Northern League: Easington Colliery and Sunderland RCA want more after opening day wins

Olly Hotchkiss set his sights on a strong run of home form after Easington Colliery kicked off their 2026/27 league season with a hard-earned win at Penrith.

Hotchkiss admitted he was unsure what to expect from Saturday’s hosts ahead of the trip to Cumbria - and his side were provided with a stern challenge by the Bonny Blues on their home patch. However, a first-half goal from Liam Adamson was enough to secure all three points for Hotchkiss’ side and that got their new campaign off to a positive start. After making the trip to Frenchfield Park, the Colliers face a second away day on Tuesday night as they head to Teesside to take on Marske United.

However, a home double header with Carlisle City and Newcastle Blue Star will follow over the next week and Hotchkiss has stressed the importance of Welfare Park for his side’s prospects during the new season.

He told The Echo: “The home form will be crucial and any side in the division that does well will do so because of their home form. That will provide the foundations and then you look to pick up a few points away from home to help supplement that. We have tried to make the ground as homely as possible so they feel at home and the support we get will play a big part.

“They’re a small bunch but they are a very loud bunch and we love them for that. We know it’s going to be a very tough division but we are very happy with where we are as a club, we know where we are at in terms of financial expenditure and we have to make the most of everything we have to get to where we believe we can.”

Results

Saturday: Blyth Town 6-0 Birtley Town, Carlisle City 3-1 Kendal Town, Horden CW 2-1 Crook Town, Marske United 1-1 Whickham, Newcastle Blue Star 2-3 Redcar Town, Newton Aycliffe 1-1 North Shields, Penrith 0-1 Easington Colliery, Thornaby 0-2 Bishop Auckland, Whitley Bay 2-2 Northallerton Town, Yarm and Eaglescliffe 2-1 Newcastle Benfield

Forrest wants more from RCA after opening day win

Sunderland RCA made a positive start to the new season as manager Mark Forrest looks to improve on several fronts during the campaign.

With several new signings in his side, Forrest watched on as RCA produced a professional display to claim maximum points in a tricky looking opening day visit to Durham United. Summer signing Owen Imeson took just eight minutes to open the scoring before James McGeorge and Callum Guy ended any doubt over the destination of the points by the time the half-time whistle had been blown.

Forrest will now hope his side can build on their promising performance as he looks to improve on an underwhelming season last time out.

He told The Echo: “Our main aim for the season is the same as it has been during every season and that’s to improve on what we did during the previous season. Last year, we finished in fourteenth place and we went out of the FA Vase, League Cup, Ernest Armstrong Cup and Challenge Cup early. So we know we can improve and we have to look to push into the top half of the table and hopefully have a few good cup runs along the way. We are positive we can achieve something this season after a good summer.”

Results

Friday: Darlington Town 0-0 FC Hartlepool Saturday: Billingham Synthonia 5-0 Prudhoe YC, Boldon CA 2-1 Grangetown Boys Club, Chester-le-Street Town 2-2 Jarrow, Durham United 0-3 Sunderland RCA, Newcastle University 1-0 Stokesley SC, Ryton and Crawcrook Albion 1-2 Tow Law Town, Seaham Red Star 1-2 Billingham Town, Seaton Carew 0-3 AFC Newbiggin

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