Seaham Red Star 0-1 Whickham
The Lang Jacks ended a run of three straight league defeats with hard-fought win in Seaham.
The only goal scored in the encounter was by former Red Star man Fin Neary in the first-half.
Whickham started the the encounter in a lower gear than their opponents and required Matty Wilkinson to make a smart save down to his left after 10 minutes to deny Arran Wearmouth from 18 yards out.
Minutes later Whickham grew into the match and Dan Marriott beat Thomas Archibald for pace in behind but the full-back pulled his shirt until he went to the floor – he did manage to get a shot away, but a corner was awarded.
The breakthrough came 17 minutes in as Callum Munro fizzed a pass into Adam Lennox on the edge of the area who cushioned the ball for Neary and he accurately fired into the far corner for his first goal in black & white.
10 minutes from half-time it was almost two as Sam Johnson – who retuned from a successful loan spell at Esh Winning earlier in the day – cut in from the left and hit a low strike to Matty Cassap’s near post but went just wide.
After the break the hosts started on the front foot and had a free kick from James Robinson sent just wide from a central position 25 yards out.
As the match went on The Star launched a hefty amount of balls into the Whickham box, each of which was dealt with and a depleted Lang Jacks side battled on.
They did come close 30 minutes from the final whistle as Wearmouth tried to catch out Wilkinson at his near post but our number one made a top reflex save to push the ball for a corner.
Mason Hardy came on alongside Whickham Under 23s duo Finn Davies and Kane Gray in the closing stages and all three made valuable contributions on and off the ball to see the three points out.
Christian Lynn received his marching orders deep into additional time for a second yellow card after Richard Rowe deemed his actions to be time-wasting.
Whickham XI: Wilkinson; Munro, Agnew, Nelson, Lynn; Peareth (c), Moan (, Neary (Gray); Johnson, Lennox (Hardy), Marriott.
Unused sub: Wardle.
Player of the Match: Matty Wilkinson
Referee: Richard Rowe
