By Andrew McDonnell 

Seaham Red Star suffered their first defeat in four games after a 3-1 defeat to neighbours Ryhope CW at the Ferguson Motor Repairs Stadium. 

Jack Devlin gave the visitors the lead after just four minutes, but Michael Chilton rifled into the roof of the net on 36 minutes to level the game. 

Danni Lay was sent off at the end of the first-half, but the hosts were also reduced to 10-men after Anthony Myers collided with Robbie Bird in the penalty area. 

Matthew Weirs stepped up and slotted the penalty home before Nathaniel Skidmore doubled Ryhope’s lead on 71 minutes. 

Seaham’s unbeaten streak was brought to an end by their neighbours and they travel to Newcastle Benfield, looking for a reaction, next weekend. 

Manager Mark Collingwood made one change to the side that beat Stockton Town last weekend, Lee Hetherington replaced Liam Hodgson in the starting line-up. 

It was indeed the hosts that started on the front foot and they went close to breaking the deadlock after just 40 seconds. 

Captain David Robinson spotted the ‘keeper off his line and attempted an audacious lob from 40-yards out, but the ball went inches over the bar. 

The midfielder was among the action again, on minute later. A poor clearance struck a Seaham player and fell to the feet of Robinson, whose effort was tipped over the bar by Joe Atkinson. 

However, despite racing out the blocks, the hosts found themselves behind on four minutes. Michael Rae’s shot was saved brilliantly from point-blank range, but Devlin was on hand to tap the rebound home. 

The sides exchanged changes on 17 minutes, Lee Hetherington’s effort took a deflection on the edge of the area and rolled through to the ‘keeper. 

Ryhope had an effort cleared off the line on 26 minutes as Ben Riding’s header was headed away by Matthew Lowrie to stop a certain goal. 

Devlin’s headed straight at Brett Wilson two minutes later, but the visitors should’ve doubled their advantage just after the half-hour mark. 

Seaham’s defence was all at sea as Bird latched onto a defence-splitting through ball before squaring across to Devlin, who sliced his shot wide of the post. 

Against the run of play, the hosts found an equaliser out of the blue. Dan Wilson cut in from the right and his shot was saved by the legs of the keeper. 

The rebound was brought down by Chilton and then lashed into the roof of the net by the striker, which was his sixth goal in as many games for the Star. 

Robinson went close with a low drive on 41 minutes, but Ryhope found themselves a man down in additional time after Lay picked up his second yellow card in the space of four minutes. 

Seaham started the second-half well, Wilson sending a shot across goal, only for the ‘keeper to get a fingertip onto the ball, pushing it round the post. 

However, the next opening didn’t arrive until near the hour mark after Bird went down under the challenge of Myers, who was shown a red card to the bemusement of the home supporters. 

Weirs stepped up and placed the ball into the bottom corner and the visitors went and doubled their lead on 71 minutes. 

Rae pulled the ball back to Skidmore on the edge of the area and the Ryhope midfielder calmly slotted under the ‘keeper and into the net. 

It was the visitors, who also closed out the game strongly and should’ve really added to their tally in the closing minutes. 

Rae fired over the crossbar in space before Bird’s effort was saved by the ‘keeper and then the rebound hit the former Seaham man and struck the post. 

Rae and Bird squandered chances in additional time, both players striking wide of the post, but it didn’t matter as Ryhope closed the game out for the three points. 

Seaham Red Star: Brett Wilson, Lowrie, Weldon, Henderson (Noble, 76), Myers, Gillesphey, Hetherington (Hodgson, 46), Weirs, Dan Wilson (Scott, 88), Robinson, Chilton 

Subs Not Used: Donnelly, Mordey 

Ryhope CW: Atkinson, Nicholson, Weirs, Riding, Lay, Trewick, Bird, Skidmore (Chapman, 80), Rae, Devlin, Woods (Jones, 65) 

Subs Not Used: Ellis, Cocks, Ball 

Goals: 0-1, 4 min, Devlin; 1-1, 36 min, Chilton; 1-2, 58 min, Weirs (Pen); 1-3, 71 min, Skidmore 

Referee: Jamie Cann 

Assistants: Givi Todua and Kevin McKitterick 

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