Richmond Town 10 Ashbrooke Belford House 0

GOING into last Saturday's Wearside League game knowing that Ashbrooke Belford House had completed the double over them last season, Richmond Town, despite their recent run of form, couldn't have expected a performance of such dominance.

Big wins at Earls Orchard are becoming a regular occurrence this season, Richmond having scored 61 goals in the 11 games played there in all competitions. Having twice scored eight and then nine two weeks ago, Town hit double figures for the first time.

The result was never in doubt once Jason Newall had given them a 10th-minute lead, the defender firing into the top corner from a corner.

Another defender doubled the lead in the 24th minute when Simon Pinkney headed home Michael Gunnell's left-wing cross.

Both Newall and Pinkney went close again as Richmond created numerous first-half chances. Lee White, controlling the midfield with a range of passes, volleyed just wide and a break by Chris Pattison, who combined with Scott Ryan, ended with a Ben Darville shot being cleared off the line.

The visitors were struggling to get beyond Richmond's back line of Pinkney, Newall and Mark Edzes, and were restricted to a shot from distance by Liam Laidles which was deflected wide and a free kick from the same player which was comfortably dealt with by home keeper Karl Latcham.

Following another White pass, a mistake by Ashbrooke's Callum Charlton was capitalised on by Colin Anderson, playing a wider role than usual, who made it 3-0 after 40 minutes. Charlton had a difficult afternoon marking Anderson and he verbally took his frustration out on the officials, opponents and even some spectators before receiving a yellow card in the latter minutes of the game.

Just before the break, Darville added a fourth when he tapped into an empty net after being picked out by Ryan.

Anderson had an early second-half chance which was pushed away by Ashbrooke keeper Adam McDermott, Edzes shooting wide from the rebound, and Latcham denied Gregg Bradley at the other end before Stephen Butterworth added his name to the scoresheet with Richmond's fifth of the game after 55 minutes. He found the bottom corner after Darville had flicked on a trademark Gunnell long throw.

Butterworth then turned provider for Darville, whose shot was straight at McDermott, and Ryan, who made it 6-0 in the 58th minute as Ashbrooke's defence appealed for an offside flag.

It was soon 7-0, Ryan again the scorer after punishing a visiting defender who missed his kick when attempting to clear another Butterworth pass.

Latcham saved well when he dived low to his left to push a Nathan Burrell shot wide, then Ryan sent a long ball over the top for Darville to chase and score his second of the game with 15 minutes still left to play.

Anderson was then brought down by substitute Dean Sinclair, leaving the referee no option other than to award an 84th-minute penalty, from which Ryan calmly sent McDermott the wrong way, despite Charlton's best efforts to put him off. With 87 minutes played, Richmond scored a 10th when Ryan headed home his fourth goal of the game and 32nd of the season from an Anderson cross.

Town almost added an 11th, but Gunnell's header was cleared off the line.

Richmond sit in third position following last Saturday's games, 12 points behind leaders Jarrow, who have played two games more with the teams yet to meet in the league this season, and three behind Redcar Athletic, who have played three more games.

Tomorrow, Richmond travel to Silksworth CW, kick-off 2.30pm.