Shildon manager Danny Moore reckoned that his team produced their best display in his spell in charge when they beat league leaders North Shields 2-0 at Dean Street on Saturday, and in doing so opened the door for South Shields and Morpeth in the race for the title..

Shildon haven’t found their top form often enough this season, but they produced their best display for some time and end Shields’ 15 match winning run.

“We were superb,” said Moore. “We dominated the game and deserved the win but fair play to Shields and Jon McDonald their manager they have set the pace and possibly have done enough to win the league.

“We have performed well in recent weeks and maybe haven’t got the right results, but after Wednesday’s defeat in the league cup, the lads were bang at it.”

Shields went closest to scoring with an effort by Dan Wilson that hit the post, but Shildon took the lead when Shields’ Michael McKeown was shown his second yellow for a foul in the area, and Matty Robson scored from the spot.

Shildon dominated the game after that, and after Micky Rae, Billy Greulich-Smith and Adam Burnicle all went close, Burnicle fired the goal that settled the game with a shot into the bottom corner.

North Shields are still 14 points clear, but South Shields have five games in hand.

North Shields manager Jon McDonald said; “Conceding a penalty and going to ten men in the first half was the turning point. Credit to Shildon who played well. We now look forward to our final four fixtures and I know the players will respond positively.”

South Shields, meanwhile, won 2-1 at Ryhope CW with a superb late goal by Andrew Stephenson.

Shields took the lead through a Carl Finnigan penalty on 11 minutes after he was brought down in the area, but Ryhope levelled on 28 minutes with a 25 yarder by Josh Home-Jackson.

Shields hit the post through Jon Shaw in the second half, while Shields’ new keeper, Peter Jameson also made a good stop.

Shields won it on 71 minutes, with a 25 yard thunderbolt by Andrew Stephenson, that gave the Ryhope keeper literally no chance.

Ryhope manager Gary Pearson said; “The game went very much how I expected it to, with Shields having the lion’s share of possession and being the more offensive side. We stuck to our gameplan, squandered a couple of chances but also rode our luck at times. I believe our lads more than held their own which I’m really proud of.”

Morpeth have still got hopes of gatecrashing the top two after they won 4-1 at fourth bottom Washington.

Michael Turner put Morpeth into an 8th minute lead from a Keith Graydon free kick, then former Washington player Mark Davison scored the second from the edge of the box.

It was 3-0 when Joe Walton crossed for Davison to head home, then just after half time Graydon made it 4-0 from 25 yards.

Washington, who are looking nervously over their shoulders now at Guisborough’s progress, pulled a goal back through Jake Pickard.

Morpeth manager Nick Gray said; “We started the game really well and after the first 20 minutes the game as a contest was over, although credit to Washington as they kept going right to the end.”

West Auckland are just about safe now after they scraped home 2-1 against bottom club Chester-le-Street.

West got the start they wanted when Chester defender Lee Mole headed a right wing cross into his own net, and they paid the penalty for missed chances when Michael Hepplewhite scored from the spot after David Latham was brought down.

But West got a penalty themselves on 64 minutes when Craig Ruddy fouled , and he scored from the spot. It was end to end after that, but West held on.

Chester are now just one defeat away from relegation with four games remaining, and are now nine points away from safety.

West Auckland manager Steve Skinner said; “It was hard, hard match to watch and frustrating at times. We were down to the bare bones with the lads not there because of work. They put a good shift in and overall deserved the three points that were massive for us. I was very happy with the effort the players put in today.”

Chester-le-Street manager Colin Wake said; “We battled hard all afternoon and gave everything that we had, but lacked the quality required to break down a big strong solid side. I feel we deserved at least a point and they never really tested our keeper as we conceded an own goal and a penalty. In fact both goals were from set plays, so another disappointing day.”

Guisborough still have a chance of getting out of the bottom three, and they gave themselves a big boost by beating Penrith 3-1 at the King George to go four points behind fourth bottom Washington, but they’ve played a game more.

Guisborough took the lead on 33 minutes when veteran striker Dave Onions scored from a Steve Roberts pass, then Connor Smith scored the second just before half time.

Smith hit the bar just after half time, and they got the third just on the hour when Louis Goldsack scored after the ball came back to him off the post.

Penrith pulled a goal back through Will Paul nine minutes from the end, but that didn’t stop Guisborough securing their first home win since November.

Guisborough manager Gary Forster said; “We were delighted to get the win, it was a really good performance. We can’t get ahead of ourselves though, we have two really big games coming up over the next fortnight.”

Bishop Auckland drew 2-2 with Jarrow Roofing at Heritage Park.

Bishops went a goal behind on 8 minutes when a corner by Jarrow’s Dennis Knight was fumbled into his own goal by Bishops keeper Tom Dawson, but Roofing levelled when Steve Fairley made a good run and fired past Roofing keeper Lewis Brass.

Bishops thought they’d done enough when Fairley scored with a deflected shot ten minutes from the end, but a mistake by Dan Madden allowed Knight to run through and although his shot was blocked by sub keeper Scott Pocklington, Michael Mackay followed up and scored to stretch Roofing’s unbeaten run to eight league matches. Bishops remain in sixth place with three games remaining.

Jarrow Roofing manager Richie McLoughlin said; “We’ve come to a top six team and are disappointed not to leave with all three points, but that’s eight unbeaten now.”

Bishop Auckland manager Steve Riley said; “I really feel for the lads as two individual errors have cost us all three points. The lads put in a spirited performance and controlled the game, restricting Jarrow to only a couple of long range efforts, but despite having a host of unexpected injuries on the morning of the game and a further injury in warm up, we managed to take a point and on another day could and should have had all three. The lads who played can take heart from a decent performance.”

Newton Aycliffe had a good 2-1 away win at Ashington to keep them in ninth place.

Jamie Owens put Aycliffe into the lead from a free kick, but Ashington equalised through Ryan McGorrigan from a Lee McMahon pass.

But Aycliffe recovered, and Owens made it 2-1 from a Stuart Banks free kick at the start of the second half. After that, Ashington piled on the pressure, but the Aycliffe defence did well, with keeper James Winter pulling off a couple of good saves.

Newton Aycliffe manager Deano Browne said; “We started the game really well and both teams created a couple of early chances. We were 1-1 at half time and started the second half better and deservedly took the lead. We dominated the next 20 minutes and could have been out of sight. Ashington dominated the last 15 minutes and our keeper and defence had to work hard to keep them at bay. I thought we deserved the three points and dealt with Ashington’s direct approach.”

Marske United are looking good for a top five finish by beating Newcastle Benfield 4-1 at Mount Pleasant.

Marske took the lead after 2 minutes when Adam Wheatley scored from close range off a corner, and they went 2-0 up on 13 minutes when Danny Earl scored from a through ball.

Marske missed chances to increase the lead until just on half time, when Earl curled the ball home from 20 yards, for his 25th league goal of the season. Aaron Ramsbottom made it 4-0 from an Earl assist just after half time, but the league’s top scorer Paul Brayson pulled one back . Lewis Scorgie was sent off for Benfield for two yellows late in the game.

Marske manager Carl Jarrett said; “The result was great and the lads were fantastic after losing midweek to bounce back against a good team. We defended really well against two top forwards. I’m so proud of the lads especially as we only had 12 fit players.

Sunderland RCA won 2-0 at Seaham Red Star. After a goalless first half, James Cassidy put the RCA in front with a low shot, then Colin Larkin made it 2-0 from a rebound.

Sunderland RCA manager Marty Swales said; “I asked for a reaction from the players after our defeat on Wednesday and got one. We played an in form side and were always the better side. I’m very happy with three points and a clean sheet.”

Dunston lost 1-0 at home to Whitley Bay, even though the visitors had their keeper sent off.

Dunston keeper Jack Norton pulled off a couple of good saves before Whitley took the lead when Norton could only parry a shot by Thibault Charmey, and Alex Kempster was on hand to score.

Whitley keeper Thomas Flynn was dismissed for a foul on Dunston striker Stephen Richardson outside the box just before half time, and was replaced by striker Callum Patton, who pulled off two good saves in the second half.

Dunston UTS manager Chris Swailes said; “That was the poorest we’ve been all season. We deserved nothing, and got nothing from the game.”

In the second division, leaders Team Northumbria were held to a 2-2 draw at Northallerton. Jack Proctor headed Northallerton in front on 8 minutes, but Andrei Ardelean levelled for Team North off the underside of the bar. Ardelean put Team North in front from close range, but Nicky Martin equalised from the penalty spot.

Northallerton manager Darren Trotter said; “We’re disappointed. I thought we had done enough to win the game and maybe should have with the last kick of the game.”

Stockton Town are now just three points behind Team North with a game in hand thanks to a good 3-0 home win over Bedlington. Kevin Hayes fired them ahead on 15 minutes, and he got a second straight after half time. Sonni Coleman finished Bedlington off four minutes from the end.

Stockton Town manager Micky Dunwell said; “It’s another step closer to promotion. Bedlington caused us a lot of problems in the first half but we came out second half and managed the game a lot better. It was a very solid performance.”

Third placed Billingham Synthonia could only draw 0-0 at bottom club Esh Winning, and the closest they came to scoring was a shot by Macauley Langstaff that hit the bar.

Esh Winning manager Tony Boakes said; “Once again against top quality opposition we are pleased to get a point in a hard fought game, but overall it was another great team performance.”

Synners slip wasn’t too costly, because neighbours Billingham Town lost 1-0 at home to Durham City to drop from fourth to fifth.

They had defender Jamie Davis dismissed for a last man foul midway through the first half, and then Dan O’Reilly scored the only goal of the game on 38 minutes.

Town threw everything at Durham in the second half, but couldn’t break through..

Billingham Town manager Barry Oliver said; “We were the better side for 90 minutes, even with ten men. I have to give credit for my layers for still taking the game to Durham after our sending off, everything seems to be going against us at the most important time of the season and we are now looking for Lady Luck to give us a break. Football can be cruel at times and we will learn from it and be stronger as a group.”

Durham manager Olly Hotchkiss said; “I was proud of the players as they worked hard after a bad run of form. Sometimes ait was hard work and we had to be resilient but we got our rewards. It was a terrific team effort against an excellent Billingham side.”

The main threat to the top three now looks as if it is coming from Heaton Stannington, who won 3-1 at Crook Town for their ninth straight win.

The home side took the lead with a goal by Chris Emms, but Heaton hit back through Lee Johnson, Josh Holland and Dan Robinson, all in the space of seven minutes in the second half. Jonathan Wright also missed a penalty for Heaton, who are now fourth, eight points behind Billingham Synthonia with two games in hand.

Crook have now conceded a century of goals for the season.

At the bottom, Thornaby won their first game since December when they won 1-0 at Tow Law to put them fifth from bottom. Gary Mitchell scored a first half penalty.

Thornaby manager Paul Burton said; “It was a great result for us today. They had a couple of chances in the first half but other than that, we kept them quiet. I thought we worked extremely hard and deserved the three points.”

Tow Law manager Steve Murray said; “It was a poor display in a game we dominated.”

Darlington RA picked up a good point in a 1-1 home draw with Alnwick. David Harrison gave RA a first half lead, but Danny Lowes equalised for Alnwick. The RA are now third bottom, five points above the bottom two.

Darlington RA manager Peter Mulcaster said; “A poor second half cost us the win, but I thought a draw was a fair result.”

Ryton and Crawcrook, who are second bottom, lost 3-0 at Easington, and they are now two points off the bottom.

Jack Pounder put Easington into the lead, and David Paul got the second on 64 minutes. Michael Bulmer made sure ten minutes from the end.

Brandon are out of any danger after they beat Hebburn 2-1. Hebburn led with a goal by Chris Feasey, but Brandon hit back to win with goals by Ben Clarke and Niall Fingleton.

Hebburn manager Scott Oliver said; “Two bad mistakes cost us the match. We went from being comfortable to chasing the game.”

Willington lost 5-2 at home to Blyth Town and are now fourth bottom. Malky Morien put Blyth ahead, and after Willington levelled through Graham Stephenson, Blyth moved up a gear and went 4-1 up through Morien, Liam Gillesphey and Jack Errington. Willington pulled a goal back though Tom Lazonby, but recent signing David Dormand made sure for Blyth.

Willington manager Rob Lee said; Mistakes cost us the game against a very strong Blyth side. At present we are playing with no luck at all. We aren’t finishing our chances and getting punished for our mistakes. I thought we played well in the second half.”

The Brooks Mileson Northern League Cup final between South Shields and North Shields will be staged at Whitley Bay on Saturday May 6th, and the Ernest Armstrong Cup final between Northallerton and Stockton Town will be at Billingham Town on Saturday April 29th.