CONSETT manager Kenny Lindoe says it’s difficult to tell whether their new 3G pitch is a big advantage after they thumped bottom of the table Billingham Town 8-0.

The Steelmen have scored 20 goals in three games on their new surface, but Lindoe said: “In our first game against Spennymoor it was a tough fight to hold on to the lead, and everything seemed to click when we beat Bedlington last week.

“Against Billingham Town, we scored early and that did n’t help them, especially when we had the wind behind us.

We’ll have a better idea after we’ve played a few more home games, especially against the teams near the top .”

Michael Mackay converted a Gilberto Chapim pass for the first and added another just after the half hour from a Calvin Smith pass. Smith got the third from distance with the wind behind him.

It was one-way traffic in the second half, with Mackay completing his hat-trick, with fellow striker Luke Sullivan also scoring three to give him 24 league goals for the season.

Aristote Guerian-Lokonga scored the other.

Crook keeper Barry Poskett scored the first goal in their 3- 0 home win over Newcastle Benfield when his wind assisted clearance sailed downfield and bounced over Benfield keeper Andy Grainger.

Richard Hodgson scored his eighth goal of the season from close range after Kyle Davis set him up, then Robbie Bird dribbled through for the third.

Shildon’s stay at the top courtesy of their 4-0 win over Bishop Auckland on Friday night was shortlived because Celtic Nation won 3-0 at Sunderland RCA. Former Carlisle player Peter Murphy opened the scoring from a left wing cross by new striker Martyn Coleman.

On the half hour, Murphy set up Coleman to fire the second, and in the second half Murphy fired into the top corner for the third.

CN have kept 12 clean sheets this season, and play Shildon this Saturday.

West Auckland came from a goal down to beat Marske United 3-1 at the Seagrave Stadium.

Marske took an early lead when Glen Butterworth won possession and set up John Alexander to score from a few yards, but West levelled on 15 minutes with a 20-yarder by Ashley Coffey.

Steve Richardson headed West into the lead from a corner, then Marske were reduced to ten men when defender Adam Wheatley was shown his second yellow card.

Robbie Briggs fired the third for West, although Marske hit the bar late in the game.

Spennymoor kept their unbeaten home record by beating Bedlington 5-1 at the Brewery Field.

Moors started slowly and fell behind when Paul Watson scored for Bedlington with a 25-yarder. They nearly went 2-0 down when Dylan Williamson hit the post.

However, Moors equalised when Gavin Cogdon crossed for Liam Henderson to volley in, and on 42 minutes Chris Mason headed them in front from a corner. Just on halftime it was 3-1 when Cogdon scored with a rare header from a Lewis Dodds cross.

Henderson scored from the edge of the box early in the second half and Andy Johnson scored the fifth.

Ashington beat Penrith 2-1 at Woodhorn Lane. Marc Walton scored from a Glen Taylor pass just on half-time, but Penrith levelled with a 25- yarder by Richard Faustino.

However, Ashington got the winner when a shot by Walton was blocked and Taylor scored from the rebound.

Guisborough are eighth after coming back from a goal down to beat Newton Aycliffe 3-1. Aycliffe took the lead through Tom Atkinson, who ran through and scored from a Jamie Owens pass, but Mikey Roberts equalised from a free kick.

Roberts curled a free kick into the bottom corner to put Guisborough into the lead on 77 minutes – his 18th league goal of the season – and Danny Johnson made it 3-1 when he lobbed Aycliffe keeper Andrew Spence.

Dunston UTS are unbeaten in five matches after they beat Durham City 2-0, with two second half goals by Jonny Wightman. He capitalised on a Durham mistake, ran through and beat the keeper, then he finished off a good move for the second. Durham keeper Lewis Brass pulled off several good saves.

It was only the fourth time this season that Durham had failed to score.

Team Northumbria won for the first time in seven league matches by beating Billingham Synthonia 2-1.

Nathan Porritt gave Synners the lead from a Michael Sweet pass, and they held on to the advantage until the last ten minutes. Graeme Carrick equalised with a 40-yarder, then Mark Fenwick squeezed the ball home.

TN are now five points behind fourth bottom Bedlington with a game in hand.

Morpeth moved further away from relegation danger by beating Whitley Bay 2-0.

After a goalless first half, Sean Taylor scored from a David Hiftle cross, then Michael Chilton headed in a right wing cross.

A stoppage time penalty gave second division leaders North Shields a 2-1 win at Birtley.

Gareth Bainbridge gave Shields the lead with a free kick just on half-time, but Birtley equalised on 72 minutes through Callum Hope.

However, Birtley had Levi Oman dismissed for a foul, and deep into stoppage time Bainbridge scored the winner from the spot for his 27th league goal of the season.

West Allotment won 3-0 at home to Willington. Sean Reid crossed for Michael Bell to score, David Dormand made it 2-0 after David Henderson had beaten three defenders and Reid scored the third with a free kick.

Heaton Stannington beat Thornaby 2-1. Clay Darrell put Heaton into the lead on 24 minutes, but Richard Walker quickly equalised. Heaton sub Kevin Carr scored the winner in the second half.

The Northern Echo:
John Alexander, right, gives Marske an early lead at West Auckland

Jarrow Roofing were worthy winners of their promotion clash against Norton by 3-1.

Andy Appleby scored from an 11th minute corner, but Marcus Laing levelled for Norton with a shot in a goalmouth scramble.

Paul Gardiner restored Roofing’s lead from a Liam McBryde assist before half time, then McBryde set up Appleby for the third.

Northallerton lost 4-1 at home to Alnwick and lost keeper James Howarth because of a head injury at the end of the first half.

Northallerton led with a Danny Shoulder penalty, but just on half-time Dale Kennedy equalised.

Defender Stuart Banks went in goal, and he was beaten almost immediately by Tony Brown. James Jackson scored the third with a header, then Kennedy scored another from 30 yards.

Darlington RA came back from three goals down to draw 3-3 with South Shields.

Stephen Ramsey scored a hat-trick for the home side in the first half, but the RA recovered well.

Steve Allison scored from the rebound after his original shot was saved, then Jimmy Muir pulled another back from a free kick. Martin Butterworth equalised with the last touch of the game from a throw in.

Esh Winning lost 2-0 at Chester-le-Street, for whom Damien Stevens scored both.

Whickham had one eye on tomorrow’s Vase match when they were beaten 2-1 at home by Whitehaven, for whom Darren Donald scored twice.

Steve Aiston pulled a goal back in the second half.

Stokesley had a 4-1 win at Ryton and Crawcrook, with new signing Greg Peel impressing.

He set up midfielder Greg Upton to fire home and at the start of the second half Peel ran though and scored the second.

Ryton pulled a goal back through Ozioma Davidson, but at the other end Peel set up Ryan Rivas to score the third.

Gary Redman cracked in the fourth near the end. Ryton are still seven points from safety.

The match between Brandon and Tow Law was postponed because of a waterlogged pitch.

In the Evo-Stik League, Whitby Town comfortably beat Droylsden 5-2 for only their second win of the season at the Turnbull Ground, while Blyth went down 2-1 at Trafford.