Bishop Auckland manager Colin Myers admitted that his team’s 1-0 win at South Shields was “scrappy and dirty”.

Bishops are in the thick of the title race in fifth place with this win, but Myers said: “It was a scrappy win, and we didn’t play anywhere near our best. We should have been 4-0 up after 20 minutes, and we struggled after that. We were terrible in the second half, and Shields got better.”

Victory was also at a cost for Bishops, because defender Adam McLane had to be stretchered off to hospital with a cruciate ligament injury, that will keep him out for several weeks.

Bishops missed several good chances early in the game, and should have scored more than just the one after 4 minutes, when Chris Lawson scored with a header. Shields hit the bar through Peter Kane in the second half.

Spennymoor made hard work of beating bottom club Newton Aycliffe 2-0 at the Brewery Field, but they still keep their 100 per cent record.

Aycliffe defended well and stifled Moors for the first hour or so, but the game opened up when Aycliffe defender Darren Craddock could only head a free kick from Keith Graydon into his own net after 78 minutes. Aycliffe nearly levelled with a volley by Paul Robinson, but sub Glen Taylor turned the ball home for the second two minutes from time.

Newton Ayliffe manager Allan Oliver said: “It was a lot better than we’ve been playing recently. I was a happy with our endeavour, but we need some extra quality.”

Spennymoor manager Jason Ainsley said: “We made hard work of it. In the first half, we were lethargic, but in the second half we were a lot better. Aycliffe were always going to frustrate us.”

Shildon are still unbeaten this season, but they dropped a point in a 2-2 draw at Norton. Anthony Hume headed Norton into an early lead, and Dale Mulligan fired the second on 15 minutes. Billy Greulich -Smith headed Shildon back into the game on 20 minutes, and shortly after Chris Hughes scored the equaliser. Both sides missed opportunities to win it in the second half.

Shildon assistant manager Stu Niven said: “We struggled with their long balls forward. We didn’t play well, but at least we didn’t lose.”

Norton manager Andy Campbell said: “It was a good result. We played well and scored two good goals, and created some good chances.”

Billingham Synthonia won their first game of the season by 2-1 at Durham City to lift them into midtable.

Scott Fenwick put City into the lead from a right wing cross on 17 minutes, but Synners levelled just before half time when Nathan Jameson set up Andy Jennings to score from a few yards. They also had to replace their keeper Josh Moody with Jason Hamilton because of injury City midfielder Steve Thompson was dismissed for his second yellow early in the second half, and Synners eventually won the points when City keeper James Winter couldn’t hold an inswinging corner by Craig Gott when under pressure, and the ball went straight in.

Durham manager Dickie Ord said: “They were the worst officials ever seen.”

Billingham Synthonia assistant manager Lee Tucker said: “We did really well, considering the number of players we had missing. It is great to get our firs twin, and hopefully we can kick on now.”

Whitley Bay gained revenge for their FA Cup defeat last week at the hands of Bedlington by ending their 100 per cent record with a 1-0 win. Whitley missed some good chances at the start of the match, and Paul Robinson hit the crossbar, plus Kevin Morton pulled off some good saves in the Bedlington goal. The winner came on 62 minutes when Paul Chow’s header was blocked, and Lee Paul Scroggins scored from the rebound.

Whitley Bay manager Ian Chandler said; “It was a fantastic performance, We dominated and should have had another goal or two. We restricted Bedlington to very little, which was extra pleasing.”

West Auckland came from two goals down to earn a 3-3 draw at Ashington. The home side took the lead with a deflected shot by Marc Walton, then Callum Little made it 2-0 from close range. Mattie Moffat and John Campbell combined well for Campbell to run through and pull a goal back on 35 minutes. Campbell levelled for a much improved West on 55 minutes , and shortly after Moffat fired his side into the lead. But Walton cracked in an equaliser to earn a point for Ashington.

Moffat has now scored in each of his six games for West this season.

West Auckland manager Peter Dixon said: “I think the first half was one of the worst we’ve played since I became manager, and a few words had to be said at half time.”

In the second division, Northallerton ’s new signing Wayne Gredziak announced his arrival in style when he scored with his first touch of the ball against Horden in the 3-0 win.

Anthony Roberts headed his first goal in seven years from a throw in after just two minutes, and midway through the half Adam Emson scored the second from a Carl Chillingsworth pass. Gredziak came on for Emson after 64 minutes, and scored with a 25 yarder.

Northallerton manager Mark Fanning said: “ In the first half we started well and once we got two up we stopped playing. Second half we stepped up a gear and created great chances and ran out comfortable winners. Superb start from Wayne who not only scored with his first touch but seemed to lift our whole game.”

Ryhope CW are still top after they thumped bottom club Ryton 5-0. Chris Winn scored twice in the first half, and after the break Johnny Butler scored a hat trick to take his to 12 in the league.

Ryhope CW manager Martin Swales said: “We were on top for start to finish. That’s ten goals scored and none conceded in the last two games.”

Chester-le-Street lost their unbeaten record when they were beaten 2-1 at home by Whickham. Sam McIntosh fired Whickham into the lead after 10 minutes, and Keith Foster made it 2-0 on the hour. Marc Nixon pulled a goal back for Chester near the end.

Chester-le-Street manager Colin Wake said: “We again didn't deserve anything from the game, as we didn't do the basics right from start to finish. We gave away two criminal goals from a defensive point of view, one ball too many across our own box within the first three minutes cost us the first goal and sloppy defending on the edge of the box cost us a free kick which they scored direct from whilst the keeper was lining up the wall. Offensively we never moved the ball quick enough, never passed the ball well enough, didn't pass and move, and didn't create enough chances against a hard working well organised typical second division side.”

Whickham manager Robin Falcus said; “I was really pleased with the performance. We put in a really disciplined and committed performance, and when we scored the second, we were more comfortable.”

Whitehaven are second after they won 4-2 at Washington . Darren Donald and Kevin Connelly put Whitehaven 2-0 up before Robert Nolan pulled a goal back. However, Whitehaven went 3-1 up through Matty Tymon’s sixth goal in two games, with Craig Robson scoring another. Nicky Evans pulled a late goal back.

Washington manager Richie Latimer said: “We were well beat. We gave away a sloppy goal in the first 10 minutes and never really recovered. One to forget.”