Skinner says that West are still in title race in bizarre day at top of the table

Second placed West lost 3-1 at Jarrow Roofing, on a day when the top five all failed to win. “I think the title race is going to the last two Saturdays of the season, because all the teams involved will drop more points. That’s why I think we’ve still got a good chance.

“Our result was very disappointing, because we would have gone top if we’d won. I thought we maybe tried too hard, and when things didn’t work out, got more and more agitated and frustrated. We just weren’t compact enough, and were never really in the game.”

Roofing took the lead when Malky Morien picked up a pass from Jamie Marshall, held off a defender and beat Dan Lowson in the West goal. Roofing looked more to score until Matty Moffat was fouled in the Roofing area on 75 minutes and Jake Fowler scored from the spot.

But within two minutes Paul Chow, who has recently returned to Roofing from Whitley Bay, turned quickly on a throw in and scored from the edge of the box and then Lewis Teasdale ran through and scored the third.

Shildon looked nothing like title favourites as they were beaten 1-0 at home by Consett.

The Railwaymen were below their best, and manager Gary Forrest said; “I thought the players were tired because they put so much effort into the game at Spennymoor on Tuesday. We’ve missed a good opportunity to cement things near the top of the table, considering the way the other results have gone.”

Shildon keeper Kyle Hayes was probably the busier of the two keepers in the first half, but Consett should have taken the lead soon after half time when Michael Mackay broke away with just Hayes to beat, but he pulled his shot wide of the post. Bobby Moore missed a good chance from six yards at the other end, before Consett got their winner when Hayes could only palm away a right wing cross, and Josh Gray fired left footed into the top corner of the net.

The morning’s leaders, Guisborough, were within a few minutes of opening up a bigger lead at the top when they led 2-1 going into stoppage time at Penrith, but the home side equalised in stoppage time.

Jamie Hope scored from close range to put Penrith into the lead after 7 minutes, and it could have been worse for Guisborough if keeper Nick Liversedge hadn’t saved a Martyn Coleman penalty.

James Risborough levelled for Guisborough with a low shot after half time, and late in the game Danny Earl fired the second. But in stoppage time Grant Davidson headed the equaliser.

Guisborough manager Chris Hardy said; “I thought our control of the game for the best part deserved more than what we received and conceding in 90 minutes plus proved to be a bitter pill to swallow. The lads can take a lot of positives from the game as going one down could have disrupted our approach but they showed good maturity and can count themselves unlucky not to be taking all three points.”

Nevertheless, Guisborough are still unbeaten in the last fifteen league matches.

The game kicked off 40 minutes late because of an accident on the A66.

Third placed North Shields could only draw 1-1 at West Allotment, who included new striker Marc Walton from Ashington.

Allotment took the lead when Kallum McGlen fired in off the underside of the bar, but Ben Richardson put a free kick into the bottom corner for Shields’ equaliser. Allotment’s Curtis Coppen had an effort cleared off the line, while Gareth Bainbridge went close at the other end.

Shields will now play Highworth in the semi final of the Vase after the Wiltshire side won their replay at Tadcaster on Saturday.

North Shields assistant manager Andy Bowman said; “I thought first half we did well and created plenty of chances. Second half against the wind we seemed to struggle and were sloppy. Credit to Allotment, I thought they did well.”

West Allotment manager Paul Stoneman said; “It was a really good point for us. We had good chances to win it, but they will say the same. My lads leave nothing on the pitch week in, week out and they get peanuts for their efforts. A more honest bunch you will never meet. I wouldn’t change any of them.”

Sixth placed Marske United were held to a 1-1 draw at Bedlington. The visitors had most of the chances in the game with Jamie Owens and Glen Butterworth both going close but Ben Keenan fired Bedlington ahead after 77 minutes.

Marske kept going, and levelled in stoppage time with an own goal, the eighth that they have benefitted from this season.

Marske manager Carl Jarrett said; “How we never won the game is beyond me. We had chance after chance and then got caught with their only shot of the game. I’m still not happy to have only got one point but at least it wasn’t a defeat.”

Bedlington manager Gary Innes said; “the lads’ effort and dedication was fantastic. I thought we had nicked it, but we have to be happy against a very good Marske side.”

At the bottom, Sunderland RCA did their survival hopes a power of good when they won 6-1 at Celtic Nation, even though they had little chance to warm up because of an accident on the A66 that delayed the kick off.

They took the lead after 8 minutes with a Colin Larkin header, but Matthew Read levelled for Nation soon after.

RCA missed several chances to go in front again, but they found their scoring touch in the second half. Steve Callen headed in a Paul Weldon cross for 2-1, then Kieran Megran ran through for the third. Joe Hughes scored the fourth and sixth, with Lee Bythway scoring from a free kick in between.

Sunderland RCA manager Marty Swales said; “We were top drawer, and scored some great goals.”

Newton Aycliffe are now seventh bottom after they beat Durham City 2-1 at Moore Lane. Dennis Knight gave them the lead when he finished off a good move with a left foot shot, then got the second when he beat two defenders and cleverly beat Durham keeper Jordan Harkess.

City pulled a goal back with an own goal three minutes from the end.

Newton Aycliffe manager Peter Dixon said; “It was a much-needed three points, but the ironic thing is, that we didn’t play any better than last week, when we lost. We’re a happy camp now, instead of an unhappy camp.”

Aycliffe are now above Ashington, who lost 2-0 at Bishop Auckland.

There were five bookings early in the game which was never over-physical, and Bishops took the lead after 28 minutes when Jordan Lavery took a quick free kick, and Olly Hotchkiss’ effort took a big deflection and went past the keeper.

Ashington had more of the game in the second half, but Bishops nearly got another when Hotchkiss struck the bar. They finally got their second in the dying minutes when a long clearance by keeper Scott Pocklington was turned into his own net by a defender.

It was Bishops’ first win in six matches.

Bishop Auckland manager David Bayles said; “We had the upper hand for most of the game, but we didn’t capitalise on our chances. We had a couple of good breaks in our favour for a change instead of against us. At least we enjoyed our Saturday nights for a change.”

Ashington assistant manager Ian Skinner said; “It was a poor game played in difficult conditions. We were poor in the first half and went in 1-0 down. We improved in the second half and played well for 25 minutes. However, games are played over 90 minutes and we need to improve away from home.”

Billingham Synthonia stayed fifth bottom because of their 3-1 home defeat by Newcastle Benfield. Synners never recovered from going two goals down to efforts by Michael Riley and Mark Turnbull in the first 12 minutes. Kris Hughes pulled a goal back for Synners on 63 minutes, but Paul Brayson scored his 35th league goal of the season nine minutes from the end.

Newcastle Benfield manager Steve Bowey said; Often a tough place to go, so to get three points was a fantastic result and continues our momentum. Six wins on the belt is a great achievement but we are hungry for more.”

Whitley Bay won their second successive game when they beat Dunston UTS 1-0, with a late goal by Michael Williamson from an Alex Kempster pass.

Whitley Bay manager Paddy Atkinson said; “To be honest, either team could have won. Dunston had three chances and so did we. Conditions spoilt the game, and a mistake led to us scoring the winner.”

Dunston UTS manager Billy Irwin said; “We did more than enough to win the game. Missed chances cost us, we created their goal for them.”

In the second division, leaders Seaham Red Star came from behind to beat Stokesley 4-2. Carl Thorp put Seaham into the lead, but Connor Campbell and Jack Bradbury hit back for Stokesley. Seaham overpowered them in the second half with Warren Byrne completing a hat trick.

Stokesley manager Nicky Ward had to play in goal because the first choice was unavailable.

Ward said; “It was a great performance from us. The bare eleven with me in goal and 2-1 up at half time. The wind really got up in the second half for them but the lads gave everything.”

Norton easily beat Ryton and Crawcrook 5-0 at Station Road. Anthony Hume scored from a free kick, then Jack Proctor headed a second before half time. John Seaton, Gary Mitchell and Hume added further goals in the second half.

Norton manager Andy Campbell said; “I was pleased with the attitude of the players. We weren’t great in the first half but we were still 2-0 up, then we picked up the pace in the second half and scored some excellent goals.”

Washington lost ground when they were beaten 3-2 at Tow Law, the winner being scored by Tow Law’s Brazilian striker Gus De Silva.

Lawyers were in the lead twice through Liam Dixon and Shaun Ryder, only for the goals to be cancelled out by Mark Davison and Matthew Fisher. But Silva, who has signed a contract at the club, got the winner when he picked up the ball just inside the box and nutmegged the keeper late in the game.

Washington’s defeat opened the door for Team Northumbria to overtake them with a 2-0 victory at Esh Winning, with Louis Storey and Nick Green scoring their goals in the last 13 minutes.

Hebburn are still well in touch in fifth place, and they won their ninth successive game when they beat Darlington RA 2-1 at Brinkburn Road.

Hebburn took the lead with an effort by Shaun Reay that wrongfooted the RA defence, then Channon North headed the second, his 34th league goal of the season. James Beauchamp pulled a goal back with a volley, and in the last minute Joe Peel was denied the equaliser.

Hebburn manager Scott Oliver said; “It was a huge win on a bumpy dry pitch. It’s never easy against a team that has a lad who can throw the ball into your box from 40 yards.”

Darlington RA manager Warren Moncur said; “It was a good game, even throughout. We pressed in the first half and couldn’t get the breakthrough. In the last fifteen minutes we pressed hard for what would have been a deserved equaliser but Hebburn held out.”

Bottom club Brandon had a good 5-3 home win over Chester-le-Street. They went two goals up inside the first 9 minutes, both scored by James Ellis, then Michael Hepplewhite pulled a goal back from the spot on 11 minutes, Ellis completed his hat trick by the half hour mark, and new signing Kieron Weekes made it 4-1 just after half time. Danny Hepplewhite pulled a goal back on 68 minutes, but within two minutes Andrew Clarkson made it 5-2. Glen Hargrave scored a late consolation for Chester.

Brandon manager Lee Jewitt said; “It was a great battling performance, but not a lot of football played due to the conditions. There is belief now in the dressing room, there are now pace and goals in the team, something that the club hasn’t had all season. We’re running out of games, but this club will fight to the last game and no one will have it easy against us.”

Chester-le-Street manager Colin Wake said; We were an absolute disgrace. We let the whole club down with a performance that lacked the basics of hard work and application needed on a day of high winds. Brandon thoroughly deserved the win as they wanted it from the first minute. I feel embarrassed to have managed a team that could deliver a performance like that, changes are required to stop this from happening again.”

Willington produced one of their poorest performances of the season when they were beaten 2-0 at home by Thornaby. Jamie Clarke set up Danny Lofts to put Thornaby into the lead, then new signing Theo Furness fired a second. Willington had Stephen Ward dismissed late in the game. It was the first time that Willington had failed to score in a game since September.

Willington manager Rob Lee said; “It was a poor performance, we lacked discipline and shape. We couldn’t get going. I’m very disappointed, we need to bounce back next week.”

South Shields and Billingham Town shared the points in a windspoilt goalless draw at Peterlee.

Billingham Town manager Darren Trotter said; “I was pleased with the performance of the team especially after making six changes to the side that won in midweek. Our keeper hasn’t made a save all game and we have had three good chances to win the game in poor conditions.”

Ryhope CW drew 1-1 with Whickham. Chris Trewick gave Ryhope the lead, which they held until five minutes from time when Daniel O’Reilly equalised.

Alnwick easily Birtley 4-1. Ross Straughan, Danny Lowes and Keith Douglas (penalty) put Alnwick 3-0 up. Lee Best pulled a goal back for Birtley, before Kieran Hogg made sure right at the end.

Birtley manager Tony Boakes said; “We only had eleven fit players. We gave very poor goals away once again, It was a very poor team performance all round.”

Billingham Town have been given the points from their abandoned game at Whickham last month, when they were leading 2-0 in stoppage time and Whickham were reduced to six men.

In the EvoStik League, Blyth won 3-0 at Stourbridge with goals by Stephen Turnbull, Jarrett Rivers and Dan Hawkins, while Whitby drew 0-0 with Halesowen.