Seaham progress in Durham Challenge Cup

Seaham Red Star progressed in the Durham Challenge Cup with a comfortable 3-1 win over Horden CW on Tuesday night.

First half goals from Taylor Richardson, Morgan Dart and Richard Coulson put Seaham well in command, and Callum Hope’s injury time strike proved to only be a consolation for Horden.

Following last week’s postponement, both sides came into the game knowing a win would see them travel to Whickham in the next round, and both sides named a fairly strong side.

Upon kick-off, it was Seaham who created the first chance as Dart cut in to a central position before firing narrowly over from 20 yards.

With Horden’s first chance, in the fifth minute, Sean Ryder failed to find the target with a chance from out wide.

Despite Horden’s chance, Seaham were controlling the game from the off. Dart then dragged an effort wide, before the same man fired over the crossbar.

In the 15th minute, Seaham broke the deadlock. A deep cross found the unmarked Richardson, and he headed the ball into the ground and into the net from six yards.

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Dan Wilson and Coulson both went close as Seaham looked for a second, while Robbie Renwick fired well over at the other end.

In the 23rd minute, Seaham added a second. Dart picked up possession on the edge of the area and his low effort picked out to bottom corner.

Six minutes later, it was three. From similar range to Dart’s goal, Coulson cut in to take aim. His effort took a slight deflection, but it came to the same fate as it nestled into the bottom corner.

A good save from Paul Griffith denied Richardson as the first half wore on, before the hosts went agonisingly close to a fourth in the 38th minute. Coulson’s effort bounced back off the post, and the ball bounced off a Horden defender before being cleared off the line.

Wilson glanced a header wide with five minutes to play for the Northern League outfit, and Paul Gardiner also tried his luck to no avail.

Following the break, Seaham had the ball in the net inside 60 seconds. A rebound was fired home after an initial good save from Griffith, but the Seaham man who converted the rebound was offside.

Wilson, Dart, Coulson and Joe Hailes all went close for the hosts inside the opening 10 minutes of the second half.

Comfortably ahead, Seaham were creating more chances as the second half wore on. A couple of further chances fell the way of their centre forwards, before Thomas Lawson’s first time side-footed effort after good build up play was curled wide.

Griffith was forced into a good save in the Horden goal in the 70th minute, before a few crucial blocks denied Seaham of further chances.

Coulson had a good chance in the 77th minute, as did Wilson two minutes later, but neither could find a fourth for Seaham.

What was the most blatant goal kick ever was awarded as a Horden corner in 82nd minute, and the Wearside League outfit had a decent spell in the final few minutes.

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In the 83rd minute, a deep Horden cross found the unmarked Scott Davidson at the back post, but his header was too high.

A few seconds into injury time, Horden did pull a goal back. The ball was worked to Hope whose confident finish found the bottom corner.

Horden worked hard all night and have to be given credit, but the gulf in class was evident as Seaham booked a spot in the second round.

Full-time: Seaham Red Star 3-1 Horden CW

Next up for me is Easington Colliery vs Sunderland West End on Friday night.

Seaham Red Star: Bannon, Young, Hailes (Turns, 67′), Henderson, Gillesphey, Weldon, Richardson, Gardiner, Wilson, Dart (Lawson, 59′), Coulson

Unused subs: McRoberts, Chilton, Steavens

Horden CW: Griffith, Ryder (Appleby, 72′), Bowes, Hodgson, Bell, Davidson, Doughty, Lonsdale (Blades, 78′), Bewick (Hope, 57′), Renwick, Harrison

Unused subs: Campbell, Yorke