Ryhope CW vs Consett

Following Easington’s game on Saturday, I had thought about doing Sunderland under-23s vs Norwich City under-23s on Sunday but didn’t get round to it. With me going to York for the Ebor Festival tomorrow until Friday, I was definitely going to do a game tonight. I would have done a game last night if I could have found one, but there wasn’t anything on. When I looked at the fixtures for tonight, this was the only one that really stood out to me. Going to York means I’ll miss Easington’s game at West Allotment Celtic tomorrow night, but it’ll be worth it for three days of world class racing! Once I’m back from York though, it’ll be a busy few days of football for me. I’ll be at Crook vs Easington on Saturday, and then two games on Sunday and maybe two games on Monday too.

Match report:

Ryhope CW claim three points against Consett

Ryhope CW claimed an impressive three points with a 2-1 win over Consett at Ryhope Recreation Park on Tuesday night.

Ben Riding put Ryhope CW ahead in the 49th minute, but Ali Alshabeeb pulled the visitors level just a few minutes later.

However, Ryhope regained their lead and claimed the points through a fine Michael Rae strike.

Ryhope CW also missed a first half penalty, and there was floodlight failure during the second half.

Little happened in the opening exchanges, and in truth, it was a rather dull first half.

The first half chance fell the way of Olly Hotchkiss after a short corner for the hosts in the 11th minute, but his effort was blocked.

Consett then had a corner dealt with, but a couple of corners was about all that was noteworthy in the opening quarter of an hour.

In the 18th minute, a superb challenge from David Vincent in the centre of the park won possession for Ryhope. The ball was played in Jack Devlin, but his effort was well saved by Mark Foden.

Hotchkiss then had a chance for the hosts, but his volley dipped wide after some good control.

Alshabeeb then had a couple of half chances for Consett, before the same man had a half-hearted penalty shout turned down.

With just over 10 minutes of the first half to play, Ryhope had a great chance to take the lead when they were awarded a penalty for a foul on Vincent. Devlin took responsibility, but the ‘keeper guessed correctly and saved.

Alshabeeb fired another effort over for Consett in the 39th minute, and that proved to be that for the first half.

Following the break, it took Ryhope less than four minutes to break the deadlock. Hotchkiss curled a free-kick towards the back post, but it looked as though it would be clear. However, it bounced off a couple of Consett defenders who failed to clear before dropping to Riding who managed to stab the ball into the net.

Matty Weirs then had a scuffed effort saved as Ryhope looked to double their lead, before Robbie Bird, Devlin and Chris Trewick all had further efforts come to nothing for the hosts.

Ryhope CW were well on top in the opening exchanges of the second half, but with their first chance, Consett equalised. The ball was well worked into Alshabeeb, whose composed finish picked out the bottom corner.

Both sides will have felt as though they could have gone on to find a winner, but it was Consett who had a good little spell following their equaliser. Andrei-Vasile Ardelean and Jake Stafford both had chances but failed to find the target.

The game then settled down again. Vincent and Hotchkiss both curled well over for the hosts, before Darren Holden fired over for Consett.

In the 80th minute, there was drama as the floodlights went out. Apparently, Vincent, who had been subbed off, had turned the showers on and that makes the lights go out! Following a 12 minute delay, the lights were back on and play was restarted.

In what was now the fourth minute of additional time, Ryhope score what proved to be the winner. A ball through picked out Rae who opted to check back rather than driving towards goal. Some of the crowd were questioning his choice to do that, but they certainly weren’t after he took a touch before curling a superb 20-yard effort into the far top corner.

Consett pushed for another equaliser late on, but it wasn’t to be, and Ryhope CW took all three points.

Full-time: Ryhope CW 2-1 Consett

Next up for me is Crook Town vs Easington Colliery on Saturday.

Ryhope CW: Winter, Walker, Cocks, Jon Weirs, Riding (c), Trewick, Vincent (Wallace, 70′), Hotchkiss, Devlin (Rae, 60′), Matty Weirs, Bird (Robson, 80′)

Unused subs: Skidmore, Harkess

Consett: Foden, Metz, Allen, Smith (Hawkins, 90+2′), Jakab, Wilkinson, Alshabeeb, Stafford (McGeoch, 90+9′), Ardelean, Carr (c), Holden (Sloan, 90+9′)

Unused subs: Johnson, Slocombe

Admission: £6 adults, £4 concessions

Programme: £1

Attendance: 118

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Easington Colliery vs Chester-le-Street Town

Colliers beaten at home to Chester-le-Street

Easington Colliery were beaten at home to Chester-le-Street Town on Saturday afternoon.

In the first game played at the Welfare Park’s new facilities, Jack Pounder’s stunning strike from within his own half put the Colliers ahead, but late goals from Kevin Dixon and Luke Collins ensured the visitors took all three points.

Liam Adamson returned to the Easington side following his injury, but Shane O’Brien and Kieran Mitchell were both missing.

The Colliers started well, and Josh Home-Jackson had a half chance within five minutes. The former Ryhope CW man rounded the ‘keeper, but a defender was covering and did his job well.

Home-Jackson then had an effort saved, while a Chester-le-Street effort at the other end forced Jack Patton into a save.

A couple of Chester-le-Street corners followed, before the Colliers took the lead in superb style in the 10th minute. Pounder picked up possession 10 yards inside his own half. Spotting the ‘keeper off his line and with the wind behind him, Pounder went for goal and struck a superb effort over the stricken ‘keeper before it dropped into the net.

The wind was prominent throughout, and seeming as though it was behind their backs, the Colliers looked to make the most of it in the first half.

Simon Todd had an Easington effort saved in the 24th minute, before a header at the other end failed to trouble Patton.

Alex Walker and Jak Mitchell both had further half chances for Chester-le-Street, but there was nothing too concerning.

As the first half come towards a close, Adamson had a curling effort well saved, and the resulting corner led to a massive penalty shout. The corner landed in the penalty area where Pounder had an effort blocked. A second effort was drilled towards goal, and it appeared to be blocked by a raised arm, however, referee Matthew Carroll pointed for a corner rather than a penalty.

Brennan Ball tried his luck as the first half came to a close, but it was way too high.

Following the break, Chester-le-Street had the wind behind their backs.

Following a quiet start, Pounder was played in on goal for Easington. He was charging down on goal after a perfectly timed run, but the assistant’s flag went up in a very dubious decision.

Shortly before the hour mark, Ricky Fenwick drove a free-kick not far wide for the Cestrians, before Kyle Middleton’s ball across goal at the other end just needed the slightest of touches but it wasn’t to be.

Niall McGoldrick was next to shoot for Easington, but his effort was skewed well wide.

Twenty minutes into the second half, the post came to Chester-le-Street’s rescue. Middleton did superbly well to pick out Pounder, and he connected perfectly with a 20-yard effort that bounced back off the post with the ‘keeper beaten.

A short spell of pressure from the visitors then followed, and it finished with a goal. An inswigning corner wasn’t dealt with by the Colliers, and after a slight scramble, Dixon was able to bundle the ball into the net.

As time wore on, both sides were looking for a winner. Both sides were playing balls into the penalty area, but neither side could create any clear-cut chances.

With the one clear-cut chance they did have, in the 83rd minute, Chester-le-Street scored the winner. Collins picked up the ball 30 yards from goal and he trickled a way through numerous defenders before slotting into the bottom corner.

Easington huffed and puffed late on, but there wasn’t to be an equaliser and the visitors took the points.

Full-time: Easington Colliery 1-2 Chester-le-Street Town

Next up for me is possibly Sunderland U23s vs Norwich City U23s tomorrow.

Easington Colliery: Patton, Ball, Turnbull, Pearson (c), McGoldrick, Todd, Middleton (Southern, 72′), Dunn, Pounder, Home-Jackson, Adamson (Lincoln Barrow, 59′)

Unused subs: MacDougall, Garside, Proctor

Chester-le-Street Town: Armin, Stephenson, Fenwick, Marron (c) (Surrey, 90+2′), Dixon, Walker, Fingleton (Lancaster, 63′), Mitchell, Brown, Lee (Blades, 63′), Collins

Unused subs: Whisker, Greaves

Admission: £5 adults, £2 concessions

Programme: £1.50

Attendance: 111

Referee: Matthew Carroll

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Washington vs Crook Town

Football is changing. VAR is now prominent at the top of the game, and sin bins have been introduced at lower level football. And, in the Northern League, you’ve got Sunderland West End playing at Nissan, Washington playing at Durham, and Durham playing at Willington! I’ve seen a few games with sin bins now and they may work in the future. But, like VAR, they need to be used consistently. I’m totally against the use of VAR (always have been) and I’m not keen on sin bins at the minute but it could work. Firstly though, they need clearer rules on what actually is a sin bin offence. What exactly is ‘dissent’? A player shouts at the referee and gets put in the sin bin, then another player says something similar and doesn’t go in the sin bin. At Easington, we had three or four cautions for dissent in the whole of last season. Sin bins have been introduced for dissent, and we’ve had three players sin binned already. How the Easington players are acting and what they’re saying on the pitch is exactly the same as last season, so how have we had three cases of dissent in four games when we had only one more than that in the whole of last season? I was pleased to see that no one was sent to the sin bin in this game tonight. Now that they’re playing at New Ferens Park, I’ll probably watch a few Washington midweek games. Mind, their move to New Ferens Park is certainly a bizarre one.

Match report:

Crook climb to third in Northern League Division Two

Crook Town maintained their winning start to the Northern League Division Two season with a 0-4 win away to Washington on Wednesday night.

Goals from Jake Petitjean, Calum Johnston, Joe Smith and Chris Dickinson gave Crook the win, and it means Jamie Tunstall’s side have now won three games from three this season.

Upon kick-off, Crook started the brighter, but it was Washington who created the first chance. Jak Hanson did well to get a shot away for Washington in the ninth minute, but his effort was a comfortable save for Ronan Makepeace.

The hosts then had a penalty shout turned down as Hanson fell in the area, before Crook took the lead with their first real shot. The ball was patiently worked to Petitjean 25 yards from goal, and he took a touch before drilling a fine effort into the bottom corner.

Having taken the lead, Crook went in search of a second. In the 20th minute, Dickinson did well to latch onto a rather hopeful long ball for the visitors, and he quickly cut inside before his ambitious effort failed to find the far top corner.

Efforts at both ends were then blocked, before Washington had a couple of half chances fall the way of Alex Ramshaw and Hanson. Ramshaw’s effort failed to find the target, while Hanson’s was saved.

At points in the first half, both benches felt aggrieved with the referee’s decisions, particularly the Crook bench.

On the half hour mark, things became a bit heated. Hanson tried to weave a way through the Crook defence, and he got in a tangle with one of the defenders. A bit of pushing and shoving escalated, but the referee eventually calmed it down and booked a couple of players.

Ten minutes before half-time, Washington had goalkeeper Harry Archer to thank for keeping the deficit at only one. Johnston’s pinpoint cross for Crook picked out Petitjean six yards from goal, but a superb reaction save from Archer prevented Petitjean’s first time effort.

In the 37th minute, Ramshaw fired a free-kick into the wall for the hosts, while Petitjean fired a similar free-kick over the crossbar at the other end.

Just a couple of minutes before the break, Crook doubled their lead. A delicate ball into the penalty area found Johnston, and he controlled the ball well before his composed finish doubled Crook’s lead.

Following the break, it took the game a while to get going.

Crook had a great chance to extend their lead with the first real chance of the second half in the 58th minute. A clever move worked Johnston in, but he didn’t connect fully with his effort and Archer saved. The rebound fell the way of Petitjean, but his effort was blocked.

Washington then had a good spell of pressure, but they didn’t create any chances.

Arthur Connelly then tried his luck for Crook to no avail, before Kieran Broomfield’s effort at the other end came to the same fate.

In the 65th minute, Washington’s Ramshaw was fouled in a dangerous position. He dusted himself down to take responsibility, but he couldn’t get his effort past the wall.

Ramshaw then had another effort go over, before Johnston had a couple of efforts fail to find the target for Crook.

A few substitutions slowed the game down, and as time wore on, a Crook victory was more and more likely.

Tom Gavin fired just over as he looked for a third for Crook, and it took the visitors until the 88th minute to find that third goal. Smith’s perfectly timed run saw him latch onto a well weighted ball over the top, and he charged down on goal before a composed finish made sure of the win.

And, in the final minute, Crook scored a fourth. Matty Crossen did superbly well to win possession in his own half and play a fine ball down the line at the same time. It picked out Smith who charged towards goal before playing a ball towards the back post where Dickinson had a simple finish.

It proved a comfortable win for Crook in the end, and they’re just a point behind leaders West Allotment Celtic with a game in hand.

Full-time: Washington 0-4 Crook Town

Next up for me is Easington Colliery vs Chester-le-Street Town on Saturday.

Washington: Archer, Colquhoun, McBeth (Gibbon, 71′), Hennis, Goodman (c), Hutchinson, Ramshaw, Broomfield, Quine (Colling, 66′), Hanson, Toward (Orr, 80′)

Unused subs: Quinn, Stephenson

Crook Town: Makepeace, Crossen, Gavin, Fielding, Harwood (c), Wilson, Johnston, Hume (Verity, 69′), Dickinson, Petitjean (Dunwell, 85′), Connelly (Smith, 74′)

Unused subs: Shevels, Maddison

Admission: £5 adults, £3 concessions

Programme: £1

Attendance: 110

Chips and bottle of Coke: £3.60

Referee: David Holmes

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Durham City vs Easington Colliery

Trip to Durham abandoned late on

Easington Colliery’s Northern League Division Two tie at Durham City was abandoned on Tuesday night due to floodlight failure.

Durham City were 1-0 up at the time of abandonment, and 82 minutes had been played.

Anthony Chapman had put the Citizens ahead in the 72nd minute, but the abandonment means that it is up to the league as to what will happen with the fixture.

There was a slight change in formation for the Colliers. Garon Garside moved into midfield with Chris Pearson coming back into the starting XI. Jake Dunn and Nathan Proctor both started, while Keir MacDougall dropped to the bench.

Upon kick-off, Durham had a half chance within the opening minute. Ellis Brymer got a shot away, but it was well wide of Jack Patton’s goal.

The Colliers did have a few early attacks, but the closest they came was when Niall McGoldrick had a shot blocked.

Chapman and Brymer had further half chances for the hosts in the opening 20 minutes, but neither of them could trouble Patton to any degree.

Despite not having too many chances, Durham were the brighter side.

Famara Jatta curled a free-kick harmlessly over for the hosts as time wore on, before good defending saw Durham clear a Dunn cross.

Easington finished the first half quite well. Josh Home-Jackson had a big chance in the 34th minute when a perfectly weighted ball played him in. Durham goalkeeper David Smallman rushed out to make himself big, and he did well to save Home-Jackson’s effort.

Smallman then saved a Proctor free-kick, before Garside fired over.

Both sides had half chances throughout the first half, but clear cut chances were at a premium and it was goalless at the break.

Upon the restart in the kick-off, Durham had goalkeeper Smallman to thank for keeping them level. Home-Jackson’s cross picked out Pounder, whose powerful header forced Smallman into a good save.

The Colliers then had a few corners, with Smallman saving Pounder’s header in the end.

A quiet period then followed. A couple of substitutions were made, and the yellow card was brandished a couple of times, but that was about it.

Jatta headed well over for Durham halfway through the second half, before Dunn’s effort was saved at the other end.

In the 73rd minute, Durham opened the scoring. Max Thomas burst down the wing and cross a low inviting ball into the area. Chapman latched onto it and his first time effort from six yards gave Patton no chance.

As Easington looked to respond, Dunn drilled a free-kick into the wall.

With 12 minutes to play, it looked as though Durham had a penalty. Their man charged down on goal and took the ball round Patton before falling to the ground. The referee, with no doubt in his mind, pointed to the penalty spot but his assistant, correctly, signalled that it was a dive and the referee reversed his decision to give the Colliers a free-kick.

As the game entered its final 10 minutes, Proctor was sent to the sin bin for protesting a throw that should have went the way of the Colliers.

Shortly after, with 82 minutes on the clock, the northern most floodlight on the dugout side went out. After 10 or 15 minutes, they managed to get them all back on. However, just as the game was about to restart, the same floodlight went out again and the referee abandoned the game after a minute or two.

Abandoned on 82 minutes: Durham City 1-0 Easington Colliery

Next up for me is either East Durham Blue Belles vs Redcar Town Ladies Reserves or Washington vs Crook Town tomorrow night.

Durham City: Smallman, Thomas, Daon Yrus Kehi, Drummond (Whelan, 57′), Daon Dimitri Kehi, Jatta, Thirlaway, McCardle, Chapman (c), Brymer, Nicholson

Unused subs: Thompson, Dixon, Collins, Brooks

Easington Colliery: Patton, Ball (Lincoln Barrow, 58′), Proctor, Pearson (c), McGoldrick, Garside, Talbot, Dunn, Southern, Home-Jackson, Pounder

Unused subs: Middleton, O’Brien, MacDougall, Hope

Admission: £5 adults, £3 concessions

Programme: £1

Attendance: 82

Referee: Karl Barron

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Durham Women vs Everton Ladies

Since I come back from Crete in the early hours of Wednesday morning, the only games I’ve done have been involving Easington. If I could have got to a game on either Thursday or Friday, I probably would have, but there was very little on. Since I’ve got back from Crete, I’ve booked to go to Barcelona for a few days in September. It was a bit of a spontaneous decision so if you’ve been and got any advice, let me know! Because I missed the first game of Easington’s season, and I’ll be missing West Allotment Celtic away, I made sure I didn’t miss any Easington games when I’m going to Barcelona. We go on the 9th of September (a Monday) and come back on the Thursday. I will try to find a game while we’re there! Before then though, I’ll still have plenty of games and a trip to York Races for three days for the Ebor Festival. I’ll be at Durham City vs Easington Colliery on Tuesday, and I will be somewhere on Wednesday. Sunderland RCA vs Ryhope CW was my plan for Wednesday, but that’s not being played anymore due to their FA Cup replay.

Match report:

Everton Ladies edge out Durham Women in friendly

Everton Ladies claimed a 2-0 win at Durham Women in a pre-season friendly on Sunday afternoon.

Ellie Christon’s own goal put the Toffees ahead in the 53rd minute, and Inessa Kagmaan’s 89th minute strike ensured the WSL outfit took the victory.

New signings Iris Achterhof, Molly Sharpe and Megan Bell all started for Durham, while Jordan Atkinson and Holly Manders came off the bench for the Wildcats.

Upon kick-off, it was a good competitive affair. Without creating any chances, Everton were slightly the better team.

The Toffees did have a couple of early corners, but Durham dealt with them.

Lisa Robertson registered the first meaningful shot for Durham in the 11th minute, but her effort darted wide of Kirsty Levell’s goal.

Maéva Clémaron fired wide for Everton as they started to create a couple of chances.

Hannah Cain then had a couple of chances for the visitors, but they never troubled Megan Borthwick.

Although it was competitive, there wasn’t a great deal of chances in the first half.

Following the break, it took just 55 seconds for the first chance. Durham’s Kathryn Hill took aim from 25 yards, and her effort wasn’t too far away from the top corner.

In the 53rd minute, Everton took the lead. A cross looked comfortable for Durham, but Christon miscued her clearance and it bounced off the post before rolling along the goal line. Sarah Wilson appeared to have cleared it off the line, but assistant referee Vicky Davison ruled the ball to have crossed the line.

Everton went close again a couple of minutes later after good work by Gabby George, before Molly Pike had an effort well saved.

The resulting corner dropped to Megan Finnigan at the back post, but the England under-20 international could only curl over.

Rain was pounding down on New Ferens Park all afternoon, and it wasn’t helping the players on the pitch.

Following a quiet spell, both Robertson and Achterhof had efforts saved by Levell in the Everton goal.

Kagmaan then had a couple of efforts for the visitors, before the Wildcats went agonisingly close to equalising in the 78th minute. Atkinson’s cross picked out Bell who prodded the ball towards the near post. Achterhof was there and the simplest of touches would have turned the ball into the net, but the former Old Dominion University striker couldn’t find the required touch.

Robertson then forced a good save from Levell as Durham pushed forward, but Everton were still a threat too. Kagmaan could have doubled their lead in the 87th minute but her free-kick was saved by Hannah Reid.

With just one minute to play, Everton wrapped up the win with a second goal. An inviting cross wasn’t cleared by Durham, and it fell to Kagmaan at the back post who fired home.

Full-time: Durham Women 0-2 Everton Ladies

Next up for me is Durham City vs Easington Colliery on Tuesday.

Durham Women: Borthwick (Reid, 56′), Hill, Salicki, Christon, Wilson (c), Robertson, Robson (Elliott, 88′), Hepple (Manders 73′), Sharpe (Atkinson, 49′), Achterhof, Bell

No unused subs

Admission: £6 adults, £3 concessions, £1 season ticket holders

Programme: No

Attendance: About 150

Referee: Rebecca Welch

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Newcastle University vs Easington Colliery

Colliers narrowly beaten at Newcastle University

Easington Colliery were narrowly beaten 2-1 at Newcastle University on Saturday afternoon.

On a very wet afternoon, goals from Lee Scott and Niza Chilufya gave the students the three points.

Jack Pounder had pulled the Colliers level after Lee Scott gave Newcastle University the lead, but Chilufya’s strike proved the winning goal for the hosts.

Kieran Mitchell returned to the starting XI for the Colliers, while Ryan Lincoln Barrow, James Talbot and Chris Pearson all returned to the squad and took a spot on the bench.

Upon kick-off, it was the hosts who created the first chance. A corner was swung into the penalty area to find David Robinson, but he could only glance a header wide.

There wasn’t a great deal of action in front of goal in the opening 10 minutes, with both sides doing what they needed to do in defence.

However, in the 11th minute, the hosts took the lead. Chilufya drilled a low ball towards the back post to pick out the unmarked Lee Scott who helped the ball into the net.

The Colliers did respond though, and Nathan Proctor had an effort blocked before Pounder pulled the Green Army level in the 11th minute. He took responsibility of a dangerous free-kick and fired a low effort towards goal. It took a slight deflection before somehow finding a way through a whole host of bodies to nestle a way into the bottom corner.

Josh Home-Jackson then went close for the Colliers, before Jordon Southern fired wide.

It looked as though the Colliers were starting to come into the game, but the students regained their lead in the 28th minute. Chilufya turned in the penalty area and drove towards goal before picking out the bottom corner.

Proctor and Home-Jackson then went close for the Colliers, but Newcastle University went into the break with a narrow lead.

Heavy rain fell throughout the second half, and with long grass and a few bobbles, the pitch wasn’t the easiest.

Chances were aplenty for the hosts in the second half. Joe Blanch had an effort saved by Jack Patton, before Chilufya had a couple of great chances come and go.

Kyle Middleton did go close for the Colliers in the 54th minute after good work from Mitchell, but Middleton’s shot sailed wide.

Another big chance fell the way the University on the hour mark, but a crucial block kept the deficit at only one.

Meaningful shots were rare from the Colliers in the second half, but substitute Talbot went close when he fired not too far over in the 63rd minute.

Chilufya, who could and possibly should have scored a double hat-trick, dragged another good chance wide 20 minutes into the second half.

Pounder did have the ball in the net for the Colliers shortly after, but he was ruled to have fouled a Newcastle University man in the build up.

The same man had another opportunity five minutes later. A superb Keir MacDougall ball picked out Pounder, but his effort from the edge of the penalty area was narrowly too high.

None of Easington’s chances were clear cut though, and in honesty, the Colliers didn’t look like scoring.

Pounder did head over with 15 minutes to play, but if either side was going to score, it looked more likely to be the hosts.

Several further chances were wasted by the hosts as time wore on, including big chances for Lee Scott and Josh Hammett.

To top off a bad day for the Colliers, Chris Pearson was sin binned in the fourth minute of additional time.

Full-time: Newcastle University 2-1 Easington Colliery

Next up for me is Durham Women vs Everton Ladies tomorrow.

Newcastle University: Woodburn (Curran, 46′), Chris Scott, Blanch, Hunter, Robinson, Robertson, Douglas, Neill (Redford, 79′), Chilufya, Lee Scott, Christie (Hammett, 71′)

Unused subs: Bennett, Dutton

Easington Colliery: Patton, Ball, Middleton (Dunn, 63′), McGoldrick, Garside, Mitchell, Home-Jackson, MacDougall (Pearson, 79′), Pounder (c), Southern (Talbot, 46′), Proctor

Unused subs: Lincoln Barrow, O’Brien

Admission: £4 adults, £2 concessions

Programme: £1

Attendance: 60

Chips and can of Fanta: £2.10

Teamsheet: Free

Referee: Matthew Davidson

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Redcar Athletic vs Easington Colliery

Colliers beaten at Redcar

Easington Colliery were beaten 4-3 in an incredible game at Redcar Athletic on Wednesday night.

The Colliers were 3-0 up at half-time thanks to goals from Kyle Middleton (x2) and Josh Home-Jackson, but Redcar netted four in the second half through an Adam Preston hat-trick and Gary Redman.

Niall McGoldrick was also sent to the sin bin during the second half for the Colliers.

With captain Chris Pearson away, McGoldrick and Garon Garside took their places in the defence, while Keir MacDougall and Simon Todd worked the middle of the park.

Jack Pounder and Jordon Southern led the line, and they were both supported by Middleton and Home-Jackson.

Upon kick-off, it was Redcar who had the better of the opening 10 minutes, the closest they came was when Gary Wood struck a half volley off the outside of the post.

However, with their first real chance, the Colliers broke the deadlock. A sharp turn from Southern gave him room to drive forward and his perfectly weighted ball played Middleton in who finished well.

Jack Patton was forced into a save to prevent Preston as time wore on, while Todd fired an ambitious effort not too far over at the other end.

Home-Jackson then had a free-kick blocked, before a McGoldrick header was cleared off the line.

It was positive stuff from the Colliers in the first half, and their good football was rewarded with a second goal in the 36th minute. Middleton and Southern linked up well allowing Middleton room to shoot. His shot was saved by Oliver Simpson, but Home-Jackson drove the rebound home from the edge of the penalty area.

Pounder then went close a couple of times, before the Green Army scored their third just before the break. MacDougall lifted a superb cross towards the back post where Middleton rose to steer a header into the net.

However, it was all change in the second half. Just four minutes in, as the Colliers hadn’t settled into the second half, Redcar pulled a goal back. Preston curled a free-kick round the wall, and it looked a simple save for Patton, but he couldn’t hold it and the ball trickled over the line to give the hosts hope.

Redcar resorted to the long ball game in the second half, and in truth, it worked.

In an awful opening 10 minutes of the second half, Redcar scored their second in the 54th minute. Patton did well to save an initial effort, but Redman was on hand to convert the rebound.

All Easington could muster in the opening 15 minutes of the second half was Todd shooting over from distance.

In the 58th minute, McGoldrick was sent to the sin bin for the Colliers after expressing his opinions about a decision. It looked as though the referee wasn’t going to punish him, but after Redcar got on his back, he sent McGoldrick to the sin bin.

Despite having a man advantage for 10 minutes, Redcar didn’t make it count.

Although Redcar were seeing more of the ball now, but the Colliers were looking dangerous in spells. A sharp break with 15 minutes to play left the Colliers three on three with Redcar. It was a great chance, but it soon evaporated when Home-Jackson was ruled offside.

In the 76th minute, Redcar equalised. Preston’s effort from the edge of the penalty area was moving in the air, and there was nothing Patton could do as the ball flew into the net.

And, to compile an awful second half for Easington, Preston bagged his hat-trick and the three points for Redcar with four minutes to play. It was well worked into the centre forward, and his composed finish after round Patton gave the hosts the points.

Full-time: Redcar Athletic 4-3 Easington Colliery

Next up for me is Newcastle University vs Easington Colliery on Saturday.

Redcar Athletic: Simpson, Bivens, Farrington, Rivis, Browne, Bythway, Redman (Skelton, 84′), Wood (Melvin, 72′), Preston, Woodhouse (c), Hume (Webster, 50′)

Unused subs: Bennett, Young

Easington Colliery: Patton, Ball, Ashton, McGoldrick, Garside, Todd, Home-Jackson, MacDougall (Dunn, 88′), Pounder (c), Southern (Turnbull, 83′), Middleton

Unused subs: O’Brien, Proctor, Devine

Admission: £5 adults, £3 concessions

Programme: £1

Attendance: 146

Referee: David Holmes

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