RICHMOND Town eased to three points against a very ill-disciplined West Auckland Tuns team who played the entire second half with nine men after Tyler Thompson and Decklin Moss were both shown straight red cards for punching Scott Ryan in the closing minutes of the first half.

Town manager Jonathan Kellett was aware of the visitors recent good run of form and anticipated a difficult game so was pleased with the way his side played, controlling the game even before the double sending off. Shaun Smith opened the scoring after fifteen minutes, his second goal in successive games when he headed home a Kalumn Holbrook corner. Within a minute it was 2-0 when from Tuns keeper Luke Cowie's clearance, Nigel Hansen volleyed home spectacularly from the half way line, his first goal for the club. Smith and Hansen, both serving soldiers have impressed Kellett since signing recently and will no doubt be relieved to have added to an injury hit squad. Holbrook went close to finding the top corner after a through ball from Ryan, who minutes later saw a shot of his own come back off the crossbar. Tuns cleared a Scott Guy header off the line from another Holbrook corner before the incident that was the talk of the tea hut at half time. West Auckland Tuns players unhappy with what they deemed an elbow by Ryan resulted in unacceptable behaviour leaving the match officials no option but to order Thompson and Moss for early showers whilst showing a number of yellow cards to others also.

With the two man advantage Richmond unsurprisingly had the majority of the second half possession but only added once more to the score line. Substitute Gary Walker headed home his first goal for the club, again from a Holbrook cross to the delight of his team mates. Walker, twin brother of Mark another player who was called upon to help out recently due to the injury crises who hasn't let anybody down. Front man Smith turned provider with a cross to Guy who headed narrowly wide and from a late corner and in the closing minutes captain Jason Newall will have been disappointed not to score when firing over.

Town are back at Earls Orchard this Saturday, Horden Community Welfare are the opposition. Kick off is at 14.30.