Carlisle City hit top spot after breaking brave Easington hearts; three D2 sides progress in FA Vase

Prost International sponsors Jim Nichols, manager of Carlisle City.

NORTHERN LEAGUE DIVISION 2 RESULTS 10/10/20

Durham City 0 : 2 Ryton & Crawcrook Albion

Easington Colliery 3 : 4 Carlisle City

Tow Law Town 1 : 0 Willington

West Allotment Celtic 5 : 1 Washington

Bedlington Terriers P : P Sunderland West End

It was a lively day in the Northern League Division 2 for those playing league games while nine other sides competed in the FA Vase.

Overnight leaders Bedlington Terriers game with Sunderland West End was postponed amid the worsening COVID crisis in the north east.

That gave fourth place Easington Colliery and their guests from Cumbria, Carlisle City, an opportunity to go top. The two sides did not let the league down as they shared seven goals at Welfare Park.

Even that barely tells the tale of a pulsating match in which the Colliers pulled back from 3-0 down at half time to level the match before Sam Atkinson’s late winner grabbed all three points and took a relieved Nichols’ men to the top of the table.

Jordan Palmer scored twice in the first 11 minutes to get City off to the best possible start. Keighran Kerr scored City’s third just six minutes later. Easington seemed to be in disarray but survived further damage and started the second half the better side.

They got their just desserts when Jak Ashton’s floated cross sailed into the visitors’ net from 40 yards twenty minutes after the restart. Soon after, they closed the gap to one goal when Josh Home-Jackson headed home their second.

City manager Jim Nichols introduced last year’s top scorer Rob McCartney for Palmer to search for a safety goal given the defensive lapses. However the momentum was with the Colliers and Brennan Ball equalised after rising to meet a corner with his head, although he was later sent off to ensure the Colliers a tense finish.

That proved to be pivotal as City regained the lead they thought they had lost.

City keeper Sam Henderson made a key save from Liam Adamson to keep the Cumbrians level, and Henderson’s save proved to be worth three points to the Sky Blue men because seconds later, Sam Atkinson scored the game’s seventh goal to give the Cumbrian travelers their fourth straight win and take them to the top of the table.

They may not be there for long as last year’s leaders West Allotment Celtic have found their form from last season. They recorded their fifth straight win with an easy 5-1 home win over Washington.

A Matty Hayton penalty in the first half put West Allotment Celtic ahead before Liam Beeston and Michael ‘Stanley’ Baxter scored two more.

Hayton’s penalty was saved but he converted on the rebound just before half time to put the game beyond any doubt. Luke Parkinson added the fifth but Alex Dobinson scored a late consolation for the visitors.

Harry Outterside curled in Ryton & Crawcrook Albion’s opener on 32′ after Durham City keeper Dean Brooks denied Louis Anderson with 17 gone. Outterside tried his luck again just before the interval but his shot went over the bar. Anderson however did place his name on the scoresheet after the interval to put Albion 2-0 ahead, a lead they comfortably held.

Brooks was the Durham hero once again denying Albion defender Joe Shepherd. Albion substitute Owen Brearton has the ball in the net in the dying stages but the linesman puts his flag up to deny them their third.

Michael Brown scored the only goal of the game for Tow Law Town against Willington on 24. The Lawyers now find themselves third in the table and a fully fledged member of the promotion club.

NATIONAL LEAGUE DIVISION 2 TOP 8 (Top4 promoted)

Full Table

POS	CLUB	P	GD	PTS
1	Carlisle City	10	7	20
2	Bedlington Terriers	7	7	17
3	Tow Law Town	10	3	17
4	Crook Town	8	13	16
5	West Allotment Celtic	7	8	16
6	Easington Colliery	8	6	16
7	Newcastle University	8	2	16
8	Billingham Synthonia	9	11	13