Wearside League: Four-goal table-toppers too strong for battling Silksworth CW

Silksworth, beaten by the top three sides in their last three home games, remain in fourth place, but only on goal difference as Hartlepool and South Shields Reserves have drawn level with them on 35 points.

Jarrow, meanwhile, stayed six points clear in pole position after securing an 18th win 22 league games.

Jarrow started very brightly and raced into a 3-0 lead before the interval.

Steven Graham’s fine opener from a free-kick on 23 minutes was followed by a clinical four-minute brace from Darren Morton, notching from inside the box in the 28th and 31st minutes.

But the home side grabbed a lifeline seven minutes into the second period, when Liam Gill’s tremendous 25-yarder left keeper Gary Frater with no chance, getting them back to 3-1.

Jarrow, though, restored their three-goal advantage when Kai Elliott curled in a nice free-kick.

Silksworth grabbed a late consolation when visiting goalkeeper Frater fumbled the ball home for an own goal to make it 4-2.

Jarrow boss Dave Bell said: “We were excellent first half and could quite easily have scored more than our three goals.

“Our second-half performance was not as good as the first half, but we still created other chances.

“Overall, we are delighted with the result as Silksworth are a very good team. Once again all the lads worked really hard for the victory.”

Sunderland West End were well beaten 4-0 at free-scoring Richmond Town, who remain in second place, six points behind leaders Jarrow but with a game in hand.

Barry Cook’s men were sunk by goals from Scott Ryan, Colin Anderson, Ben Darville and substitute Sam Pickersgill.

Richmond have now amassed 83 goals in just 21 league matches this season, averaging just four goals a game.

Boldon CA will be disappointed after losing 2-0 away at third-top Redcar Athletic.

Prolific marksman Andy Jennings headed home the Teessiders’ opening goal, then Jennings robbed a defender to set up Adam Preston to fire home the killer second goal.

Defeat saw Boldon drop to seventh place, although they are only a point behind three teams.

South Shields Reserves sit sixth after their 3-2 dramatic win at home to Stokesley SC.

Olly Martin fired the Mariners ahead in the 12th minute, but the visitors, relegated from the Northern League last season, turned the game around, levelling within six minutes and going ahead with a second goal five minutes before half-time.

Stokesley looked like hanging on determinedly, but Jonathan Hope hauled Shields level on 80 minutes and, five minutes later, following a good cross, Hope headed home the winner to leave the visitors devastated.

Bottom club Harton & Westoe put up a decent show before going down 1-0 away to fifth-placed Hartlepool .

Harton’s resolute defence was finally breached in the 80th minute when Matty Gardner headed home following a free-kick and good work from Paul Moss in the box.

Keeper Josh Noble was the home hero, diving full length to save a Dominic Solman penalty.

Darlington 1883 Reserves made it two wins on the trot with a 3-1 success at fellow strugglers Wolviston.

Junior Masandi notched for Wolviston, but the Quakers won well to finish convincing victors.

Leam Rangers regained winning ways in a thrilling battle at home to Prudhoe Town, edging home 4-3.

Two-goal Derek Waters and Jack Barker struck in vain for Prudhoe.

Seaham Red Star Reserves will face a long midweek trip to Windscale after their match in Cumbria was postponed because of a waterlogged pitch.