Dixon rules out title challenge -- for now

Aycliffe came from behind to win a windspoilt game that ended with an unseemly scuffle on the final whistle that more might be heard about from the authorities, and are now in fifth place, with games in hand on all the teams above them.

But Dixon says he isn’t thinking of the title and instead is aiming for a top six finish.

“We don’t have the strength in depth in our squad that clubs like Shildon and Morpeth have, and it’s premature to be talking of a title challenge.

“If we can keep everyone fit and fresh, we can be in the top six. Our aim this season was to make sure that we’re not in a relegation battle, which the club has been involved in during the last four or five years.

“If we can finish in a top six position, then that would be massive for us.”

Shildon had wind advantage in the first half, and maybe should have made more of it.

Aycliffe keeper James Winter saved from Jamie Harwood, and should have been given no chance when Marc Doninger sidefooted straight at him from a few yards. Dan Groves also struck the Shildon bar from the edge of the box.

However, Shildon gained a deserved lead when Paul Connor controlled a long ball, ran on and tucked it past Winter, and then the former Swansea forward headed a good chance for a second wide.

Determined Aycliffe bounced back in the second half, and equalised with a low right foot shot from the edge of the box by Zak Boagey, then John Campbell got the winner with an inswinging corner that was helped into the net by the strong wind. It was Aycliffe’s seventh away league win of the season.

League leaders Morpeth lost 4-1 at fourth placed Guisborough, who are now seven points behind them.

Guisborough took the lead on four minutes when Steven Snaith scored from close range, and they went 2-0 up on 37 minutes when Snaith was brought down by Morpeth defender Michael Hall, and Danny Earl scored from the spot.

Micky Chilton pulled a goal back at the start of the second half, but Earl quickly restored Guisborough’s two goal lead with a header, his 18th league goal of the season.

Guisborough rounded off an excellent performance when Curtis Round made it 4-1 with a 20 yarder in the last minute. It was Morpeth’s first away league defeat of the season, while Guisborough are unbeaten in their ten home league games.

Morpeth manager Nick Gray said; “We got well beat off a very good Guisborough team, there are no complaints from us. But I put it into perspective with the lads, -- that was only our sixth defeat in twelve months, so they’re doing something right.”

Guisborough manager Chris Hardy said; “our overall game execution deserved a 10 out of 10 in the respect that we got our noses in front with some excellent football and then in the second half when game management was required the lads carried this out in a very professional manner.”

At the bottom, West Auckland gained back-to-back wins for the first time this season thanks to a 2-1 home victory over Sunderland RCA, who tasted victory for the first time in 17 matches.

Scott Oldfield and Chris Emms both went close for West in the first half, and they took the lead just after half time when Oldfield scored from a cross by John Seaton.

They went 2-0 up when a cross by Seaton was turned into his own net by RCA defender Wayne Buchanan, and they held on for a valuable three points even though Jack Proctor pulled a goal back for RCA.

West are now third bottom, a point behind Whitley Bay.

Sunderland RCA manager Marty Swales said; “We were very poor. West wanted to win much more than us. Full credit to them, they battled hard and deserved the win.”

West Auckland manager Andy Campbell said; “That’s two off the belt now. We just need to kick on. Hopefully, the players will believe in themselves more now, and aim to catch up on some of the clubs above us.”

Bishop Auckland are now up to 13th after they beat Newcastle Benfield 2-1 at Heritage Park.

Bishops were well on top in the first half, and missed a couple of chances before they took the lead on 38 minutes through Ian Ward’s low shot, and they went 2-0 up when a defender put a corner into his own net.

Benfield steadily improved and pulled a goal back with a Paul Brayson penalty, and then missed a good chance late on for a point. Bishops keeper Mark Bell also pulled off a good save.

Bishop Auckland manager Steve Riley said; “The lads stuck to our gameplan, and got the ball forward a lot more, but it was the same old story, we’re not clinical enough at the moment.”

Newcastle Benfield joint manager Mark Convery said; “We struggled to get to grips first half with everything – the weather, the tempo, everything was just off. We never stuck to our gameplan so a few words got said at half time and we totally dominated the second half, and deserved at least a draw out of the game.”

Seaham Red Star had an excellent 4-1 away win at Ashington.

Ryan Noble put Seaham into the lead after just three minutes, but Josh Gray levelled for Ashington from an Olly Hotchkiss assist.

But Noble responded by putting Seaham back into the lead from a long clearance, and then completed his hat trick with a header. Robbie Bird was brought down in the box, and Lewis Wing scored from the subsequent penalty for the fourth.

Ashington joint manager Ian Skinner said; “Today’s performance was well below the level expected and we need to get back to working hard and playing to the level we’re capable of.”

Seaham manager Mark Collingwood said; “We needed a reaction after the midweek horror show against Benfield. We stuck to our gameplan and were worthy winners. We need to become more consistent now. The referee was awful for both sides, he made some bad decisions.”

Bedlington are off the bottom because of a 1-0 away win at Durham, of whom Chris Moore was in charge for the first time.

Sam Walton scored the only goal from a Keelan Nellis pass after 10 minutes, to give them their first away league win of the season.

Durham’s best chance fell to Ross Stead, but his effort was well saved by Bedlington keeper Peter Denton.

Norton are now bottom of the table because of Bedlington’s win, and their own 4-1 defeat at Dunston UTS.

Morien was left unmarked to score the opening goal from a few yards off a Steve Richardson cross, but a poor back pass allowed Thibault Charmey, on his return to Norton from Whitby, to score the equaliser.

Norton battled well, but they went behind on 64 minutes when Morien scored from a Gary Shaw free kick. Morien pounced on a poor back pass to complete his hat trick, and he had a hand in the fourth, setting up Shaw to fire home.

Morien’s hat trick was his fourth of the season in all competitions, and he now has 19 league goals.

Norton manager Deano Browne said; “We played well for 60 minutes against a strong Dunston side on a difficult pitch. Individual mistakes cost us four goals, which you can’t do at any standard of football. We need to compete for the full 90 minutes.”

Dunston UTS manager Billy Irwin said; “It was a good three points. Norton made us work hard for the victory.”

West Allotment dropped to fifth from bottom because of their 4-0 home defeat by Penrith. Jamie Hope headed Penrith into an early lead, then Martyn Coleman sidefooted the second.

Sam Bell scored the third after Willie Paul hit the bar, and Nathan Waterston got the fourth from a long ball. This was Allotment’s seventh home defeat of the season.

Jarrow Roofing beat Consett 3-2 after taking an early two goal lead.

Kerry Hedley put Roofing into the lead from a through ball, then Paul Chow made it 2-0 from close range by the tenth minute.

Consett pulled a goal back with a header by Luke Sullivan and equalised just before half time through Michael Sweet’s effort.

But Roofing recovered and Chow got the winner in the 47th minute, firing into the top corner.

Jarrow Roofing manager Richie McLoughlin said; “It was a good game by both teams but I think we just edged it.”

Consett manager Colin Myers said; “We can’t give teams two goals start and expect to win.”

Washington beat Whitley Bay 1-0 at Nissan. Alex Kempster went close for Whitley early on, but Washington took the lead with a Mark Davison penalty following a foul by Whitley full back Sam Bramley.

Kempster went close again in the second half, but was then dismissed following an off the ball incident.

Washington manager Steve Hutchinson said; “I was really pleased with the team performance. We were in control of the game from start to finish and another clean sheet is always a bonus going into our next game.”

Whitley Bay manager Paddy Atkinson said; “It was the same old story as the last three games, an individual mistake cost us. Bramley dived in on the edge of the box to give a penalty away, then Alex Kempster got a red card for raising his hands left us with ten men and a mountain to climb.”

In the second division, Chester-le-Street edged to four points behind leaders South Shields following a goalless draw at Billingham Synthonia. There weren’t many chances in the game, but it still means that Synners have only conceded five goals at home in the league this season.

Chester-le-Street manager Colin Wake said; “Defensively we did really well, but we struggled offensively. Two good solid sides who won’t concede many goals. A good point in the end against a side who are investing to try and get promoted.

Ryhope CW are the main danger to the top two after they beat Hebburn 3-0.

Conor Winter fired them into the lead, then assistant manager Leon Ryan headed the second. Winter got another in the second half.

Ryhope are now two points behind Chester with three games in hand, and six points behind Shields with one game in hand.

Hebburn manager Scott Oliver said; “They were better when it mattered in both boxes.”

Ryhope CW manager Gary Pearson said; “It was a superb display from start to finish, we constantly looked a threat going forward. Defensively we were a totally solid unit who never looked troubled along with an extremely industrious midfield. Even though the pitch was quite heavy, some good football from both teams was played.”

Northallerton are up to sixth after they came from behind to beat Brandon 4-2. Northallerton took the lead through Colin Anderson, but Brandon levelled through James Ellis, and then went ahead thanks to Kyle Wren.

But Northallerton levelled through Danny McLaughlin, and before half time Andy Ramsbottom blasted them in front. Ramsbottom headed a fourth in the second half.

Northallerton manager Darren Trotter said; “It was another good win, but we had to work hard for it against a very good Brandon side who had us on the back foot for most of the game. However, we can’t fault our desire to gain a result and showed that we can win without having dominated the game.”

Team Northumbria lost ground on the leaders because of a 2-2 draw at Whickham, for whom Steven Aiston and Chad Collins scored. Dan O’Reilly and Joel Bradley replied for Team North.

Tow Law are also on the fringe of the promotion race thanks to a 2-0 win away win at Birtley, Adam Knowles and Adam Burnicle scoring in the space of two minutes.

Tow Law manager Steve Murray said; “It was a very poor game, but an ok result.”

Willington are now above Birtley in fourth bottom after they beat bottom club Stokesley 1-0, the goal coming from Lewis Martin after 75 minutes.

Willington keeper Chris Sawyer saved a penalty at 0-0.

Willington manager Gary Innes said; “We’re delighted with the win. They were hard conditions, but I thought we deserved to win. It could have been four or five in the end.”

Stokesley manager Craig Winter said; “We had our biggest chance of the season to get three points and we threw it away. We missed a penalty at 0-0 when dominating. The players let themselves down and some have been told a few home truths.”