North-East Round Up: A look at all results in the North-East Week Two
With five of our six teams in action in the opening weekend of February, James Gregory reviews how exactly the teams faced up last weekend.
Newcastle United
With some of Newcastle United’s rivals winning on Saturday, they entered Sunday’s match with Crystal Palace knowing that this was a six pointer in their relegation battle.
Once underway, Newcastle impressed early on and got their reward in the 22nd minute.
From Kennedy’s corner, Mohamed Diame stuck the ball home to put the visitors a goal to the good going into half time.
Crystal Palace began to come into the game and were able to find an equaliser through a Luka Milivojevic's penalty early in the second-half.
Ciaran Clark was at fault, as the Irishman pulled Christian Benteke’s shirt, which was spotted by the referee and the penalty was given.
With nine minutes of the second half gone, up stepped Milivojevic to put the ball past Karl Darlow and make it 1-1.
Palace then attacked but a stubborn Magpies defence held out for a draw that leaves them in 16th just a point above the relegation zone.
Middlesbrough
Play-off chasing Middlesbrough travelled to Carrow Road to take on fellow play-off rivals Norwich City looking to keep pace with the Canaries.
Things however quickly unravelled for the visitors when Rudy Gestede was given his marching orders for a second yellow card in the 28th minute, but the strikers ban has since been overturned, after an appeal by the club.
Both teams looked set to go into half time locked at 0-0 when up stepped Tom Trybull from 20 yards out to rifle a shot past Darren Randolph to make it 1-0 to Norwich.
The Canaries then held out for the win, leaving Boro six points adrift of the play-offs and were leapfrogged by Preston North End.
Sunderland
Sunderland made a bright start at home to Ipswich but the Tractor Boys scored the opener though Joe Garner in the 35th minute.
After the break, Ipswich pushed to extend their lead and got their reward when a Grant Ward cross bounded in off Adam Matthew’s leg.
That knocked the hunger out of Sunderland, who slipped to a third defeat in four and sit second bottom of Championship on 25 points.
Hartlepool United
The pools weren’t in action this weekend, due to several National League teams being in FA Trophy action.
Gateshead
Gateshead were amongst those teams, managing to earn a replay with Maidstone United.
The first half was a dull affair, sparking into life after Jamar Loza put Maidstone in front early in the second half.
The Heed then fought back with substitute Lewis McNall scoring with one of his first touches.
Fellow substitute, Richard Peniket then made it 2-1 in Gateshead’s favour.
Alas, it wasn’t to be as Maidstone’s Jai Reason unleashed a strike that deflected in off teammate, Delano Sam-Yorke to make it 2-2.
The match then finished at that score line, meaning that both teams must go again tonight at the Gateshead International Stadium.
Leyton Orient awaits the winner of this tie.
Darlington 1883
The Quakers picked up an extremely impressive win over play-off chasing Blyth Spartans, as they walked away with all three points at Blackwell Meadows thanks to goals from David Syers, Reece Styche and last weeks hat-trick hero Stephen Thompson.
Darlington were in control and looked comfortable throughout the match and were rewarded for their efforts when Thompson converted from 12 yards on the stroke of half-time to make it 1-0 going into the break.
The Quakers secured the three points through two second-half strikes from Syers and Styche.
Credit to Pagepix and The East Anglian Daily Times for the imagery used in this article.
The win takes Darlington to 15th and six points clear of the relegation zone.