Marske return to top form as Solano linked with Whitley job

The Peruvian was in the stand as Whitley, who are without a manager following the departure of Leon Ryan almost a fortnight ago, were embarrassingly beaten 7-0 at home by Marske United.

The club has drawn up a shortlist of possibilities, with former Gateshead bosses Ian Bogie and Anth Smith both rumoured to be interested, as well as ex Whitley Bay coach Adam Furness.

After Solano finished playing at Hartlepool, he was briefly coach at Newcastle Benfield, but other than that, he has little experience of the Northern League.

Whoever is lined up for the job – the club hopes to announce the new manager before the New Year -- then he will have to take serious action over the Whitley defence, as they were torn apart by Marske, who have now scored 100 goals in all competitions this season.

Liam O’Sullivan put them into the lead from a Glen Butterworth corner, then Craig Gott and Jamie Owens combined and set up Sam Garvie for the second on 24 minutes. Reece Kelly headed the third from an Owens cross, and five minutes after half time Owens made it 4-0 with a shot on the turn. Owens provided another assist for Danny Brunskill to head the fifth on 72 minutes, then Josh MacDonald played a 1-2 and scored the sixth. The Whitley defence was all at sea again as Gott scored the seventh from a MacDonald pass.

Marske manager Carl Jarrett said; “The lads gave me a great response after the disappointing result at Penrith in midweek. This was probably one of our best performances of the season against a decent Bay team. We were on top from start to finish.”

The league leaders, West Auckland, didn’t play, so North Shields are now five points behind then after they won 2-1 at Ashington.

Adam Forster put them into the lead on 35 minutes from a Ben Richardson pass, then centre half John Parker made it 2-0 from a Richardson corner.

Ashington pulled one back through Kyle Downey , but they had striker Marc Walton red carded after the half time whistle for an incident in the tunnel.

Shields then comfortably held on in the second half.

Ashington assistant manager Perry Briggs said; “Two lapses in concentration cost us in the first half but the sending off killed us. We cannot fault the lads’ effort in the second half.”

North Shields assistant manager Andy Bowman said; “I thought we were in control of the first half and scored two good goals. Second half I thought we didn’t keep the ball as well but still hit the woodwork three times. They are a good side and that’s a huge three points.”

Jarrow Roofing came from two goals down and drew 2-2 at Morpeth, but they still drop to sixth.

Sean Taylor put Morpeth into the lead from a James Novak cross, then Michael Chilton made it 2-0 from a rebound off the post.

Lewis Teasdale pulled a goal back from a Malky Morien cross, then just after the hour Morien crashed in the equaliser.

Morpeth manager Nick Gray said; “The result should have been out of sight by half time. I’m sick of dropping points after being in a winning situation.”

Jarrow Roofing manager Richie McLoughlin said; We weren’t at it, but the commitment was good when we were 2-0 down, so it was a good draw.”

Guisborough are now up to fifth thanks to a good 2-1 away win at Shildon, the home side’s first defeat at Dean Street in the league this season.

The Railwaymen took the lead when Bobby Moore scored with a left foot shot from the edge of the box on 21 minutes, but a minute after half time a good build up ended with Adam Gell firing past Kyle Hayes.

Shildon were reduced to ten men when defender Jon Brackstone was given a straight red for a foul on Gell, and after both sides missed chances, Guisborough got the winner when Callum Martin broke down the right and crossed for Danny Earl to score from a few yards.

Guisborough manager Chris Hardy said; “It was a very tough game, plus the fact we had to come from a goal behind. This was an excellent result and one that keeps us pushing up the table.”

Bishop Auckland won for the first time in six matches when they scored three times in the first 20 minutes and set up a 3-1 win at second bottom Billingham Synthonia.

They opened the scoring when Kyle Davis was put through, and after his shot was parried by Synners’ keeper xxx Fryer, Johnny Butler tapped in. The second goal was similar, this time Sean Tarling had his shot saved, and Butler was again on hand to score.

Bishops went 3-0 up when Butler squared the ball for Davis to tap in.

Synners pulled a goal back in the second half through Chris Dodds.

Bishop Auckland manager David Bayles said; “We set our stall out for a positive first half and to be compact at the back. We were well worthy of the points, and we’re happy after a barren spell. The players worked hard and got the breaks.”

Billingham Synthonia manager Conrad Hillerby said; “We were poor in the first half, conceding three goals. The second half was better but we are not consistent enough or good enough at the minute.”

Crook’s woes at the bottom continued when they only had the bare eleven at Dunston UTS and got thumped 7-2.

Dunston took the lead through Micky Dixon from close range, then Andy Bulford made it 2-0 from the edge of the area. Dixon made it 3-0 after Crook keeper Lewis Graham saved his first effort. Graham made two good saves but he had no chance with the fourth from Lee McAndrew. Dale Burrell blasted the fifth, and Dan Wilson slotted in the sixth. Wyn Fremlyn pulled two goals back for spirited Crook, before Crook defender Craig Winter put through his own goal.

Crook couldn’t make any substitutions, so Adrian Webster and Adam Emson both played on with injuries. They are now 17 points adrift of safety.

Crook manager Peter Mulcaster said: “I’m very disappointed with the attitude and non-appearance of some players. Those who did turn up did their best against a quality side.”

Dunston UTS assistant manager Tony Harrison said; “It was a very pleasing result and great to score a few goals but you have to feel sorry for all those involved at Crook because they are having a very hard season.”

Fourth bottom Newton Aycliffe collected a point at home to Newcastle Benfield in a 2-2 draw.

Benfield took the lead when Dan Taylor scored from a few yards, but Dan Mitton equalised with a header from a Dennis Knight free kick.

New signing Andrew Green put Aycliffe into the lead from another Knight free kick, but Benfield levelled right at the end with a header by Lewis Scorgie.

Newton Aycliffe manager Peter Dixon said; “We looked lethargic, you could tell we hadn’t played for three weeks.”

Newcastle Benfield manager Steve Bowey said; “I thought we defended set plays very poorly. We played well in the first half and we were unlucky to go in trailing 2-1, but we showed great spirit to come back. I thought the subs made an impact when they came on . I’m happy with a point, but on chances in open play I thought we shaded it.”

West Allotment drew 2-2 with Consett.

Michael Bell headed Allotment into the lead from a corner, then Consett defender Dan Madden almost put through his own goal, hitting his own post. However, Consett levelled through Carl Piecha after a mistake by the Allotment keeper. They missed several chances before Luke Sullivan dribbled past two players and scored, and they looked as if they would hold on until Sean Reid fired the equaliser.

Aris Guerin-Lokonga was red carded in the last minute following an off the ball incident.

West Allotment manager Paul Stoneman said; “A fair result in the end, although I thought we had a blatant penalty not given, but a good point against a good side.”

Consett manager Kenny Lindoe said; “It was the same old story. We miss far too many chances and can’t defend. We really should be doing much better but we won’t, until we start remedying these issues.”

The games at Celtic Nation and Penrith were both postponed because of waterlogged pitches.

In the second division, Esh Winning won their first game since September when they beat Ryton and Crawcrook 4-2 . Paul Basey and Dean Sinclair gave them a 2-0 lead, and after Scott Gunn pulled a goal back for Ryton, Basey made it 3-1 from the spot. Dan Robinson pulled another goal back for Ryton, but Lee Blades made sure of Esh’s third win of the season.

Esh manager Chris Blakelock said; "It was a very good win. I have been saying for a few weeks now that we have a settled side and were capable of competing and picking up some good results. We worked hard, had a good shape and looked like scoring every time we went forward."

Esh are now level on points with Tow Law, who lost 2-1 at home to South Shields after being in the lead.

Lawyers took the lead after 12 minutes when Lewis Harrison scored from a left wing cross, then Simon Ord hit the post for them.

But Shields equalised when Paul Kane curled the ball into the top corner from outside the box, but he scored an even better goal for the winner, a 25 yard volley after a corner had been cleared out to him.

Tow Law manager Steve Murray said; “We played well but were beaten in the last few minutes by a wonderful strike. I felt gutted for the players who really should have had the game finished by half time. But there were many positives, I learned a lot about the squad.”

Brandon are now six points adrift at the bottom after they were beaten 4-2 at home by fourth bottom Stokesley.

Gez Richardson scored twice for Stokesley in the first half with Joe Calvert and Jonathan Atkinson on target for Brandon, and early in the second half Matty Dunford fired Stokesley in front. Jack Rose broke away in the last minute when Brandon had pushed up en masse for a corner, and scored the fourth.

Stokesley manager Nicky Ward said; “It was a great three points. It was a hard fought battle, and we should have had more if we took our chances. I’m delighted with back to back wins.”

Brandon manager Paul Tunstall said; “We were sloppy and gave away four goals. Too many mistakes are costing us goals. We took our two clear cut chances and went in at 2-2, but we didn’t build on that in the second half. We gave away a third on our break and then missed a pen, and we conceded a fourth when he had all our eleven men in their box.”

Leaders Seaham Red Star had an excellent 2-0 away win at Team Northumbria. Carl Thorp headed Seaham into the lead from a Dean Nicholson free kick, then Nicholson scored the second from a Daryll Donnelly free kick.

Seaham Red Star manager Mark Collingwood said; “We were fantastic, we were down to the bare bones with injuries and suspensions but once again we dug deep and put in a great performance. The lads deserve all the credit, we went there with a game plan not to get beat and we have taken a maximum points return. Our back five were outstanding.”

Second placed Norton drew their local derby 1-1 at Thornaby. Former Norton player Jamie Clarke put Thornaby into the lead, but team mate Sean Davies put through his own goal for Norton’s equaliser.

Norton manager Andy Campbell said; “A point gained towards the end of the season. It was a tough game but probably a fair result. If the game was five minutes longer we were in the ascendancy. We move on to another derby on Boxing Day.”

Washington are now second following their 3-2 away win at Heaton Stannington.

Washington scored twice in the first half through Chris Winn and Mark Davison, but Lewis Burns pulled a goal back early in the second half. Winn made it 3-1 at the other end, before Ben Telford pulled a goal back again for the Stann.

Washington manager Steve Hutchinson said; “We controlled the game well in the first half to go in 2-0 up. We conceded a sloppy gaol to make it interesting, but we kicked on again to make it 3-1. I’m more than happy with the result and performance especially with the conditions on a very heavy pitch.”

Heaton Stannington assistant manager Geoff Walker said; “We were unlucky not to get something out of the game. We got back to 3-2 but the equaliser wouldn’t go in. We couldn’t fault the effort on a heavy pitch but they have some good individuals in midfield and up front, but suspect at the back. I think they will definitely get promoted.”

Darlington RA are now fifth after beating Whickham 4-1 at Brinkburn Road.

They took the lead after half time when Josh Bynoe curled the bal home, then Phil Caley rounded the keeper for the second.

Whickham pulled a goal back from a free kick, but Caley volleyed the RA 3-1 up, and Fred Huscroft fired another from the edge of the box.

Darlington RA manager Warren Moncur said; “It was a well deserved win and three points.”

Leon Ryan capped his debut for Ryhope CW following his departure from Whitley Bay, by scoring the equaliser for his new side at Northallerton.

The home team were much the better in the first half and took the lead through Aaron Ramsbottom, but Ryhope were much better after half time and Ryan, who has been appointed player-coach, equalised with a header.

Northallerton manager Steve Skinner said; “I was very pleased with the first half. We worked very hard, played some good football and deserved to lead at the break. We were poor for the first 30 minutes in the second half and then they deserved their goal. We could have maybe nicked it late in the game.”

Ryhope CW manager Gary Pearson said; “It was the biggest game of two halves I’ve seen with Northallerton having the lion’s share of possession in the first half and after a half time dressing down we got the reaction we wanted in the second half. Leon Ryan’s leadership qualities were a huge asset from start to finish, exactly what we’ve been missing of late and he also scored a vintage header for the equaliser.”

Adam Burnicle took his season’s tally to 14 league goals when he scored twice in Willington’s 3-1 home win over Birtley.

Willington were gifted the opening goal when Birtley keeper Mark Fish failed to control a Craig Cowell back pass and the ball rolled into the net.

Burnicle got the second direct from a corner, and then he ran through and fired the third. Birtley pulled a goal back from a Matthew Soulsby corner.

Willington manager Rob Lee said; “It was a very good result considering that we had ten players missing. A couple of our young lads were on their way to Seaham to play in a youth match, but they turned around and sat on the bench for us. All of our players gave 200 per cent commitment, and I couldn’t have asked for any more.”

Birtley manager Tony Boakes said; “We played very poorly today. We never got going and for me that was the worst we have played all season.”

Billingham Town were held to a 1-1 draw at home by Chester-le-Street. Danny Bannatyne and Nathan Mohan both hit the bar for Billingham in the first half, and they took the lead on 70 minutes when Joel Callender fired home, but Chester levelled with a Scott Heslop penalty six minutes from the end.

Billingham Town manager Darren Trotter said; “I’ve got the same emotions as the last two games. We did everything right in the first half and should have been out of sight. We scored then gave away a soft penalty. I felt it was more points dropped. Until we learn to see a game out, we are not going to climb the table.”

Chester-le-Street manager Colin Wake said; “We were poor in the first half and were fortunate to go in level, The second half was much more even, but we conceded a poor goal and levelled from a penalty. We got out of jail to be fair.”

Hebburn beat Alnwick 3-0, with goals by Shaun Reay, Marc Costello and Josh Allan.

Hebburn manager Scott Oliver said; “It was a good all round performance. The passing was crisp and positive.”

In the EvoStik League, Whitby beat Stourbridge with a last minute goal by Steven Snaith, while Blyth ran riot at Grantham, winning 7-1. Joel Dixon, Ryan Hutchinson, Nathan Buddle, Dan Maguire (2), Dan Hawkins and an own goal were their scorers.