Saturday's football January 29

WEARSIDE LEAGUE by MALCOLM PRATT
 
EASINGTON  Colliery  extended their lead at the top of the table to  six  points when  they  defeated  nearest rivals New Marske in the match of the  day at  the seaside.
 
Adam McGuinness gave them the lead with a good finish on the stroke of half time and  midway  through  the second period, Chris Tarn also  beat  home  goalkeeper Justin Hutchinson.
 
With  only  three  minutes remaining, New Marske were awarded  a  penalty  which Michael  Mackin  fired past Nicky Lawson, who again impressed making his  second appearance.
 
The  scene  was  set for a frenetic finale. The hosts pressed searching  for  an equaliser  but  the  Colliers'  defenders stood firm and played a  big  part  in their side's crucial victory.
 
Ryhope  CW,  whose  fixture was one of five to be postponed, stay third  just  a point  adrift of New Marske while Ashbrooke Belford House regained winning  form at Hartlepool.
 
Martin  Deacon  fired  wide  of goalkeeper Mark Bell on  15  minutes  and  Pools suffered  another  blow  just  before the interval with the  dismissal  of  Mark Nicholson.
 
Immediately  on  resuming,  Michael Charlton doubled the  Wearsiders'  lead  but despite  playing  with  just 10 men, Pools performed better  during  the  second period.
 
Carl  Anderson  volleyed  home a Johnny Bolton free kick and the hosts  had  the chance to equalise 12 minutes from the end.
 
They  were  awarded  a penalty and goalkeeper Brett Wilson turned  Shaun  Ross's kick  onto  the  post. The ball rebounded and Wilson made a fantastic  stop  and then somehow got his legs to the ball as Ross followed up a second time.
 
Two  minutes  later, the pressure on Belford House was relieved as Peter  Benson broke  clear  of the home defence and chipped the goalkeeper. A minute from  the end Ashbrooke's Michael Melmore was dismissed.
 
Because  of  work  commitments,  several Houghton Town players  were  unable  to travel and it wasn't surprising that Windscale emerged 4-2 winners.
 
Alan  Blair,  with  a  brace, Dean Rogers and Laurie Black had  them  firmly  in command  by  the 26th minute but Houghton produced a better performance  in  the second period.
 
Mark  Catchside  reduced the four-goals deficit two minutes after the break  and then  converted  a  72nd-minute penalty. Houghton dominated for 10  minutes  but Windscale soaked up the pressure and in the end were comfortable winners.
 
Redcar  Athletic,  who  together  with Easington Colliery  and  Ryhope  CW  have applied   for  promotion  to  the  STL  Northern  League,  lost  for  the  third successive time when Boldon CA were surprising 2-1 winners.
 
Michael   Meek  headed  in  after  an  hour  and  following  James   Kesterton's equaliser,  second-bottom  Boldon took the points with a late penalty  by  Shaun Reay.
 
Prudhoe  Town  scored  first  through Gavin Lisle but suffered a  10-1  rout  at Kirkbymoorside  whose  marksmen were Alex Strickland (4), Rob McDermid (3),  Uyi Ehima (2) and Ryan Cooper.