Richmond Town produced one their best results in recent years in defeating many people’s favorites for this seasons Wearside League Premier division title, Darlington Town, a result that will have no doubt raised a few eyebrows.
An already tough looking first half looked like being even more problematic with Richmond kicking against a very strong wind which the home side will have hoped to capitalize on.
Town survived an early scare after conceding possession from a miss kick by goalkeeper Harry Dowding, the resulting shot going wide of the target. The Town stopper more than made up for the early error when twice denying Ben Wood from distance with excellent saves, prior to which Richmond had chances through Joe Martin on the counter attack having defended a corner, his shot was comfortably dealt with by Philip Pentony, before the keeper, diving low to his left got his finger tips to the ball to keep out Tafari Nicholas. Richmond took the lead with twenty two minutes played.
Eddie Lewington and Nicholas worked an opening down the left hand side, the latter from the byline picked out James Coatsworth who stabbed the ball home from just inside the six yard box. The midfielder has had an excellent start to his second spell with the club and was soon in the thick of the action again when his tackle won back possession before creating another chance for Martin who from inside the box chose to pass when most in attendance were expecting him to shoot. The move ended with a corner from which Josh Fullerton headed over. Richmond took the one goal advantage into the break but had Dowding to thank again having kept out Jordon Robinson and Lee Hastie.
Town started the second half brightly, and now with the wind in their favor tested Pentony with shots from distance, making great saves to keep out both Coatsworth and Martin, but he could do nothing when from a corner kick, Harry Needham found himself in the right place to double the lead with fifty two minutes on the clock. At the other end, Dowding had to be alert, tipping a cross come shot over the bar.
The home side were rattled and began taking their frustration out verbally on each other, moments later, looking for a way back into the game, Wood had a shot which he put wide of the target. Richmond were defending superbly, all over the park and restricting Darlington to shots from distance as they couldn’t find a way past a resolute back line and in particular Man Of The Match Jamie Harwood. Nicholas almost added a third when having cut inside, his shot looked to be heading for the bottom corner but was tipped wide. Not long after though, with just a minute of normal time to play the third was added and the game was over. Nicholas smashing home from inside the box, giving Pentony no chance.
Richmond will look to build on their pleasing start to the season which has seen them take seven points from the nine available when they travel to Farringdon Detached this Saturday. Kick off is at 14.30 and being played at Ryhope CW.
