Norton set to quit league unless new chairman comes forward

Norton’s players, volunteers and management team were told the news by upset chairman Mike Mulligan and manager Deano Browne after Saturday’s 3-1 home defeat by Heaton Stannington. Mulligan, who has been chairman for nearly ten years, has been the main driving force behind the club with the help of a small bunch of hard-working volunteers, and has decided that he is withdrawing his financial and voluntary backing.

Manager Deano Browne said; “Mike has been brilliant for the club while he’s been in charge, and he has given me great encouragement since I became manager.

“But he’s got to the point where he’s doing nearly everything and he’s had enough. He was very upset when he told me of his decision, and was again when I told the players and the volunteers straight after Saturday’s game. I have tried to talk him round over the last two or three days, but he’s very adamant that unless somebody comes forward to take on the club by Wednesday, then he will pull it out of the league.

“I’ve got the opportunity to resign, but I’m going to stay at the club. I want to help it survive, because it’s a great club. I’m looking for immediate help now, I’m quite prepared to talk to anyone who is interested.”

Norton are lying 13th in the table, well away from the relegation zone. They have won nine and drawn one of their 18 league games this season.

If nobody comes forward and Norton decide to resign, then one of the options open to the league is to expunge their record of the season to date, but as yet, they have had no formal communication from the club.

After a goalless first half, Heaton took a two goal lead with goals by Dan Robinson and Sam Walton, then Liam Browne pulled a goal back. Robinson wrapped up the points with a late third.

Saturday morning’s top four all won in the first division.

League leaders North Shields won 2-1 at Newton Aycliffe, and stay eight points clear at the top.

Ryan Carr volleyed Shields into the lead after 17 minutes, then Dean Holmes got the second from a right wing cross just before the half hour.

Aycliffe pulled a goal back through John Campbell on 65 minutes from the spot following a handball offence, and even though Aycliffe put on plenty of pressure and went close again, they couldn’t break through again.

North Shields manager Jon McDonald said; “Aycliffe is a tough place to go. We scored two terrific goals and deserved to go in leading the game at half time. Aycliffe gave it a real go second half and we showed real resilience whilst also creating a number of very good chances.”

South Shields, in second, crushed bottom club Guisborough 6-0 at Mariners Park.

Guisborough were up against it from the opening minutes, when Robbie Briggs headed in a David Foley cross on 5 minutes, then David Carson fired the second a minute later.

Briggs finished off a good move for 3-0 and before half time Julio Arca converted a penalty for handball. Carl Finnigan made it 5-0 on 49 minutes from a Briggs pass, and new signing Adam Wrightson got the sixth within ten minutes of coming on as sub.

Guisborough are now seven points adrift of safety.

Guisborough manager Steve Dowling said; “Early goals killed us against a very good South Shields team.”

Third placed Morpeth easily won 3-0 at sixth placed Marske United. Liam Henderson put them into the lead with a 25 yarder after 10 minutes, then Jordan Fry scored the second from a free kick midway through the half.

Marske had a goal disallowed for offside before Henderson fired in off the post for the third. Marske’s Adam Wheatley was sent off for two yellows late in the game.

Marske manager Carl Jarrett said; “Two weeks in a row we have turned up like boys and been beaten by men. Take nothing away from Morpeth, they are a top team and deserved the win.”

Morpeth manager Nick Gray said; “It was another good team performance in which everyone played their part against a good Marske side and when they had their spells in the game we stood up to the challenge.”

Shildon, in fourth, won their local derby against West Auckland by 3-2 at Dean Street, but they nearly threw away a 3-0 lead.

Micky Rae headed them into the lead from a left wing cross by David Ferguson, then Lewis Wing fired the second. Paul Connor got the third with an overhead kick before half time.

Wing missed a penalty before the break, but in the second half West really got into the game, and Carl Jones made it 3-1 with a header, with Adam Burnicle scoring a second from a free kick by the hour mark. But despite having most of the pressure, West couldn’t grab the equaliser.

Shildon assistant manager Phil Brumwell said; “We made a lot of changes but totally dominated the first half. We played at a fast tempo and created some good chances, and should have been well ahead. Second half we sat back, thought the game was over and let them back into the game. They were a good three points in the end.”

West Auckland manager Darren Williams said; “It was a very poor first half, but our fantastic reaction in the second half deserved a point.”

Bishop Auckland won at Seaham Red Star for the second time in four days , this time by 3-0.

They took the lead after 4 minutes when Andy Johnson scored from the rebound after James Fairley’s shot was blocked – his 13th league goal of the season – then Jeff Smith hit the post.

Johnson scored a second from a Michael Hoganson cross on 55 minutes and new signing Ryan Noble, who started his career at Sunderland, scored the third just three minutes after coming on as sub.

Bishop Auckland manager Steve Riley said; “It was good result. We were clinical in front of goal and got back to keeping clean sheets which is pleasing. I thought Jon Wright had a great game up front.”

Seaham Red Star manager Chris McCabe said; “It was a frustrating day for us. Individual errors are costing us at the moment, that and we need to be a bit more ruthless in front of goal. We start converting chances and the confidence will start to grow. I’m happy with the team’s performance but results aren’t going for us at the moment.”

Dunston UTS maintained their recent improvement by beating West Allotment 4-1.

Dunston took the lead through Richie Slaughter direct from a free kick, but Allotment levelled through Stephen Young from a David Henderson assist.

Dan Smith put Dunston back into the lead from a loose ball early in the second half, and with a few minutes left Harvey Saunders ran through and scored the third. He hit the post before he scored the fourth with another run through the defence.

Dunston UTS manager Chris Swailes said; “It was a great team performance from everybody.”

West Allotment manager Paul Stoneman said; “The first half was pleasing, we could have gone in a goal up, but it wasn’t to be. Second half we missed a great chance to go ahead and then to be fair Dunston battered us.We were two different teams first half and second half.”

Jarrow Roofing moved up three places to 15th in the table by beating Ashington 3-2. Calvin Smith fired Roofing into the lead after 7 minutes, but Ashington levelled through Dan O’Reilly.

Recent signing Chris Winn restored Roofing’s lead, but once again Ashington hit back through David Dormand.

But Kris Hughes got the winner for Roofing when he scored from the edge of the box.

Jarrow Roofing manager Richie McLoughlin said; “It was a great game. We played well. The lads were very good and some good football was played.”

Jarrow have signed Lee Kerr and Paul Gardiner from Seaham.

Ashington assistant manager Ian Skinner said; “Our recent good run has come to a disappointing end. It was a good game of our possession football against their percentage football. We showed good character to come from behind twice but shot ourselves in the foot a little. The three goals we conceded today were poor, but Jarrow have a good squad and I expect them to start climbing the table.”

Chester-le-Street are still second bottom after they lost 3-1 at Newcastle Benfield.

After Benfield’s top scorer Paul Brayson put a penalty over the top and out the ground early on, they took the lead through Josh Scott after Brayson hit the post. Despite the heroics of Chester keeper Jack Wilson, Brayson then set up Dylan McEvoy for the second, but Chester pulled a goal back through Dominic Laws to give them hope.

But Brayson scored his 19th league goal from close range near the end.

Chester-le-Street manager Colin Wake said; “If it wasn’t for our keeper, Jack Wilson, the scoreline would have been embarrassing. We were beaten by a much better team who were hungrier for the second half all afternoon. Unfortunately we forgot we had to participate in the game and deservedly were beaten comfortably.”

Sunderland RCA and Consett both scored in stoppage time at the end of the game on their way to a 3-3 draw.

Colin Larkin put RCA into the lead from 20 yards after 4 minutes, then Mark Robinson pounced on a mistake and scored the second.

Jordan Nellis got the last touch from a Max Craggs shot to pull a goal back before half time for Consett, and they levelled with a coolly taken Luke Sullivan penalty.

RCA were awarded a spot kick themselves in the fifth minute of injury time that Consett’s new keeper Gareth Young saved from Larkin, but he scored from the rebound. However, Michael Sweet levelled with a header almost straight from the kick off.

Consett manager Mark Eccles said; “I thought we started well but conceded two breakaway goals which left us 2-0 down after ten minutes. We went scrappy for a bit but then composed ourselves and managed to pull one back to go in 2-1 at half time. I thought we dominated the second half and got back to 2-2. We kept pushing for the win and were unlucky hitting the post twice and their keeper made good saves . I thought we had lost the game when they were given a debatable penalty with seconds to go and felt it wasn’t our day. The lads showed great character to get a late goal and a point but I thought we deserved all three.”

Sunderland RCA manager Marty Swailes said; “I’m gutted. We were winning 2-0, then got back to 2-2. We scored in 94th minute they then go and scored with the last kick of the game. It was a great game to watch though.”

Ryhope CW picked up three valuable points in a 2-1 away win at Washington and move above Washington to fifth bottom.

James Ellis put them into the lead from a loose ball, but Washington levelled through Jonny Wightman from a Reece Noble cross.

But Kyle Davis won it for Ryhope with a header just before half time.

Ryhope CW manager Gary Pearson said; “It was nice to finish a Saturday afternoon with a win especially against a team also struggling at the wrong end of the table. Our first half performance was excellent and we should have gone in at the interval possibly four or five up as our forwards and wide men were running riot.

“The second half was a bit of a different story as we lost our way and struggled to recapture our first half form, and if it wasn’t for dreadful finishing from the Washington forwards we could have found ourselves staring at a defeat. Not a great game but three points are really appreciated.”

Washington manager Neil Hixon said; “It was a shocking first half and we should have been five goals down. The second half was better and we really should have taken something from the game.”

Whitley Bay are now fifth in the table after they beat Penrith 2-0. Andy Robertson fired Whitley into the lead, then their keeper Tom Flynn saved a penalty from Penrith’s Martyn Coleman.

The game was heading for a draw until the last minute when Penrith sent everyone up for a last minute corner, and Whitley’s Kyle Patton broke away at the other end and scored the winner.

Whitley Bay coach Chris Moore said; “You always get a tough game against Penrith but we dealt with it well and played some good football. It would have been nice to get the second goal earlier, but the lads dug in and saw the game out well.”

In the other second division games, Team Northumbria beat Thornaby 5-1 after they were tied 1-1 at half time.

Thornaby’s Michael Joseph cancelled out Scott Gunn’s early goal, but in the second half Kevin Carr, Gunn, Joe Bradley and Gerard Richardson scored further goals.

Thornaby manager Paul Burton said; “We were ok in the first half, e started slowly and they dominated the first 20. We settled into the game, played some good stuff and got back to 1-1. I genuinely believed that we could get something from the game at half time. We spoke about the start of the second half being important and that we didn’t concede. They ran the second half at their pace and scored a few more but just as disappointed at our defending for all the goals we conceded today. At times we look ok, we can keep the ball well and create chances but we have no chance of winning a game if we defend like we did today. We move into the next game and start again.”

Billingham Synthonia stay second after beating Brandon 3-0.

David Hillerby gave them the lead with a deflected shot on 17 minutes, and on 56 minutes Macauley Langstaff crossed for Danny Brunskill to get the second. Brunskill then set up Conor Winter to score the third.

Billingham Synthonia manager Conrad Hillerby said; “We were excellent from star to finish. I’m really pleased.”

Stockton Town hit six for the second time this season when they Esh Winning 6-0. Fred Woodhouse and Kallum Hannah put them 2-0 up inside 15 minutes, then Adam Nicholson, Joe Carter, Matty Garbutt and Jimmy Ward scored further goals in the second half. Hannah has now scored 18 league goals this season.

Stockton Town manager Micky Dunwell said; “It was a good solid win. We played well from start to finish a few weeks ago. We were struggling to get going at home, but once we got the early goal settled into the game. It was a good win with everyone winning around us too.”

Durham City went fourth with a 3-1 home win over Ryton and Crawcrook.

Jeremy Allen put Durham into the lead , but Ryton levelled with a Phil Robinson free kick. However, Brad Hird’s long range effort put Durham back into the lead, then he got another in the last minute.

Durham City manager Olly Hotchkiss said; “It was an excellent performance from the players We worked hard and played some good expansive football. We need to convert more chances but on the balance of play we deserved all three points but Ryton played very well and we wish them the best for the season ahead.”

Easington are in fifth place after beating Crook 3-0 at Welfare Park.

Reece Kenney put Easington into the lead with a 25 yarder just on half time, then Nathan Renton scored the second from a few yards out. Luke Page got the third with a low shot.

Darlington RA are still second bottom after losing 2-0 at Whickham, for whom Owen Lancaster and Steve Aiston scored.

Darlington RA manager Peter Mulcaster said; “I was disappointed that we lost as we were the better side at half time.”

Willington earned a good point in a 1-1 draw with Northallerton. James Seymour fired Willington into the lead on 29 minutes, but Danny Jones levelled after Liam Jarvie’s shot was blocked.

Northallerton manager Darren Trotter said; “Our approach to the game was no what is expected and we got found out. We gifted Willington the first goal and could have been further behind. Second half was better but you reap what you sow.”

Willington manager Rob Lee said; “We played well, it was a good result. We went 1-0 up, and they pulled it back to 1-1. We hit the bar and worked hard for the last ten minutes. We put a lot of pressure on. We’re trying to rebuild the side.”

In the other game, Alnwick drew 1-1 with Bedlington. Liam Brooks put Alnwick into the lead, but Kyle Dobson levelled for Bedlington.

The game between Tow Law and Billingham Town was postponed because of a snow covered pitch.