West manager Smith wants to strengthen squad

The game was a good billing for the top of the table clash, but leaders West have now dropped five points in their last two matches, while Marske are still unbeaten away from home in the league. North Shields and Dunston UTS are also close on West’s heels, and Smith said; “I think that we need one or two players more to give us some different options. To some extent we’re missing Mattie Moffat at the moment.

“I was pleased with the way that we bounced back from our defeat at Benfield last week and the players showed plenty of character which they must do in every game.

“I thought both teams showed why they’re chasing the league, they showed plenty of endeavour, and we couldn’t quite finish the game off when we had a good last twenty minutes. The turning point was Colin Larkin’s miss in the first half.”

West took the lead after just 65 seconds when Ian Ward perfectly laid off Stephen Richardson’s cross for Robbie Briggs to pick his spot from 20 yards, and they missed a good chance to go further ahead before half time when Alex Francis split the Marske defence only for Colin Larkin to screw his shot wide.

Marske came more into the game in the second half, and after West keeper Dan Lowson pulled off a point blank save from Craig Gott, levelled when Danny Brunskill, who had only been on the field for less than a minute, reacted first to a loose ball and turned the ball into the bottom corner.

Marske manager Carl Jarrett said; “It’s a great point for us against a good West side. The substitution worked out well for us.”

Dunston UTS didn’t miss their Hartlepool bound striker Scott Fenwick when they won 3-1 at Morpeth. Micky Dixon put them into the lead on 6 minutes, and then Jonny Wightman made it 2-0 from the edge of the box. Andy Bulford fired a third before Sean Taylor pulled a late goal back.

Morpeth gave a debut to centre midfielder Keith Graydon, signed from Spennymoor.

Dunston manager Billy Irwin said; “A solid tam performance. Everyone put a shift in, I was delighted with the three points against a good team.”

Morpeth manager Nick Gray said; “We put a lot of effort in to get nothing out of the game, but I’m getting very tired of saying that we are giving teams their goals.”

North Shields have steadily crept up the table in recent weeks, and they’re now third after beating Newton Aycliffe 3-0.

Shields took the lead when Dean Holmes crossed for Joe Elliott to score after 20 minutes, and in the second half Gareth Bainbridge scored two identical goals from assists by Dean Holmes.

Newton Aycliffe manager Peter Dixon said; “We got lulled into a false sense of security and got done by two counter attacks.”

Bishop Auckland are now fifth after beating Bedlington 3-0 at Heritage Park.

They went ahead on 21 minutes when Andrew Johnson opened up the defence for Kyle Davis to score from just inside the area, and on 32 minutes Jordan Lavery crossed for Davis to bring the ball down and fire the second.

Bedlington launched a fightback, but Bishops finished them off when Davis crossed for Glen Lane to score the third. Bishops have now kept seven clean sheets this season.

Bedlington manager Ian Skinner said; “We need to stop conceding poor goals which leave us chasing the game. We had a 25 minute spell second half where we looked like ourselves and we need to build on that. No complaints about the outcome, Bishops are a good side.”

Bishop Auckland manager David Bayles said; “Once we got to grips with their shape, we did well. Kyle Davis was outstanding.”

Shildon, with games in hand on everyone above them, beat Celtic Nation 4-1 at Dean Street. They never looked back after taking a seventh minute lead through Ben Wood from Micky Rae’s corner, then Nation defender Tyler Bowman put through his own goal. Nation lost two players because of injury before halftime, and they went 3-0 behind when Jon Brackstone curled home a free kick.

Adam McMath pulled a goal back, but Shildon went up the other end and Paul Connor scored from Adam Rundle’s cross.

Meanwhile, Shildon haven’t ruled out the possibility of applying for promotion at the end of the season.

Shildon manager Gary Forrest said; “It was important to get back to winning ways in the league, and start making up lost ground.”

Jarrow Roofing striker John Campbell warmed up for his forthcoming trials at Fleetwood and Oxford by scoring twice in their 5-2 win at Penrith.

Roofing score the first goal through Wayne Phillips after just 15 seconds, then Campbell scored the second after playing a 1-2 with Lewis Teasdale.

Grant Davidson pulled a goal back at the start of the second half, then Martin Coleman equalised. But Roofing recovered when Teasdale scored from a Campbell pass, then Teasdale dribbled through and scored the fourth. Teasdale returned the favour for Campbell, who ran through on the end of his pass and scored the fifth goal, his 18th in the league this season.

Jarrow Roofing manager Richie McLoughlin said; “The pitch was very hard and very heavy. We took a 2-0 lead after 15 minutes but Penrith got hold of the game and did well to even the game out. But we lifted our game and hit them with three goals to take command and boss the game.”

Durham City just managed to hold on to a 4-3 away win at Guisborough. Danny Earl fired Guisborough into the lead, and soon after their keeper Nick Liversedge saved a penalty from Callum Patton. But just before half time Ryan Noble and then Carl Fryatt scored for Durham. Fryatt then fired the third, and Jonny Davis seemed to make the game safe from long range. Earl pulled a goal back from a Nathan Mulligan assist, and completed his hat trick from the spot.

City midfielder Lewis Gibbons is leaving the club for Football League Luton Town.

Durham manager Ian Chandler said; “It was an excellent result and performance against a good Guisborough team. There were four fantastic goals, but we had a nervous last few minutes when they got back to 4-3.”

Guisborough manager Chris Hardy said; “Defensive mistakes and missed chances cost us dearly. It was a missed opportunity to secure all three points, from being in a winning position and controlling the game for the best part, unfortunately when giving away soft goals and not converting our own opportunities this creates a platform for disappointment".

Consett lost ground when they were held to a 1-1 draw at home by Newcastle Benfield.

The Steelmen missed some good chances, and it was the visitors who took the lead through Dan Taylor from Paul Brayson’s cross.

But Consett levelled when Josh Gray crossed into the Benfield box, where Benfield defender Steve Tobin headed into his own net past new keeper Sean Korsbo.

Consett manager Kenny Lindoe said; “We dominated possession throughout but failed to take the numerous opportunities we created. They even scored the one we got. Yet another two points dropped.”

Newcastle Benfield manager Steve Bowey said; “I’m happy with the draw, in all fairness we didn’t play as well as we could have. We had eight or nine players who could have done better. We really lacked that cutting edge but happy with the point against a good team.”

Whitley Bay had the better of the game at Ashington, but had to settle for a 1-1 draw.

Whitley started the game well and took the lead with an overhead kick by central defender Michael Laws, and they missed several chances to make the game safe. They had striker Paul Robinson red carded for aiming a kick at an opponent, and in the dying seconds their wastefulness came back to haunt them when Andrew Johnson equalised.

Ashington assistant manager Perry Briggs said; “We got away with it. We didn’t really deserve anything but the same happened to us last week, so maybe we deserve some luck.”

Whitley Bay manager Leon Ryan said; “I’m really disappointed after we dominated the game and created at least 15 chances against a very good side. It was a silly goal to concede with just ten seconds to go. The referee was terrible and spoilt a really physical game.”

Crook Town are marooned at the bottom after they went down 4-0 at West Allotment.

Sean Reid put Allotment into the lead from a left wing cross, then he provided the pass for Liam Hudson to score the second.

Crook missed two good chances to get back into the game, and they went 3-0 down when Marc Dummett curled the third. Dummett then crossed for Reid to volley the fourth.

West Allotment manager Paul Stoneman said; “We’re chuffed with the result, without playing that well. Should have been more really but fair play to Crook they came at us at the start of the second half and it took us 15 minutes to get going.”

Second division leaders Team Northumbria were beaten 3-2 at home by Thornaby.

The visitors took the lead with a Jamie Clarke penalty, then Danny Lofts finished off a good move for the second. Matthew Robinson scored the third after the keeper parried the ball to him. Team North responded in the second half with goals by Paul Antony and new signing Samuel Perez-Gutierez. They had Lewis Spence red carded near the end. Clarke has now scored nine league goals for the season.

Thornaby manager Paul Edwards said; “It was a great result, and overall just deserved the three points. It was a very good first half.”

Northallerton were the day’s top scorers, thrashing Alnwick 8-0 at Ainderby Road. Northallerton, with caretaker manager Danny Mellanby in charge, scored through seven different players and an own goal. Stuart Owen, Aaron Ramsbottom, Paul Bowman, Jason Brazauskas, Jason Newall, Damon Reaks, Colin Anderson all scored for them.

Northallerton are on the point of announcing a new manager. Talks took place on Saturday.

Heaton Stannington are unbeaten in seven league and cup matches, even though they were held to a 1-1 draw at home by a useful Willington side.

Heaton took the lead through Jonathan Wright, but Willington levelled through Mike Weston. Wright missed a penalty just before half time.

Heaton Stannington assistant manager Geoff Walker said; “A draw was probably a fair result. We missed a penalty right on the stroke of half time which would have put us 2-1 up but overall we didn’t do enough to win the game. We’re still unbeaten in eight games so can’t be too disappointed. Willington were decent to be fair.”

Willington manager Rob Lee said; “We’re very pleased with the point. We had five Under 18 players in the squad. It was a great goal from Mike Weston and an all round good performance with the lads. I couldn’t ask for any more.”

Ryhope CW lost ground on the leaders in a 3-1 away defeat at Ryton and Crawcrook.

Mattie Weirs gave Ryhope the lead, but Ryton hit back with goals by Adam Chrostowski, Liam Barker and Sam Moore.

Whickham are in touch with the leading group, beating South Shields 2-1.

Scott Swanston put Whickham into the lead but Shields levelled after 64 minutes through Paul Kane from a Chris Locke assist. But Mark Fitzpatrick got the winner for Whickham from a free kick.

South Shields assistant manager Lee Bell said; “It was a fantastic all round performance that was let down by two lapses in defensive positions as a team that took away what should have been a three point game. Whickham were resilient and well organised.”

Darlington RA are now tenth after going down 3-1 at Washington.

They took the lead through Darren Kokes after 38 minutes, but Chris Winn and Mark Davison both scored within a minute before half time. RA pushed forward in the second half, but were caught out by Davison in the last minute with his 23rd league goal of the season.

Washington manager Stephen Hutchinson said; “Darlington are a good side, and have some talented individuals who play well as a team. We knew it would be tough and after going a goal down it was always going to be difficult but our lads showed great character and bounced back.”

Darlington RA manager Paul Bowman said; “A very good, brave display from our team in a game in which we had plenty of passion and we tried to play football. Washington’s long ball game got them nothing but for a poor ref display we should have been in front. The officials again spoilt a good game.”

Birtley won with almost the last touch of the game by 4-3 at Stokesley. Kai Hewitson put Birtley ahead early on with a lob from the edge of the area, but Stokesley levelled through Greg Peel. Hewitson rounded the keeper for the second, but then Stokesley hit back to lead 3-2 with goals by Peel and Ged Richardson. Birtley levelled through Craig Cowell from a corner, and in stoppage a Stokesley defender’s clearance hit Dan Maddison full in the face and went into the net.

Birtley manager Tony Boakes said; “It was a hard fought win, and we won it when a clearance hit our player in the face and went in!”

Stokesley manager Nicky Ward said: “We played superb, how we got beat is beyond us. It’s a cruel game but missed chances at 3-2 cost us but the lads gave everything.”

Billingham Town moved further away from the bottom two by beating Esh Winning 3-1 at Bedford Terrace. Paul Basey gave Esh some hope with a left foot shot to put his team ahead, but Drew Lambert quickly levelled from a free kick.

Daniel Ballantyne put Town ahead with a header before half time, and right at the end Michael Dalton scored the third. Town are now eleven points clear of the relegation zone.

Billingham Town manager Darren Trotter said; "I’m happy to get another home win on the board in what was a stop start performance. We played some good stuff in patches and very poor in parts. We need to build on the win now and start climbing the table.”

Brandon didn’t get off to the best of starts against Seaham Red Star, conceding twice in the opening minutes on their way to a 5-0 home defeat.

Lewis Wing and David Palmer both scored for Seaham in the opening three minutes, then Gary Shaw got the third on 24. Sonny Andrews then scored his 17th league goal of the season just before half time, and four minutes from the end Josh Home-Jackson completed the scoring.

Brandon manager Paul Tunstall said; “It was always going to be a tough game against a team playing with a lot of confidence but we made two very early errors and they costs us. Two goals down after two minutes was always going to be a big ask. We went back to basics in the second half and contained them a lot better. We should have scored today but poor finishing cost us. We’re just searching for that bit of luck.”

Seaham Red Star manager Mark Collingwood said; “The game was won within the first three minutes when we were 2-0 up. I told the lads that we needed to win at any cost, because it was a potential banana skin. The lads are running on empty, but are hungry to prove the doubters wrong. It’s a great dressing room at the minute.”

Hebburn won for the first time in seven matches when they defeated Chester-le-Street 3-2. They took the lead on 24 minutes through Marc Costello, but Chester quickly levelled through Scott Heslop. Ross Toward put Hebburn back into the lead on 37 minutes, and after Leigh Guthrie levelled for Chester, Channon North scored the winner, his 23rd league goal of the season.

Chester-le-Street manager Colin Wake said; “A very poor performance by us after an excellent one last Wednesday. 3-2 flatters us as Hebburn won at canter. We never got tight and we looked tired from start to finish.”

Hebburn manager Scott Oliver said; “It was a hard fought win which I think we deserved.”

The game at Tow Law was abandoned because of fog, with visitors Norton leading 3-0 with 15 minutes left. Whether the result stands will be decided by the league.

Norton manager Andy Campbell said; “I think the game could have gone on for longer but the ref made his decision. Fingers crossed the league make the right decision and let the result stand because the game was well over at 3-0.”

Billingham Synthonia stampeded into the next round of the Durham Challenge Cup by hammering Wearside League Seaton Carew 11-0. Michael Sweet (4), Kris Hughes (2), Bryan Stewart (2), Nathan Porritt, Jack Bradbury and David Abel were the scorers.

In the EvoStik Premier Division, Whitby beat Stamford 3-0 with goals by Mattie Brown, Matthew Waters and Ross Gardner.