NORTHALLERTON Town were on the road on Saturday to Sunderland to play a league game against Ryhope RCA FC.

Town took the lead in just the second minute when Charlie Graham headed across goal only for the 'keeper to drop the ball at his feet, and he prodded it into an empty net.

The roles were reversed in the 16th minute, when another dropped ball by a 'keeper saw Ryhope equalise through Dan Hawkins.

In the 35th minute, Dan Jones won a ball, but he was forced back and had to find Matt Crust, who cleared upfield, where Cieran Jackson centred to find Nat Stephenson. He scored with a sweet shot at the near post.

Town's lead was shortlived, and in the 41st minute Ryhope equalised again through Craig Henning, who was allowed to turn in the box and fire in a shot.

However Town hit back, and in the 45th minute Dan Jones played a ball to Cieran Jackson who fired in a shot across the 'keeper to put the away side ahead going into half time.

In the 67th minute Dan Hawkins was sent off for Ryhope for using an elbow on Dan Jones, and as the match wore on, Town were under pressure, but managed to see the game out to take all three points.

Full time Ryhope RCA 2 Northallerton Town 3.

Teams:

Ryhope RCA: Keaton Marks, Simon Jakob, Joshua Thompson, Ben Errington, Greg Swansbury, Dan Hawkins (c), Craig Henning, Jon Carr, Mark Davison, Mike Annan-Colquhounand, Taylor Richardson. Subs: Andrew Johnson, Tom Best, Nathan Lawrence, George Pinder, Jon Ball.

Northallerton Town: Tom Dawson, Dan Jones, Dylan McAvoy, Matt Crust, Anthony Snook, Cieran Jackson, Harry Thompson, Lewis Rees, Nathan Stephenson, Charlie Graham. Subs: Mike Rae, George Whiteoak, Lee Hastie, Cameron Wilson, Harry Taylor.