Seaham Red Star striker comes back to haunt former club

Seaham Red Star manager Mark Collingwood believes that it was inevitable that Andrew Johnson would mark his return to former club Bishop Auckland with a goal.
Seaham Red Star manager Mark Collingwood.Seaham Red Star manager Mark Collingwood.
Seaham Red Star manager Mark Collingwood.

After a goalless first-half, it was Red Star that edged in front four minutes after the interval as Johnson came back to haunt his former club.

The Bishops legend show the striker’s instinct that would have been familiar to those inside Heritage Park when he tapped home from close-range after Taylor Richardson had been denied by Two-Blues keeper Charlie Lamb.

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Nathan Greenwood secured the points for Red Star when he got on the end of a neat pass from Sean McRoberts before calmly dinking the ball beyond the advancing Lamb.

He told The Echo: “He had a great game and his performance was probably what Bishop Auckland missed.

“He used every ounce of his experience, he was in the right place at the right time for his goal, and that is what he has built his reputation on.

“It’s nice to see him playing with a smile on his face and he is just getting fitter and better for us.

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“I was buzzing for him, it was almost written that he would score and it’s helped us get a massive win in a must-win fixture.

Ryhope CW manager Gary Pearson believes that his side paid for a poor first-half display in their defeat at Newcastle Benfield.

The hosts moved into third place in the Division One table as goals from Cyril Giraud, Abu Salim and Joe Robson put them in complete control of the contest as half-time approached.

James Ellis pulled a goal back just before the interval – but that was as good as it got for Pearson’s side as they fell to a first league defeat of the season.

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“We lost the game in the first-half,” admitted the Ryhope boss.

“We lacked discipline, we lacked leaders, we lacked a little of rawness, we didn’t roll our sleeves up and we weren’t ready for a fight.

“The game was lost, and I am disappointed with the three goals that we conceded.”

Sunderland RCA came out on the wrong end of a five-goal thriller against FA Cup heroes Whitley Bay at Sunderland LGV Park.

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The two sides were level at half-time after former Whitley Bay winger James Fairley and Nathan O’Neill cancelled out a brace from visitors’ striker Adam Shanks.

Dylan Elliott squandered an opportunity to put RCA ahead on when he saw his penalty saved by Chris Bannon on 55 minutes – and that save was rewarded when Matty Weirs curled home a stunning free-kick in the closing stages.

North Shields moved to the top of the table after they came from behind to secure a home win against Shildon.

Chay Liddle put the Railwaymen ahead midway through the first-half – but it was the Robins that came away with the points thanks to an equaliser from Dan Wilson and a late winner from Andrew Cartwright.

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Jake Petitjean and Adam Burnicle both scored twice as Newton Aycliffe romped to a 6-0 at Thornaby and former Stockton Town striker Sonni Coleman hit a hat-trick to put Guisborough Town on their way to a 4-2 win at Penrith.