Fightback point is valuable says West boss Skinner

Every point is precious for West at the moment as they gave themselves a twelve point cushion over the bottom three – but they had to do it the hard way, with three goals in the last fifteen minutes.

“This could turn out to be a very important point in the battle against relegation, because none of the bottom three won on Saturday,” said Skinner. “We shot ourselves massively in the foot in the first half had the first 15 of the second half with three sloppy weak goals. Then we made a couple of changes that made a massive difference and we showed great character and spirit to come back from three down. Hopefully we can take that into the next game and credit to the team for not giving up.”

Washington took the lead on 33 minutes when Jake Pickard crossed for Jake Fowler to score from a few yards, and they went 2-0 up on 57 minutes when Matty Waters scored from a corner.

The points looked as if they were heading for Washington when Waters lobbed Lewis Graham for the third on 72 minutes, but then West launched their fightback.

Tommy Marron chested down a right wing free kick and volleyed home, then three minutes later Craig Ruddy pulled another back from the spot following a foul at a corner.

And with a minute left, Zak Boagey fired the equaliser to give West an unlikely draw.

At the top end of the table, North Shields are now eleven points clear after they just managed to overcome a battling Bishop Auckland side 1-0 at the Daren Persson stadium.

The only goal came from a penalty when Ryan Carr was brought down in the box, with Bishops far from happy with the decision. Gareth Bainbridge scored from the spot.

Bishops had more of the play in the second half, and Shields keeper Kyle Hayes pulled off some good saves.

Shields have signed striker Joe Kerridge from Easington.

North Shields manager Jon McDonald said; “It was a gritty performance, Bishops are a good side and there was little in the first half. Second half we created some good chances and also defended doggedly. I’m proud of the players.”

Bishop Auckland manager Steve Riley said; “I was really disappointed with the result. I thought we stuck to our gameplan excellently and created some opportunities first half.

“The second half was all Bishops but we couldn’t get the break. We deserved to get at least a draw out of the game, but the lads were different class.”

Shildon are still keeping the pressure on the leading two thanks to a 1-0 away win at bottom club West Allotment The goal came early in the game from the penalty spot through Matty Robson, and after that Shildon’s new signing Adam Burnicle was denied twice, while Lewis Wing was also just off target.

Allotment had more of the play in the second half and put Shildon under more pressure, but Burnicle was just denied a second at the other end.

Shildon manager Bobby Moore said; “It was another important three points. It wasn’t the best performance, but another clean sheet which we have struggled to do this season. So there were a few positives ahead of a massive week.”

West Allotment manager Paul Stoneman said; “I’m absolutely gutted for the lads. We worked our socks off and have been done by a penalty which never was. There was nothing in the game at all. We really deserved a point, it doesn’t help when the official says at half time you will have to forgive me for that decision.”

Fourth placed Morpeth, whom Shildon play on Wednesday, were held to a 1-1 draw at Ryhope CW.

The home side nearly took the lead with a shot by Micky Hall that hit the bar, as did Ben Sayer for the visitors.

Morpeth took the lead with a header by Matthew Grieve, but Ryhope levelled with a header by Danny Lay.

Morpeth manager Nick Gray said; “The lads didn’t play well, but credit to Ryhope who did.”

Ryhope CW manager Gary Pearson said; “The commitment and desire from our players was amazing again, earning a thoroughly deserved point. We only had eleven fit players and one outfield sub who hadn’t played for six weeks because of injury. Both teams had their chances and although we were backs to the wall for long periods we definitely finished the game the stronger and could easily have snatched a win. It shows how far we have come as a team as we were embarrassed 7-1 at their place.”

Third bottom Guisborough’s hopes of a morale boost at Jarrow Roofing were dashed when they were beaten 4-1.

Chris Winn put Roofing into the lead after just four minutes, then he set up Dennis Knight to make it 2-0 after 19 minutes.

Winn made it 3-0 with a shot on the turn on 27 minutes, then Knight curled in a free kick for the fourth before half time. Steven Roberts pulled one back for Guisborough, then Louis Goldsack missed an easy chance for a second.

Guisborough manager Gary Forster said; “That was really disappointing. There was a total lack of pride in some lads’ own performances which won’t be tolerated. The second half was better but still way below the standards we expect at this football club.”

Jarrow Roofing manager Richie McLoughlin said; “We played some top football and were well worth the win. We scored some good goals and defended well.”

Marske United striker Danny Earl scored all four of his team’s goals in their 4-2 away win at Consett, to give them their sixth successive victory.

Earl scored his first from a Peter Bulmer assist after 2 minutes, then he finished off a great four man move for the second. He completed his hat trick from a free kick, and at the start of the second half volleyed the fourth.

Curtis Round hit the post before Luke Sullivan pulled two back for Consett, one of them from the spot.

Marske keeper Robbie Dean made his 200th appearance for the club.

Consett manager Mark Eccles said; “It was a horrendous first half performance and that cost us big style. You can’t give a good side like Marske a 4-0 lead and expect to get something. The lads let themselves down in the first half . I got a reaction in the second half but that could also be in part to Marske taking their foot off the pedal.”

Marske manager Carl Jarrett said; “I’m really pleased with the result, that’s six wins in a row now and confidence is high. We started the game really well and to score three high quality goals was pleasing, then even better to go 4-0 up with another outstanding finish from Danny showed again what an excellent player he is.

But even more pleasing was the team performance, although I was a little disappointed to concede two soft goals. But I can’t be too critical of the lads, hopefully we’ll continue the run on Wednesday night.”

Newton Aycliffe had a good day out in Cumbria, coming back from Penrith with all three points in a 4-2 win to put them into ninth place.

Penrith had a new keeper, and he was beaten after just 28 seconds by a Jamie Owens header, and after 20 minutes Owens fired the second from the edge of the box.

Stuart Banks volleyed the third, before Owens completed his hat trick with another good finish. Grant Davidson and Kevin Connelly pulled late goals back for Penrith.

Newton Aycliffe manager Deano Browne said; “We started really well and caught Penrith napping. We bossed the first half and went in at half time in a deserved 2-0 lead. Penrith moved the ball around better than us in the second half but we caught them on the break. Penrith applied pressure in the last 20 minutes but we were quite comfortable in the end.”

Whitley Bay beat Dunston UTS 2-1 at Hillheads thanks to a very late goal.

Andy Robertson put Whitley into the lead with a low shot after beating a defender, but Warren Byrne levelled with a penalty five minutes after half time.

Dunston got another penalty ten minutes later, but this time Whitley keeper Tom Flynn saved from Byrne.

And Whitley made them pay for that miss when Callum Anderson headed in a corner in the third minute of stoppage time.

Whitley Bay assistant manager Anthony Woodhouse said; “It was an awful game to watch. We scored very early and very late. They had two penalties given in between and scored one of them. We hit the post, and other than that there was nothing much to shout about.”

Dunston UTS manager Chris Swailes said; “We should have got at least a draw and ended up with nothing. Very frustrating.”

Chester-le-Street, who are bottom, picked up a good point in a goalless draw at Sunderland RCA.

Chester-le-Street manager Colin Wake said; “I thought we were outstanding . We rode our luck in the first half against the wind when our keeper Jack Wilson made two great saves but second half we could and probably should have won it. But overall an excellent performance and a good point to show for our efforts.”

Sunderland RCA manager Marty Swales said; “It was a boring draw in windy conditions. We had enough chances in the first half to win two games.”

In the second division, Hebburn’s appeal for financial help was rewarded with a crowd of 281, about ten times their usual gate, for their 3-0 home defeat by league leaders Team Northumbria. Ben Dibb-Fuller (2) and Ross McKeown scored.

Hebburn manager Scott Oliver said; “A superb crowd of 281 is the story. It as great backing , just a shame our performance was awful. Team North never broke sweat.”

Stockton Town are unbeaten in twelve league matches after two goals by Max Craggs gave them the points against Northallerton. Craggs headed the first from a left wing cross, and then he got his second with another header just after half time to give him twelve league goals for them since he joined in November.

Northallerton manager Darren Trotter said; “It was a much better performance. We were beaten by a better side. It could have been different had Nicky Martin’s lob in the first half not hit the crossbar. Credit to Stockton who are a very good side.”

Stockton Town manager Micky Dunwell said; “I was very pleased with the result and performance. We created plenty of chances and could have been more if it wasn’t for their keeper.”

Billingham Town are fourth thanks to a 4-1 away win at second bottom Darlington RA. Chris Dickinson put Town 2-0 in front, but Steve Telford pulled a goal back. Connor Dunlavey and Craig Hutchinson scored for Town in the second half.

Billingham Town manager Barry Oliver said; “A 4-1 win was a little unjust on RA who made life very hard for us from start to finish/ I thought we were very sloppy at times and we know we are better than that but we will take the points. RA are certainly not a team at the bottom, credit to Chris Dickinson but seven changes on the day keeps us in the top four.”

The other two teams in the fight to avoid relegation also lost. Esh Winning were beaten 2-0 – they have now conceded 100 league goals -- at Heaton Stannington for whom Jonathan Wright and Jordan Ray scored.

Esh Winning manager Tony Boakes said; “I thought we were unlucky today. We played really well until we gave a penalty away on 40 minutes and a goal from a cross in the second half but more positives than negatives going forward.”

Ryton and Crawcrook lost to an early goal by Daniel Kent at Willington.

Willington manager Rob Lee said; “We played well for the first 25 minutes and went 1-0 up. Ryton came on strong and pushed us all the way. We hung on for the three points.”

In the other games, Easington lost 3-2 at home to Bedlington. Josh Rodgers scored twice for Bedlington in the first ten minutes, but Jack pounder and Luke Page put Willington back into the game in the second half. However, Bedlington’s Sam Norris ran through and got the winner in stoppage time.

Blyth Town beat Alnwick 3-1 to keep their promotion hopes alive in sixth place. Liam Gilhespy’s early goal for Blyth was cancelled out by Tony Brown, but David Robinson and Gary Day hit back for Blyth.