Benfield defend penalty taken by keeper

The division’s bottom team have conceded over 200 goals in the league this season, but they took offence when Benfield allowed their keeper Andy Grainger to take a penalty near the end.

“I was disappointed with Benfield allowing their keeper to take the second penalty and then going yahoo when the fifth went in with the last kick of the game,” said Town manager Darren Trotter.

“No other team has shown that lack of respect towards us this season even though they have battered us.”

But Benfield said that they allowed former Darlington keeper Grainger to take the penalty to reward his long service for the club, Bowey said; “Andy has been at Benfield for eleven years and it’s his testimonial season. He told me a fortnight ago that he has never scored a goal, so I thought why not. He is the best keeper in the league and I thought he deserved it. Our regular penalty taker, Paul Brayson had just been subbed and Andy strikes a great ball, so why not. Billingham said I took the mickey which never crossed my mind. It was all for Andy. Billingham Town wouldn’t shake my hand afterwards which saddened me.”

Benfield took the lead after 11 minutes when Paul Brayson chipped the ball over Town keeper Corey Smith, and they didn’t go 2-0 up until the 74th minute when Brayson scored with a deflected shot. Brayson completed his hat trick from the penalty spot on 82 minutes from the spot following a foul. Then came the moment that caused the controversy when Grainger made it 4-0 from the spot, and in the closing minutes assistant manager Gareth McAlindon scored the fifth.

Meanwhile at the top, league leaders Celtic Nation won 4-0 at Marske United. It was a fairly even first half, with Marske almost breaking the deadlock, but John Alexander struck the crossbar.

The Nation took the lead when Colin McMenamin scored from a free kick, then Matty Grieve fired home. McMenamin then made it 3-0 from the penalty spot, and Jim Paterson chipped the keeper from 30 yards.

Celtic Nation have Whitley Bay and Morpeth still to play.

Marske manager Ted Watts said; “We played well in the first half and missed an open goal, The extra quality showed in the second half.”

Second placed Spennymoor kept their nerve by beating Consett 1-0 at the Brewery Field.

Moors took the lead on 32 minutes when Andrew Stephenson turned in a cross-cum-shot from Andy Johnson, and after they could have added further goals, but Chris Elliott made some good saves in the Consett goal.

Moors have Dunston UTS, Team Northumbria, Sunderland RCA and Guisborough (twice) to play.

Spennymoor manager Jason Ainsley said; “It was a workmanlike performance, but not great quality. At this stage of the season it was all bout the three points. I thought the lads at the back were exceptional.”

Consett manager Kenny Lindoe said; “It was a tight game with limited chances at either end but the better team won.”

Shildon kept the pressure on the top two by beating Sunderland RCA 4-0, all the goals coming in the second half.

Chris Emms blasted them into the lead from a Sam Garvie pass, then full back Darren Richardson headed in a Chris Emms free kick.

Jamie Harwood and Lee Paul Scroggins combined well for Emms to score, then Emms was involved in the fourth, his corner falling for Richardson to score.

Shildon have Marske, Newton Aycliffe and Dunston still to play.

Sunderland RCA manager David Lee said; “We did well for 60 minutes, and then as soon as Shildon scored we fell apart. I was disappointed because I believed that we could get something out of the game.”

Shildon manager Gary Forrest said; “We’ll try to keep the pressure on Spennymoor by winning our remaining games.”

The performance of the day came from Crook Town, who came back from 2-0 down to win 3-2 against Guisborough.

The visitors took the lead through the league’s leading scorer Danny Johnson after 12 minutes, then Mikey Roberts quickly added the second to give the front pair close on a century of goals between them in all competitions this season.

Crook were much better in the second half, and pulled a goal back when Craig Hughes headed home at the second attempt, then Robbie Bird picked up a long clearance from Barry Poskett and fired past the Guisborough keeper. Poskett saved a Roberts penalty at the other end, and Crook took advantage in the last minute when Hughes headed in a Bird cross.

Crook manager Gary Pearson said; “We were deservedly 2-0 down at half time, we didn’t earn the right to play and Guisborough caused some problems with their movement. We made changes to counteract this and it paid off immediately. I thought we deserved the win from our dominant second half display.”

FA Vase finalists West Auckland drew 1-1 with Whitley Bay at the Seagraves Stadium.

West missed a good chance to take the lead when John Campbell was brought down, but his spot kick was saved by keeper Danny Gladstone.

Whitley took the lead on 31 minutes when Chris Reid headed in a Michael McMullen corner, and the visitors missed a chance for a second when Paul Chow missed from the spot after Tom Bott was fouled. West levelled with seven minutes remaining through Kris Wilkinson.

West Auckland manager Peter Dixon said; “The players felt the effects of four league games this week.”

Whitley Bay manager Leon Ryan said; “We’re really disappointed. It shows how far we have come that we are gutted to have drawn against a great team like that. But proud of my boys again.”

Bishop Auckland had a good away win, by 3-0 at Billingham Synthonia.

Bishops took the lead on 28 minutes when Jonny Butler headed against the post and Danny Brunskill scored from the rebound.

It was 2-0 when former Darlington midfielder Adrian Webster burst through and fired past Synners keeper James Briggs, and seven minutes after the break Brunskill volleyed home from the edge of the area.

Billingham Synthonia assistant manager Lee Tucker said; “We missed gilt edged chances before they scored two of their goals which would have totally changed the complexion of the game. That said I thought Bishops played well and certainly didn’t look as if they had suffered from their two games in midweek.”

Bishop Auckland manager David Bayles said; “It was a good win, it’s been coming for a few games.”

Ian Chandler picked up his first point as Durham’s manager when they drew 1-1 with Morpeth at New Ferens Park.

Morpeth took the lead on 35 minutes with a strike by Steve Anderson, but Durham levelled soon after half time with a superb free kick by Olly Hotchkiss from 25 yards.

Durham manager Ian Chandler said; “I thought we deserved to win, we had several early chances which we squandered, then we got hit on a breakaway just before half time. We scored a fantastic equaliser through Olly Hotchkiss and again missed a couple of good chances.”

Morpeth manager Nick Gray said; “We started slowly and could have been out of sight in the first 20 minutes, but after changing our shape, we were a lot better. They scored a quality equaliser in a game they deserved to get something out of.”

Newton Aycliffe produced one of their worst performances of the season when they were beaten 5-2 at second bottom Hebburn.

The home side took the lead with a header by Neil Scott, but Aycliffe levelled when Hebburn defender Callum Smith turned a Tom Atkinson cross into his own net.

Former Aycliffe player Shaun Reay made it 2-1 after a mistake by Aycliffe keeper Andrew Spence, but just after half time Craig Mickle scored from a Gary Wood pass. But then Aycliffe collapsed. Channon North put Hebburn 3-2 up after Calvin McMahon hit the post – the 100th league goal that Aycliffe have conceded this season – and after Aycliffe’s Jamie Owens had a penalty saved, and North headed the fourth. North completed his hat trick after a McMahon shot ran loose.

It was only Hebburn’s fourth win of the season.

Hebburn manager Scott Oliver said; “we were good value for the win, we created bags of chances.”

Newton Aycliffe manager Alan Oliver said; “We were poor all round.”

Dunston UTS had a day to forget, going down 4-0 at Ashington. Andrew Johnson headed Ashington into the lead on the half hour and Glen Taylor fired the second into the top corner. Lee Scott got the third, Kyle Oliver finished Dunston off from close range.

Ashington assistant manager Perry Briggs said; “It was a good win against an always strong Dunston team. We’ve had a decent week and sets us up for a massive game at Tow Law on Tuesday.”

Dunston UTS manager Billy Irwin said; “It was a really bad performance. We had a few injuries but that’s what we’ve got a squad for. The club deserves better.”

In the other game, Bedlington drew 0-0 with Penrith North Shields are crowned second division champions thanks to a 3-1 away win at South Shields.

South took the lead after 15 minutes through Adam Burnicle, and they could have scored more before half time. But North recovered and levelled when Dean Walker scored with the help of a deflection, then Dean Holmes fired into the top corner. Walker wrapped up the title with a low shot.

South Shields manager Jon King said; “It should have been game over after 30 minutes, we had enough chances to win two games, but their keeper kept them in it. The old saying that you’re only as good as your forwards springs to mind. Their forwards were clinical.”

West Allotment are promoted after beating Washington by the only goal of the game.

Washington had the better of the first half and hit the bar through Ross Paxton, but Allotment scored the goal that mattered with a header by Sean Reid from a Chris Douglas corner.

However, Washington caused some late scares, going close through Michael Coghlan and Aaron Croft.

Washington manager Stephen Hutchinson said; “We at least deserved something out of the game. We had three clear chances and hit the bar in the first half. We gave a sloppy goal away from a corner and didn’t really create chances in the second half. We had a penalty turned down in the last minute, but the ref said it was a free kick just outside the box instead.”

West Allotment manager Paul Stoneman said; “I’m absolutely delighted. I couldn’t be more proud of such a great group of lads. Promotion is totally deserved.”

Seaham Red Star are third, four points ahead of fourth, after they beat Ryton and Crawcrook 3-0. Chris McCabe put Seaham into the lead on 7 minutes, and before half time Dean Nicholson scored a second. Lee Kerr made sure late in the game.

Jarrow Roofing dropped further behind Seaham by drawing 1-1 at Thornaby, who scored in the last minute.

Roofing missed some good chances before Andy Appleby scored from a Dan Carson through ball on 70 minutes, but in the last minute Ged Livingstone scored from a loose ball after Roofing keeper Chris Hunter blocked a shot.

Seaham have one game remaining at Washington, while Roofing have three left against Heaton Stannington, Willington and Whitehaven.

Jarrow Roofing manager Richie McLoughlin said; “It was poor performance from us, we should have held on for a win.”

Northallerton won 2-0 at Willington. They took the lead with a header by Danny McLachlan before half time, then Aaron Ramsbottom ran through and scored the second.

Northallerton manager Peter Mulcaster said; “It wasn’t a good game, but the result was important.”

Willington manager Rob Lee said; “An end of season game. Two mistakes cost us.”

Third bottom Brandon could only pick up a point from their home game with Stokesley, drawing 1-1. Connor Hood put Stokesley into the lead on 36 minutes, but Stephen Oakley levelled for Brandon on 66. Stokesley need two more points to ensure safety from the only relegation place, Brandon need five.

Stokesley assistant manager Nicky Ward said; “We got our noses in front with a great move and well finished off. We let them back into the game in the second half which was disappointing but a fair result.”

Tow Law had a good 3-2 away win at Whitehaven. Lawyers took an early lead through Kai Hewitson, but Darren Donald equalised on 25 minutes. Luke Parkinson and Hewitson put Lawyers 3-1 up, before Kevin Connolly pulled a late goal back.

Tow Law manager Gary Anderson said; “It was a long journey and a hard place to travel to. We didn’t play particularly well, but came away with three points.”

Darlington RA won their first home since Christmas by beating Alnwick 2-1 at Brinkburn Road. Mark Sims scored twice for the RA before Kieran Hogg replied in stoppage time for Alnwick.

Darlington RA manager Nick Harrison said; “I’m just happy to have the winning feeling again, it’s been a long wait since mid January.”

Norton beat Birtley 2-0 at Station Road, with goals by Gary Mitchell and a peach by Michael Jameson. Mitchell also had a penalty saved.

Norton manager Andy Campbell said; “We weren’t at our best throughout the game, but improved during the second half when we scored both our goals. The second was a smashing finish by Michael Jameson.”

Whickham drew 1-1 with Chester-le-Street at the Glebe. Ross Peareth put Whickham into the lead , but Damien Stevens equalised.

Chester-le-Street manager Colin Wake said; “We’re pleased with the point after going a goal behind early in the second half. We played well in the first half against the wind and the slope but never really came out second half but a point at Whickham in the form they are in is good.”

Whickham manager Robin Falcus said; “It was a typical end of season game. It was horrible to watch. But chances-wise we should have won the game comfortably. We had no centre halves available but defended well.”

In the Evostik League premier division , Blyth drew 1-1 with Nantwich, with Arjun Purewal scoring their goal. Blyth are now seventh, eight points below the play offs with only four games remaining.

Whitby lost to a goal in each half at Matlock.