Pitchero Non League

....Northern League Cup with a 4-0 win.

RCA had the better of the first 35 minutes, but the home side took the lead when former RCA player Keith Graydon scored with a free-kick from 25 yards, and just before the break Steve Foster headed against the bar.

Sub Sonny Andrews latched on to a long ball and scored the second after 69 minutes, and with 3 minutes left Gavin Cogdon netted with a left foot shot from an acute angle.

Andrews fired the fourth from twelve yards in stoppage time Moors are now away to Team Northumbria in the semi-final on April 26th.

Sunderland RCA manager Neil Hixon said: "We were the best team until a bad goalkeeping error gave them their second goal. We pushed for goals and got caught."

Moors manager Jason Ainsley said: "Although we didn't play well, in the first half RCA didn't have a shot at goal and we always looked a threat. Second half we were much better and scored the second at a crucial time and in the end it could have been a bigger score as RCA poured forward. To play them five times and only concede one goal from the penalty spot is testament to the lads at the back and the desire of the players."

In the STL Northern League, Dunston UTS lost for the second time in four days when they were beaten 4-2 at home by Shildon, to put West Auckland Town in pole position for the First Division title.

Dunston took the lead with a Steve Preen header in the first half, but soon after half-time Ben Wood levelled with a right foot shot.

Billy Greulich-Smith fired Shildon into the lead on 65 minutes, but Micky Chilton levelled 3 minutes later.

The game then turned on two penalties. Sam Garvie converted a Shildon spot-kick for a foul on Greulich-Smith, and at the other end, the referee changed his mind about a Dunston penalty after he had pointed to the spot.

Garvie broke away and scored the fourth for Shildon in stoppage time.

Dunston manager Billy Irwin said: "It was a great game for the neutral. The referee was a disgrace - he gave us a penalty, the ball was on the spot, then he changed his mind."

Shildon manager Gary Forrest said: "It was an excellent second half performance. To be fair, we got the tactics wrong for the first 20 minutes, but changed things around and were much the better team thereafter. We're improving all the time."

In the Second Division, leaders Team Northumbria beat fourth-placed Morpeth Town 2-0, which means that Hebburn Town are promoted.

TN themselves only need two points from two games for the title, while they are still in three cup competitions.

TN manager Paul Johnson said: "We're overjoyed that we have got to within one point of the title by beating a very good side. Morpeth proved a tough task and I thought we showed great character during stages of the game when we had to defend very well. Once we started to dominate possession, the defending paid off and we scored two good goals.

“With the cup final moved from Thursday, we'll now throw everything at Saturday's game to win the title."

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