BISHOP AUCKLAND chairman Richard Tremewan took over as an emergency assistant referee in Shildon’s home game with Morpeth last night.

Tremewan volunteered to run the line after match referee Lindsay Robinson announced that she was unable to continue at half time because of injury.

A public appeal was made, and Tremewan, who was attending the game as a spectator and had only eaten a fish and chip meal ten minutes earlier, stepped forward.

Offside decisions were left to the referee, with Tremewan only adjudging throw ins.

Shildon drew the game 1-1, thanks to a very late goal from Bobby Moore in a goalmouth scramble. Morpeth took the lead when Micky Chilton scored from a left wing cross midway through the first half, and Shildon keeper Lewis Graham denied them twice after that.

Newton Aycliffe lost 2-1 at home to Bedlington. The Terriers took the lead when Adam Harvey scored from long distance on 54 minutes, and then went 2-0 up from a Paul Watson penalty after Aycliffe’s Richard Langthorne was sent off.

Aycliffe player-manager Ade Webster pulled a goal back.

North Shields beat Billingham Synthonia 2-0, with goals by Ryan Carr on 14 minutes and Gareth Bainbridge (74) scoring the goals.