Ex-Farringdon Detached boss hails his successor after fine run of form

Wearside League Football between Farringdon Detached FC (red) and Darlington Town FC, played at Leyburn Grove, Houghton-le-Spring.

Lay claimed a win in his first game in the dugout as Mason Burton got the only goal of the game against Durham United.

And a Liam Goldsmith brace put Farringdon on their way to two wins in as many games as they romped to a 5-2 home win against struggling Coxhoe Athletic.

Farringdon maintained their impressive start under Lay with a 2-0 home win against Darlington RA on Saturday as Craig Richardson and Reece McEwan got the goals that gave them a third consecutive win for the first time since the opening week of the campaign.

Stewart praised the work undertaken by Lay and his side as he said: “The squad hasn’t changed massively; I brought a couple of players in before I stepped back and passed it on to them.

“But Liam has brought in two players - Jack Ramage from Durham United and Mason Burton, who played for SIlksworth - and that have made a massive difference across the backline.

“When you look at our last four or five games, we haven’t conceded many at all and they have made a big difference.

“Craig Richardson has come in and added some experience in midfield too and he’s got two goals in his first three games.

“It’s been brilliant so far and everyone has really worked to get things moving on and off the pitch.

“Everybody is now waiting on tenterhooks to see what happens with these meetings with the county football associations.

“We want it to carry on and we have Horden next week, so we want to get the games played.

“Liam is a young lad, he’s ambitious and he wants a top ten finish because the lads are on a real high after the last three wins.”

Hebburn Town Reserves took the South Tyneside bragging rights as they claimed a 2-0 win at local rivals Boldon CA.

Lewis Suddick and Thomas Cole got the goals for Brian Johnson’s side – although they had to see out the final 25 minutes with ten men after Ewan Simpson was shown a red card for a deliberate handball.

Gateshead Leam Rangers continued their impressive form as they earned a fourth consecutive win in their home game against West Auckland Tunns.

Joe Hunter and Dean Kirtley were on target as their side claimed all three points with a 2-1 home that keeps them in third place in the table.