WEARSIDE LEAGUE
 
by MALCOLM PRATT
 
Ryhope  CW  are  keeping  the  pressure on Scarborough  Town  and  last  night's six-goals  romp  at Coxhoe Athletic keeps them within striking distance  of  the leaders.
 
John  Butler  was a first-half marksman but Coxhoe didn't concede  another  goal until the last 15 minutes during which their young side leaked another five.
 
Martin  Metcalfe rifled a hat-trick, John Butler doubled his tally with  Richard Jordan adding to the problems of pointless Coxhoe who have now conceded 17 goals in five outings.
 
Ashbrooke  Belford House lost their 100 per cent record at Annfield Plain.  Dean Lee  gave the hosts a first-half advantage and when Roy Gordon also struck,  the Wearsiders were on the back foot and failed to get back into the game.
 
Silksworth  have  two  wins  and  a  draw from four  matches  which  is  a  vast improvement on the form they showed in the early stages of last season.
 
Michael  Renshaw  headed in a corner and when Andrew Bowes' shot  was  deflected into the net on 85 minutes a comfortable victory was on the cards.
 
But  two  minutes  later  Dean Rogers threw visitors Windscale  a  lifeline  and Silksworth were hard-pressed to secure a 2-1 victory.
 
After  scoring eight times at the weekend, Houghton Town failed to find the  net once  in  last  night's  game at Leyburn Grove  where  Teesside  Athletic,  with ambitions of joining the Skilltrainingltd Northern League, ended 2-0 winners.
 
Stephen  Thompson  converted a set piece in the opening 45 minutes  and  despite some  good  work by the home side it was the visitors who struck  again  through Stuart Poulter 20 minutes from time.
 
Easington  Colliery  almost  snatched  a point at New Marske  who  edged  a  3-2 result.
 
Kristian  Kamara  produced  an excellent cross for Rob Jones to slide  the  ball past  Robbie  Atherton  after  just six minutes and  the  goalkeeper  was  again beaten  by  Jones  who took advantage with the visitors'  defence  appealing  in vain   for offside.
 
Chris  Hall deservedly reduced Easington's deficit in the 50th minute but  Jones completed his hat-trick after playing a one two with Shaun Mackin.
 
The  Colliers battled back again and in the 88th minute Martin Langley beat  his defender and fired home but the Seasiders withstood a late onslaught.
 
Jarrow's  form  so far has been indifferent and after twice scoring five  goals, they crashed to a 4-1 defeat in the South Tyneside derby at Boldon CA.
 
Mark  Johns,  Shaun  Heads  and  Chris Robertson had the  home  side  firmly  in command  before  Jarrow's  Lee  Compton  scored the goal of  the  match  with  a cracking 35-yard volley.
 
Any  hopes Dave Bell's side had of salvaging something from the game ended  when regular marksman Michael Meek calmly took the ball around goalkeeper Tony Orr.
 
Scarborough   Town,  the  only  side  with  a  100  per  cent  record,  enjoy  a three-points  lead at the top of the table after hitting Guisborough HC for  six to take their goals tally from six games to 25.
 
Luke  Jenkinson,  with  a hat-trick, Matthew Brown (2) and Wayne  Brooksby  were the scorers.
 
Alex  Strickland  and  Jonathan  Brown netted  for  Kirkbymoorside  with  Nathan Summerskill and Guy Whatmore earning Wolviston a 2-2 draw.
 
Willington  were  saved the long trek to Cleator Moor Celtic when a  waterlogged pitch caused the match to be postponed yesterday morning.