Durham City’s new manager Ian Chandler knows how big a job he has taken on when City lost 2-0 at home to Billingham Synthonia on Saturday.

City’s season has fallen apart in recent weeks following the sacking of manager Adam Furness and the departure of several players, and now Chandler has a rebuilding job on his hands.

“It was a strange game,” he said. “We had a three minute spell where our keeper made a mistake which cost us a goal, then a minute later we were caught out again. The rest of the first half we had all the possession but no shots on target. The second half was a non event, but the team kept trying and there were some decent performances.”

Synners hit Durham with two quick goals. Durham keeper Dean Caris made a mess of dealing with a through ball by Fred woodhouse, and Michael Sweet was left with a simple tap in on just three minutes, and shortly after Jack Bradbury played the ball through for Sweet to beat Caris.

City nearly pulled a goal back, but Dan Madden fired straight at Synners keeper James Briggs, while Kris Hughes and Bradbury also went close. In the second half, Woodhouse had a shot cleared off the line.

Chandler has appointed his former Whitley Bay assistant, Brian Rowe, as his number two.

Billingham Synthonia assistant manager Lee Tucker said; “I thought we got our goals against the run of play but we got better as the game went on and controlled the second half really well.”

In the fight against relegation, Sunderland RCA had an important 4-2 away win at Bedlington to put them seven points above the drop zone. Gavin Barton scored twice in the first half hour to put RCA 2-0 up, before Dylan Williamson pulled a goal back. However, Joe Hughes and Shaun McAvoy put RCA 4-1 up before Kyle Dobson scored a late consolation.

Sunderland RCA manager David Lee said; “It was a very important three points on a very poor playing field.”

Ian Chandler’s old club, Whitley Bay, beat Team Northumbria 3-1 at Hillheads.

Recent signing Craig Hubbard headed the opener from a Craig MacFarlane cross, and it was 2-0 when Chris Reid headed in an Alex Kempster corner before half time.

Paul Chow then dribbled through and fired his 34th league goal of the season with a left foot shot from the edge of the box. Team North pulled one back when Peter Watling scored from the penalty spot after a foul by Whitley keeper Mark Cook.

Whitley have appointed Leon Ryan as permanent manager. Since he replaced Chandler, his side hasn’t lost a league game in seven.

Team North are still two points below safety with four games left.

Whitley Bay manager Leon Ryan said; “Another pleasing result and three points. Our two centre halves, Chris Reid and Craig Smith were immense.”

Team Northumbria manager Paul Johnson said; “The game could have swung when their keeper should have been sent off for taking our player down in a 1 v 1, but he only got a yellow, so once again nothing going in our favour.”

Dunston bounced back from their 5-0 home defeat by Whitley Bay in midweek to pick up three good points in a 2-1 win at Guisborough.

The home side had the better of the chances in the first half, but it was Dunston who took the lead when Stephen Goddard blasted past Luke Coddington. Adam Gell equalised for Guisborough with ten minutes left, but three minuets into stoppage time, Dan Wilson got the winner with a shot on the turn.

Dunston manager Billy Irwin said; “It was a great three points Everyone had to work hard for the win against a very good team. It was a great goal to win it from Dan Wilson.”

Marske and Bishop Auckland drew 1-1 at Mount Pleasant.

Johnny Butler put Bishops ahead from the penalty spot after he was pulled down after 12 minutes, and then Stuart Thompson hit the post. Marske keeper Robbie Deane also pulled off two good saves and kept his side in the game.

Bishops hit the woodwork twice more, before Marske levelled with ten minutes left, when John Alexander burst through and beat Bishops keeper Nikki Lawson.

Bishop Auckland manager David Bayles said; “We should have been out of sight by half time but for some fantastic saves by their keeper. We had a stonewall penalty turned down in the second half at 1-0 that would have settled the game but Marske scored with virtually their only chance. I feel disappointed for the players as they really should have had all three points and not one Second bottom Hebburn lost a 7 goal thriller at Penrith, after being 3-0 down at one point.

Shaun Gardner, Stephen Rigg and Tyran Taylor scored to put Penrith 3-0 up by half time, but Hebburn bounced back in the second half with goals by Marc Costello and Kris Summers. Martyn Coleman made it 4-2 before Summers scored again late on.

Hebburn manager Scott Oliver said; “It was chalk and cheese. It was a terrible first half and after a chat were superb in the second half.

Morpeth and Newcastle Benfield drew 1-1. Morpeth took the lead after 47 minutes through Steven Anderson, but Benfield levelled with a low shot by Stephen Baptist.

Morpeth manager Nicky Gray said; “We got our noses in front, and I thought we were going to hold on, but a point is better than none.”

Newcastle Benfield manager Steve Bowey said; “We should have won the game, We played well and missed some great chances. Pleased with the performance, we had two 17 year olds who did really well.”

In the second division, West Allotment did their promotion hopes a power of good by winning 2-0 at Jarrow Roofing, and now they only need a single point for promotion, which could come tonight if Jarrow Roofing don’t beat South Shields.

Allotment were in control in the first half, and took the lead with a header by Stephen Little from a Marc Dummett corner. Their second was another header, this time by Liam Hudson from a John Pendlebury cross. They could have had more, but Roofing keeper Andrew Hunter pulled off some good saves.

West Allotment manager Paul Stoneman said; “We were fantastic from start to finish and really deserved the win. I’ve got a great bunch of lads here, that’s seven on the bounce, and one more point to ensure promotion.”

Seaham Red Star improved their chances in third by winning 2-1 at Birtley. The home side gave them a scare by taking the lead through Jake Nicholson, but Seaham bounced back to level through a Lee Kerr effort, and with ten minutes left Tommy English fired the winner, which puts them five points ahead of Roofing, who have three games in hand.

Seaham manager Mark Collingwood said; “It was a hard fought win. We could and should have won by more, but the home keeper was on top form. Three points was the main thing, we need to win our remaining two games.”

Champions North Shields defeated Whickham 5-1. Dan Smart and Dean Holmes put Shields 2-0 up, before Matty Atkin pulled a goal back. The division’s top scorer, Gareth Bainbridge then scored twice to give him 47 for the season, with Smart adding the fifth.

Whickham manager Robin Falcus said; “We were absolutely awful, seven or eight of our players failed to turn up. Shields didn’t have to play well as we gave them three or four goals.”

Heaton Stannington are four points below the top four after they beat Northallerton 2-1. Heaton hit the post and missed some easy chances before they took the lead when Jon Wright lobbed Northallerton keeper Ryan Hodgson, and then Dean Deagle from ten yards. Northallerton pulled a goal back through Danny McLachlan with ten minutes left.

Heaton Stannington manager Geoff Walker said; “We played really well in the first half and dominated it. We had a header cleared off the line and then hit the post. We should have been out of sight in the first half.”

Northallerton manager Peter Mulcaster said; “We ere chasing the game from 15 minutes into the second half, but despite all the pressure, we just couldn’t find the second goal.”

In the battle to avoid relegation, Willington did Esh Winning and Brandon a favour by winning 4-3 at bottom club Ryton and Crawcrook.

The home side led 3-1 after an hour, with goals by Paul Basey, Dean Sinclair and Scott Gunn, and Jason White replying. But Willington regained control in the second half when they scored through Stephen Howe (2) and Reece Marshall.

Willington manager Rob Lee said; “Ryton gave us a very hard game. They fought for everything. They went 3-1 up and we had to fight all the way to come out on top.”

Second bottom Esh Winning were beaten 4-2 at Alnwick to leave them seven points above the one relegation place.

Esh led with a good shot by Brian Burton, but Alnwick hit back to lead with goals by Tony Brown (2) and Chris Fawcett at half time. Burton pulled one back from the penalty spot, but Keith Douglas made sure for the home side. Brown missed a penalty for his hat trick. The win also ensured safety from relegation.

Brandon striker Stephen Moody scored a hat trick, but he still finished on the losing side when they were beaten 5-3 at home by Thornaby. He scored once in the first half, but by then Ged Livingstone and David Wells had both scored twice at the other end. Livingstone went on to complete his own hat trick at the other end.

Thornaby manager Neil Radigan said; “We were outstanding in the first half and could have been ten, and scored one of the best team goals I’ve seen. We got complacent in the second half and too many people didn’t show the same attitude as the first half.”

Tow Law comfortably beat Darlington RA 5-0 at Ironworks Road, with goals by Scott Brassell (2), recent signing Kai Hewitson, Adam Pinkney and Alistair Wilson.

Tow Law manager Gary Anderson said; “It was a very pleasing result. We scored five and kept a clean sheet. I couldn’t ask for anything more.”

Darlington RA manager Nick Harrison said; “We started poor, and grew into the first half, and ended in on top, but we conceded in the 45th minute. We started well in the second half, but gifted them two goals. It was a far cry from Tuesday’s performance at Whitehaven in the end.”

Washington also scored five, in an excellent away win at Chester-le-Street, who had their keeper Chris Rookes red carded for swearing when the score was 5-0, so Jackie Honour played in goal for the last 35 minutes. Paul Kane (2), Chris Winn (2) and Mark Davison scored for Washington.

Chester-le-Street manager Colin Wake said; “Disappointing result, but proud of the ten lads that we had left on the field. We were 5-0 down when our keeper was sent off for using foul and abusive language and we then kept it clean for 40 minutes. Washington were by far the better team and side and could have won by more but the nine outfield players and Jackie Honour who went in goal gave me everything they had and I can’t ask for any more. Feeling proud in defeat is a rarity!”

Norton beat Whitehaven 3-2 at Station Road. Nicky Martin (2) and Gary Mitchell scored for Norton, with Kevin Connolly and Craig Robson replying for Whitehaven.

Norton manager Andy Campbell said; “It was a good first half display but for the final 30 minutes of the second half. We stopped playing and let them back in with a couple of goals. We just need to keep our standards high.”

Stokesley are just above the bottom three still because of their 3-1 home defeat by South Shields. Shaun Smith (2) and Adam Burnicle scored for Shields, with Greg Peel replying.

In the Evo-Stik League, Blyth lost 1-0 at home to second placed FC United of Manchester to put them six points behind the play offs with five games remaining.

Whitby drew 1-1 at Marine, Lee Mason scoring their goal.