RICHMOND Town’s impressive start to the season continued with a 2-0 victory over Boldon CA last Saturday.

With the home side having scored 30 goals in their previous five outings, a much closer game was anticipated as the teams sitting second and third in the Wearside League table came up against each other at Earls Orchard.

Town manager Chris Lax made several changes to the side that earned a last-gasp 3-3 draw at Windscale three days earlier. Josh Knox, re-signed from Northallerton Town, was included and made an impressive debut at the heart of the defence.

Richmond took the lead inside two minutes. Kalumn Holbrook’s free kick was headed on by Ben Darville and, from 15 yards out with his back to goal, Stephen Butterworth produced a spectacular overhead kick which found its way into the bottom corner of James Sneller’s net.

In a first half which the home side dominated, Darville fired across goal before Scott Ryan twice fired wide with only the keeper to beat. Boldon were struggling to live with Richmond’s pace and energy and Michael Gunnell was next to go close, his shot needing two attempts by Sneller to get under control.

In a rare Boldon attack, home keeper Adam Cunningham misjudged a cross, but Brodie Simpson’s shot was cleared off the line by Knox. Sneller then denied Ryan from a Gunnell long throw in the final action of the first half.

Boldon started the second half looking a different team and should have levelled the scores through Simpson, who headed wide when a goal looked a certainty, before Paul Trosh picked out James Pickering, who was denied by a super save from Cunningham, diving low to his left.

At the other end, Mike Elliott went close when he headed a Ryan corner over the bar and Michael Layfield, making his first home appearance of the season, had a goal ruled out for offside.

Boldon were looking a tired team as Richmond again took control and a fine save by Sneller at full stretch denied Holbrook. Ryan then beat Pickering, but his cross was just out of reach of Darville, who had burst into the box. Cunningham was forced into action, producing a double save to deny Pickering, and from the resulting corner Simpson fired wide.

Cunningham then comfortably saved Shaun Carroll's dipping shot from the edge of the box as Boldon fashioned their last real chance with 15 minutes still to play.

Richmond were still full of running and another Holbrook free kick was glanced over by Ryan before substitute Nathan O’Conner used his strength and pace to get beyond Tom West, but his shot came back off the bar.

In the 86th minute, Dan Caisely had a shot blocked and the resulting corner was headed home by centre back Elliott from 12 yards out to make sure of the points with his third goal of the season.

Richmond remain in second position, five points behind leaders Jarrow, who have played a game more. Tomorrow, Town are on their travels for a 2.30pm kick-off at Gateshead Leam Rangers.