Second Division strugglers Guisborough are facing more uncertainty after manager Craig Morley walked out before Saturday's 7-1 defeat at South Shields.

Morley, who took over from previous boss Tim Burn a month ago after Guisborough were thrashed at Consett, walked out in frustration an hour before kick off with only seven players at the ground, and didn't return.

Secretary Lesley Clark said: "The club isn't in a position to say any more just yet.

"We didn't manage to speak to Craig, but apparently he said that he'd had enough.

"There were a couple of cars lost on the way to the ground, because they hadn't been to South Shields before, but they still managed to arrive in time.

"Hopefully, we'll have something sorted out by our home game against Penrith on Wednesday night."

The club is expected to hold a meeting tonight and it's possible they might be looking for their third manager of the season.

Guisborough took the lead in the game through Calum Revely, but Colin Nesbitt soon equalised for Shields. Striker Stephen Ashton then went on to score four with Dean Helens getting the other two. Guisborough, now five points adrift with just two points from 13 games, also had Craig Haley dismissed.

Former Newcastle centre half Steve Howey was delighted with his first win as a manager when Brandon beat neighbours Tow Law 2-1 in the first division.

Howey is in charge of the team while Alan Shoulder is serving a five week suspension - although Shoulder was at Ironworks Road - and savoured only Brandon's second win of the season.

"I'm absolutely delighted with the result," said Howey, who is studying for his coaching badges.

"Everybody worked really hard all the way through the game.

"I haven't changed anything since Alan stepped aside, everything's just the same. Hopefully, we can a win a few more matches now."

Brandon took the lead through Scott Nattress after 43 minutes, and then went 2-0 up when Lee Coldridge scored.

Brandon keeper Barry Poskett then pulled off a great save from Carl Beasley's penalty, but he was beaten by a shot from Nicky Martin with five minutes left.

Brandon are still bottom, but they're now just one point behind second bottom Esh Winning, who didn't play on Saturday.

At the top, second placed Newcastle Blue Star took advantage of the inactivity of leaders Bedlington to narrow the gap to two points with a 4-1 home win over Jarrow Roofing.

They scored after 17 seconds when Dave Southern netted, but Roofing missed a chance to equalise when Adam Dowell saved Paul Chow's penalty.

Southern made them pay by scoring a second from a Gary Cook pass, but Roofing managed to pull one back through Craig Nelson just before the break.

New signing Stuart Dixon nearly levelled for Roofing at the start of the second half, but then Star's new signing, Ray Booth, headed their third. Southern completed his hat-trick after Roofing had Andy Allen dismissed for two bookable offences.

Durham City missed a chance to go third by losing 1-0 at home to Billingham Synthonia.

Both sides missed good opportunities, with keepers Marc Riches and John Jackson both busy, but just as it looked as if the game was going to finish in a goalless draw, substitute Colin Iley scored to put Synners level on points with Durham.

Sunderland Nissan gained revenge for their 6-1 home defeat by Newcastle Benfield earlier in the season by winning the return game 3-0.

They took the lead on 64 minutes when Paddy Little crossed for Anthony Lund to fire into the top corner, and then shortly after Little crossed again, this time for Gavin Cogdon to score.

Cogdon then scored the goal of the game with a left-foot shot after he played a one-two with Stephen Stewart, his seventh league goal of the season.

West Auckland came back from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Morpeth.

West were all at sea in the first half, and, after former Hartlepool striker Kevin Henderson hit the bar for the visitors, they went behind when Ian Nickalls scored.

Morpeth went 2-0 up before half time with an effort by Michael Latimer, and they could have added more goals before West got back into the game with a header by Mattie Moffat from a cross by sub Andy Cole.

West rescued a point with five minutes left when former Morpeth striker Colin Lawton scored from a Danny Richmond cross.

Shildon dropped back into the bottom four after a 4-2 home defeat to Thornaby, now eighth.

Thornaby got off to a great start when Michael Jameson scored with a diving header, then Richie Storr got the second.

Shildon's Gary O'Hara pulled a goal back, but just after half-time Jameson made it 3-1.

Wayne Gredziak put Shildon back into the game with a header from Neale Bartlett's cross, but Storr made sure for Thornaby from a rebound after Steve Larkin's shot was blocked.

Whitley Bay snatched a point from Horden with a last minute goal in a 1-1 draw.

Lee Kerr hit the post early on for Whitley, but Horden took the lead on 73 minutes when Jason Ainsley volleyed home. However, Whitley levelled in the closing seconds when Horden defender Andy Bowes deflected a Kerr cross past his own keeper.

Whitley's former Newcastle and Darlington striker Paul Robinson has signed a short term contract with League Two side Torquay United.

In the second division, Consett still have a 100 per cent record after winning 2-1 at Norton, and are now six points clear.

They took the lead when Chris Douglas beat the keeper.

Consett went further ahead from a disputed Craig Tate penalty for a foul on Michael Mackay, but Norton came more into the game in the last 20 minutes and pulled a goal back through Marcus Laing.

Peterlee provided the shock result of the day, winning 2-0 at Prudhoe to move out of the bottom two, with goals from Craig Jones and Michael Hay.

Crook Town were within sight of victory at Whickham, but the home side levelled in the dying seconds to earn a 4-4 draw.

Marske manager Charlie Bell collected his first point on his return to the club with a 1-1 draw against Seaham Red Star.

In the only other second division game, Ryton drew 0-0 at Penrith.