Matches played – Saturday 6th September

Alnwick Town 1–1 Boldon CA (Attendance: 113)

Alnwick struck first midway through the game, with Dominic Hayes finding the net in the 36th minute. Boldon bounced back just after the hour mark when Jack Robertson levelled things in the 55th minute. A balanced and hard-fought draw, both sides shared the spoils in this one.  Alnwick sit mid-table in tenth and Boldon CA fourth.

Park View AFC 0–0 Esh Winning (Attendance: 120)

A stalemate, despite late drama. Both teams were strong defensively, but the big talking point came when Jackson Cherrie of Esh Winning was sent off in the 86th minute.  Park View have now gone six games without conceding a goal and have drawn three of the last four matches nil-nil.  Park View go into 5th while Esh Winning remain second bottom in 21st.

Durham United 2–1 Prudhoe YC Seniors (Attendance: 71)

Durham United claimed their second three points of the season .  It was the visitors who took the lead when Thomas Wilson put them in front in 27 minutes.  The hosts didn’t take long to equalise when Antony Selvardoray’s strike in the 31st minute.  The deciding goal arrived from Thomas Boothroyd in the 59th minute, securing the win for the hosts. A scrappy yet decisive encounter. Durham moved up to 18th whilst Prudhoe YC remained 17th.

FC Hartlepool 2–1 Chester-le-Street Town (Attendance: 154)

FC Hartlepool extended their unbeaten run to nine games when they defeated Chester-le-Street Town by the odd goal in three.  The home side broke the deadlock on 35 minutes when Mikey McGee scored to put them in front.  Straight after half time the visitors were level when Lucas Nelson equalised but their joy was short lived as within a minute Nathan Bayes restored the host’s lead and they saw out the game and secured all three points in a tight game.  Hartlepool remained in 2nd place, just two points behind  the leaders Redcar Town and Chester-le-Street Town remained in 7th.

Grangetown Boys Club 0–1 Jarrow (Attendance: 116)

A single strike decided this tight affair. Jarrow managed a narrow win on the road, keeping Grangetown at bay in a match with a solid defensive performance.  The only goal came from Joe Bates in the 27th minute and it was enough to give the visitors their first win in five games.  Jarrow sit in mid-table and Grangetown BC are third bottom with only one win this season.

Newcastle University 1–3 Seaham Red Star (Attendance: 65)

The visitor’s unbeaten run continued to twelve games when they took the points at Essity Park.  Seaham opened the scoring on 17 minutes when Matthew Weirs scored from a penalty.  The home side were level right on half time when Ryan Redford (45) equalised.  Three minutes into the second half Lucas Aldcroft was sent off for Newcastle University to reduce them to ten men.  Matthew Weirs (49) missed the resulting kick.  With 20 minutes to go Seaham restored their lead when Jack Leonard (69) put them back in front and Ryan O’Connor (78) sealed the points. Seaham remained in 3rd and Newcastle Uni in 6th. 

Sunderland RCA 4–3 Billingham Town (Attendance: 166)

A thrilling seven-goal thriller! Sunderland RCA came out on top in a high-octane encounter, outscoring Billingham Town in a match full of end-to-end action. The home side opened the scoring with 9 minutes to go to half time when Aidan Stanton converted a penalty.  Billingham equalised when Garry Mitchell (44) scored but in time added on at the end of the first half Aidan Stanton headed home to put RCA back in front.  Archie Dodds made it 3-1 to the home side 7 minutes into the second half with a cracking finish and Calvin McCarthy made it 4-1 with a tremendous volley.  With 25 minutes to go Kieran Stares converted a penalty for the visitors to make it 4-2.  Soon after Lewis Dodds was sent off from the technical area of the home bench.  Fifteen minutes from time the home side were reduced to ten men when Karl Dryden was sent off.  In added on time Joel White scored a third goal for the visitors before they too were reduced to ten men when Reece Littlefair was also shown a red card.  A very entertaining afternoon.  Sunderland RCA climbed to 12th and Billingham Town are in 14th.

Sunderland West End 3–0 Darlington Town (Attendance: 90)

Sunderland West End controlled proceedings with a solid win. Three unanswered goals sealed the deal against a struggling Darlington side.  Thomas Hunter opened the scoring after only 9 minutes and Ashley Davis doubled the lead on 19 minutes.  Bryan Norton added a third 5 minutes into the second half and West End comfortably took the points.  Sunderland West End go above Darlington Town in the league and sit 15th and 16th respectively.

Tow Law Town 1–2 AFC Newbiggin (Attendance: 63)

A tight, closely fought contest ended in favour of the visitors when Newbiggin held on to win by the odd goal in three.  Richard Hoggins (22) put them in front and James Cooper (36) doubled the lead before the break.  Jackson Raitt did pull a goal back for the Lawyers just past the hour but Newbiggin held on for a valuable three points on the road.  Tow Law remained 4th bottom and Newbiggin climbed into the top half in 9th.

Yarm & Eaglescliffe 1–2 Redcar Town (Attendance: 169)

Redcar Town edged out a narrow win on the road. They broke the stalemate when Craig Gott (37) scored a penalty and Kyran Clark doubled their lead just before the interval.   Despite Yarm & Eaglescliffe’s efforts when they pulled a goal back through Steven Roberts (78) converted a penalty they couldn’t hold off the visitors’ taking all the points.  Redcar remained top of the league by two points and Yarm & Eaglescliffe remained in 8th.

Ryton & Crawcrook Albion 2–0 Billingham Synthonia (Attendance: 207)

Two first half goals were enough to give Ryton & Crawcrook Albion a comfortable home win.  They scored early on after only 3 minutes when Kurtis Dodds put them in front and just before the half hour Louis Calvert (29) doubled their advantage to cruise to a comfortable home win. A confident performance from the hosts which sees them climb to 13th in the table and Billingham remain rooted to the bottom of the league with only four points.