kicked their final ball for the club. I will not accept a player pulling on a shirt going through the motions and not giving 100 per cent.”

Team North’s defeat in the second division opened the door for Stockton Town to move two points off the top with a game in hand with a 2-1 away win at Durham City.

The home side took the lead with an own goal by Tom Coulthard , but Fred Woodhouse fired Stockton level on the half hour. Veteran striker Chris Dunwell headed the winner on 72 minutes.

Stockton Town manager Micky Dunwell said; “I was very happy with the win and performance. We ground out the result and fully deserved the points.”

Durham manager Olly Hotchkiss said; “I’m gutted with the result as we deserved something from the game. We played really well and their winning goal was a case of handball which is the most disappointing aspect of the final result. I was proud of the players to take a very good side all the way.”

Billingham Synthonia overcame a shaky first half to beat Tow Law 3-2 to stay nicely in third.

Lawyers took the lead when Dean Thexton fired home from the edge of the box, but Synners levelled when Macauley Langstaff showed great technique to score from a Mattie Robinson cross.

Robinson crossed again for Nathan Steel to put Synners into the lead, but Lawyers levelled again through Kevin Dixon.

But Synners regained their composure and Langstaff got the winner from the spot after Anthony Peacock was brought down.

Fourth placed Heaton Stannington are the main threat to Synners, and they recorded their eleventh straight win with a 4-0 victory at second bottom Ryton and Crawcrook. Dan Robinson scored a hat trick, with Shane Jones getting the other.

Billingham Town striker Craig Hutchinson set a new club scoring record when he scored twice in their 3-1 away win at Alnwick.

Hutchinson broke the decade old record of Paul Rowntree, by taking his tally to a magnificent 58 goals in all competitions, 50 of them in the league, more than double his nearest challenger in the second division scoring charts.

He scored a goal in each half with Luke Hogan scoring the other. Sam Walton replied for Alnwick..

Billingham Town manager Barry Oliver said; “For 90 minutes we were excellent today, our work rate and game management was top drawer from every player. We should have scored, but a special mention must go to Craig Hutchinson for breaking the club record.”

Esh Winning are now off the bottom above Ryton and Crawcrook with a thrilling 4-3 win over Northallerton.

Esh quickly went 2-0 up with goals by Andrew Clarkson and Mark Bailes, before Nicky Martin pulled a goal back. Chris Mordue made it 3-1, but Martin hit back twice to complete his hat trick. But Kai Hewitson grabbed a late winner to put Esh second bottom.

Esh Winning manager Tony Boakes said; “It was a quality win for us. We could have been out of sight in the first half, but silly mistakes kept letting Northallerton back into the game.”

Thornaby dropped to fifth bottom because of a 3-0 away defeat at Bedlington, for whom Sam Norris scored a hat trick, two of his goals coming in the first 20 minutes.

Thornaby manager Paul Burton said; “I thought we had a run of good form going. One game we seem to be up for it, but then we seem to be miles short.”

Crook are fourth bottom after they lost 2-1 at Hebburn. Jason Blackburn gave Hebburn a first half lead, only for Christian Holliday to equalise for Crook. However, former Darlington winger Adam Rundle scored the winner with a 40 yarder.

Crook manager Wilf Constantine said; “I thought we cut our own throats. We totally dominated the game, especially in the second half, but we couldn’t score the important goal.”

Hebburn manager Scott Oliver said; “It wasn’t a classic but our goal of the season from Adam Rundle won it for us. To score from 40 yards out takes some beating.”

Brandon United picked up a useful point from a goalless draw at Blyth Town.

Easington beat Whickham 2-1. Michael Bulmer fired Easington into the lead, then Aaron Croft finished off a good move for the second early in the second half.

Bulmer was dismissed, and Whickham took advantage to pull one goal back through Ross Nicholson.

The Shildon v Marske, Newton Aycliffe v Morpeth and Penrith v West Auckland matches were all postponed because of waterlogged pitches.