Jarrow and Boldon CA both earned positive results on the opening day of the new Northern League season.

Jarrow produced a brave performance as they earned a 2-2 draw at Chester-le-Street Town in a battle of two sides expected to be in the Northern League Division Two promotion mix.

The Cestrians took the lead just before the midway point of the first-half as Liam Arthur opened the scoring - but Kennie Malia’s side hit back with four minutes with a goal from Declan Bisset. Kealan Huddleston fired the hosts back in front once again just after half-time but Jarrow summer signing Stephen Siynabola marked his competitive debut for the club by grabbing the goal that seal a hard-earned point at Moor Park. The draw represents a solid start to a season that Malia hopes will end with promotion after his side suffered play-off final heartache in each of the last two seasons.

Action from Jarrow's draw with Chester-le-Street Town (photo Kieran Gough) | Kieran Gough

placeholder image — Action from Jarrow's draw with Chester-le-Street Town (photo Kieran Gough) | Kieran Gough

“I think we had to dust ourselves down again after what happened at the end of last season,” he told The Gazette. “Obviously it’s happened two seasons in a row now with the play-off final and that’s not ideal. You have to learn from those mistakes and hopefully we can get ourselves in that position once again this season and hopefully go one step further. We know what we have to do as a club, as a management team and as a squad and we will do everything we can to make that happen this season.”

Malia will take his side to former club Prudhoe YC on Saturday before they face Alnwick Town in their first home game of the campaign on Saturday.

New look Boldon CA get off to a winning start

The new Northern League football for the 2026/27 season (photo Ebac Northern League) | Ebac Northern League

Boldon CA have been told they must improve their home form if they are to push towards the play-off places in Northern League Division Two this season.

New signings Liam Thear, Callum Larmouth and Mark Robinson were all named in the starting eleven for Saturday’s season-opener against Grangetown Boys Club as a new-look Boldon looked to get their campaign off to a positive start at The Villa. It was the latter of the new trio that struck first as the former Seaham Red Star and Whitley Bay forward opened the scoring with just quarter of an hour on the clock. Robbie Gateshill doubled the lead with nine minutes remaining and although Fam Jatta reduced the arrears for the visitors moments later, there was no denying Boldon from claiming a winning start to the new season.

Joint-manager Chris Spence has already admitted a play-off push is the target after a disappointing season last time out - and he believes the foundations for a top five push can be laid on their home patch.

He told The Gazette: “We have spoken about the home form already because our home form throughout last season was horrendous to be honest with you. If you do want to push towards those play-off places, your home form is key in that and any side has made the play-offs in recent seasons has always been strong at home. It is something that we want to change.”

A first away day of the season is next up for Boldon as they visit Sunderland RCA on Wednesday night before visiting FC Hartlepool on Saturday afternoon.

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