DURHAM City joint manager Lee Collings called for a vastly improved performance from his team after a disappointing display at the weekend.
His charges heeded their manager’s demand and fully deserved to set up a fourth round tie at home to Bradford Park Avenue in the Evo-Stik League Challenge Cup when they defeated Frickley Athletic 2-0 at the Esh Group stadium last night.
Both teams had chances in the first half but it was not until the 49th minute that City went ahead.
Mark Batey found Amar Purewal with a great ball from deep in defence. Purewal took his time and delivered a low drive into the bottom corner of the net wide of goalkeeper Ben Simpson.
Six minutes from time former Sunderland player David Dowson just about made sure when he doubled his team’s lead with a low drive.
If Whitley Bay found their long trip to Kent at the weekend tiring, it didn’t show last night when they defeated in-form Bedlington Terriers 3-1 in the STL Northern League Division One before a crowd of 441 at Hillheads. The event the Seahorses won at a canter after dominating the first half.
Craig McFarlane gave them a 23rd-minute lead and four minutes later Terriers were chasing the game following Paul Chow’s strike.
Brian Smith made it three just before the interval and Whitley then missed a penalty when Lee Kerr hit the post.
Bedlington were then awarded a spot kick and Alex Benjamin slotted the ball wide of Kyle Hayes but this there only success.
The Seahorses are now fifth as they bid for promotion but Dunston UTS, who also have ambitions of joining the Evo-Stik League, saw their chances of a top two finish recede with a 3-2 defeat by Sunderland RCA.
The game ebbed and flowed at a fast pace with Leon Carling, Carl Beasley and Keith Graydon on target for RCA with Andrew Bulford and Stephen Pickering replying.
Spennymoor Town are second following a 2-1 victory over neighbours Bishop Auckland who have struggled of late.
It took a penalty by Stephen Capper to break the deadlock and the game was into the last minute when Calvin Smith doubled Moor’s lead. There was still time for Wayne Gredziak to throw Bishops a lifeline but Spennymoor held on.
South Shields came from behind to defeat second-bottom Esh Winning with goals by Chris Winn and Keith Hutchinson after Daniel Lennon had opened the scoring just before the break.
Ryton have now conceded 103 goals after losing to West Auckland Town who went nap courtesy of Mattie Tymon (pen), Mattie Moffat, Stuart Banks and Chris Lunn (2).
In Division Two, North Shields strengthened their promotion aspirations when they hammered Washington 7-1 at the Daren Persson stadium.
Keith Douglas, with a brace, James Luccock and Andrew Hay had them four goals up by the 37th minute. John Harrison reduced the deficit but this was Washington’s only success and the Robins also dominated the second period.
Douglas completed his hat-trick with Luccock and Paul Watson also finding the net.
Morpeth Town remain at the basement and winless after going down 4-0 at Gillford Park who remain in the bottom six. Stuart Bell struck twice in the space of two second-half minutes and after the break Lee Crowe and Tyran Taylor also netted.
Horden CW’s Craig Garthwaite was sent off after just 21 minutes but despite their numerical disadvantage, the home side took Birtley Town to the wire before losing to the only goal scored by Chris Tait.
MALCOLM PRATT
