10-man Whickham suffered a 2-0 defeat away to Marske United on Saturday afternoon.
Despite a largely positive performance the Lang Jacks fell to a third consecutive defeat.
The hosts took the lead in the 20th minute through Kyran Clark.
Moments later Whickham goalkeeper Jack Halton was dismissed for bringing down the Marske forward who was through on goal.
Clark doubled his tally in the 69th minute to secure all three points for the home side.
The Lang Jacks went into the game two points above the relegation spots with two games remaining.
First Half
Whickham started the game on the front foot and racked up a number of opportunities inside the first 15 minutes.
Sam Johnson dragged his shot from edge of box just wide in the fourth minute
A minute later Mason Hardy set Johnson away down the right but the Marske keeper gathered his attempted cross.
Stephen Hall then had a huge chance in the ninth minute but his close range effort was saved at point blank range by Robert Bennett.
Hall found the back of the net two minutes later but the assistant referee controversially adjudged Hall to have been offside.
The hosts then took the lead in the 20th minute against the run of play.
The Lang Jacks failed to deal with the ball following a punch from the Halton who was caught in no mans land and the ball was squared to Clark who tapped it home into any empty net.
Moments later Halton was dismissed for bringing down Clark when he was through on goal.
Midfielder Dominic Moan played the remainder of the game in goal.
Whickham were then denied a stone wall penalty in the 33rd minute when Hall was brought down inside the area.
Half Time: Marske United 1-0 Whickham
The Lang Jacks were temporarily reduced to nine men with 58 minutes on the clock, when Johnson was sent to the sin bin for dissent.
Despite the player deficit the away side continued to create the better chances.
Hall’s 65th minute strike was deflected behind for a corner.
Marske doubled their lead with just over 20 minutes remaining. Moan tried to clear the ball but the stand in keeper misjudged the ball and Clark prodded home, once again into an empty net.
Substitute Cameron Brewis almost got in behind in the 82nd minute but his effort on the stretch was gathered by Bennett.
The Marske keeper made another outstanding save to keep his clean sheet in tact in the 87th minute, this time from Johnson following a cross from the right.
Full Time: Marske United 2-0 Whickham
Marske United | Robert Bennett, Aidan Breeze, Charlie Graham, Luke Drummond, Joe Bennett, Lucas Casson, Danny Boyle, Josh Duffield (Josh Mitchell 75’), Kyran Clark, McCorie Carmichael © (Tyler Crosby 77’), Kenzie Harker (Euan McBride 64’).
Subs not used | Lewis Calvert
Goals | Kyran Clark (20’, 69’)
Yellow Cards | Kyran Clark, Josh Duffield, Josh Mitchell
Whickham | Jack Halton, Finlay Neary, Tom Howard, Max Nelson, Callum Munro, Dom Agnew ©, Stephen Hall, (Cameron Brewis 68’), Jack Cooper, Mason Hardy (Kieran Aplin 68’), Samuel Johnson, Dominic Moan.
Subs not used | Ross Peareth, Finn Davies, Owen Kingsland
Yellow Cards | Callum Munro, Sam Johnson
Red Cards | Jack Halton
Referee | George Groves
Assistant Referees | Tyler Mellor and Martin Dunn
Attendance | 246
Up Next | Whickham are in cup action in the Durham Challenge Cup final against Shildon AFC on Tuesday, April 15, with a 7:45pm kick off.
Ticketing information for the Lang Jacks cup final, which will be held at the Stadium of light can be found here.
The Lang Jacks’ next league match is their final game of the season, away to Kendal Town on Saturday, April 19, with a 3:00pm kick-off.
Written by Callum Jacques
