Newton Aycliffe gave themselves some breathing space near the bottom of the table when they beat Crook Town 5-2 at Moore Lane.

Aycliffe hadn’t won any of their previous four league and cup games since they had beaten Crook in the reverse fixture, but three goals in the last eleven minutes ended that poor run.

Newton Aycliffe manager Ady Webster said; “I was really pleased and relieved. We made it hard when we let them back into the game, but we did what we haven’t in past weeks and stepped up when it got tough. We got our rewards in the end. I’m confident we have turned the corner in that respect.”

Aycliffe had a great start when Paul Broom won possession on the edge of the Crook area and set up Tom Atkinson to score a simple goal, then Stuart Owen fired a second.

Crook fought back though when Adam Pinkney scored from the edge of the box, and Jason Brazauskas pounced on a mistake for the equaliser.

Aycliffe missed some good chances before Scott Oldfield fired into the top corner from long distance, then Broom dribbled through for the fourth. Recent signing Zak Boagey notched the fifth for Aycliffe.

Crook manager Nick Harrison said; “We started poorly, but fought back to level at half time. We had a couple of chances and a key penalty decision that didn’t go our way. Once the worldy of a third went in, we looked tired. We need to learn quickly, and be fitter, but it doesn’t help with players missing the games we have had at the start of the season.”

Billingham Synthonia won their first league game of the season by beating Celtic Nation 3-0 at Central Avenue.

Synners took the lead when Michael Bell set up Nathan Porritt who scored with a shot on the turn, but they had new keeper Jonny Ball to thank for two good saves.

Synners made it 2-0 on the hour when Porritt scored from the rebound after Michael Sweet’s shot was blocked, and late in the game Sweet scored after Porritt was denied his hat trick.

Billingham Synthonia manager Lee Tucker said; “It was great to get our first win of the season and we deserved it too. We had a bit of luck as they hit the woodwork twice but we had lots of other opportunities to score as well.”

Sunderland RCA picked up their first point of the season when they drew 1-1 with Guisborough. Nathan Mulligan put Guisborough into the lead with a powerful shot after just 6 minutes, but former Guisborough players Gary Wood and Lewis wood combined for the latter to score with 20 minutes left.

Guisborough manager Chris Hardy said; “It was a game of two halves. We played really well in the first half and dropped off in the second.”

Sunderland RCA manager David Lee said; “We grew into the game afetr a poor start and really created enough chances to win the game.”

Whitley Bay came back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 at Penrith.

Jamie Hope and Matthew Read put Penrith 2-0 up, but Whitley pulled a goal back on 38 minutes when Michael Laws scored from a few yards. Robbie Bird ran through to score the equaliser on the hour.

Whitley Bay manager Leon Ryan said; “It was a fantastic fight to come back from 2-0 down. We dominated the whole game but conceded two sloppy goals in four minutes. Then we dominated the game and I was disappointed not to win.”

Morpeth lost their first league game of the season, by 2-1 against neighbours Bedlington. The visitors played some good football and took a two goal lead through Jordan Nellis and Dylan Williamson before Shaun Taylor pulled a goal back after Michael Chilton’s penalty was saved.

Morpeth manager Nick Gray said; “You couldn’t print my thoughts, but Bedlington well deserved to win the game.”

Bedlington manager Ian Skinner said; “It was fantastic performance. We knew how we wanted to play which we knew would cause problems. First half we were excellent and should have gone in more than two goals up. Poor penalty decision gave Morpeth their goal, but we saw the game out for a good three points.”

There has been more upheaval at second division Stokesley.

Chris Lax, who had been manager for only a fortnight, has left the club, as well as chairman Dave Watson, both of them because of what they call “internal politics”.

Micky Ward, who was assistant manager until a fortnight ago, has returned to the club and taken over as manager.

However, his return wasn’t a successful one, as they lost 5-0 at home to league leaders Team Northumbria for whom Louis Storey (2), Ben Dibb-Fuller, Paul Antony and Mark O’Dea scored.

Stokesley manager Nicky Ward said; “I thought we had some good chances in the first half, and 5-0 flattered them. We were still in the game at 1-0, but then they scored two quick goals.”

Darlington RA have now won four in a row after they went to Tow Law and won 2-1 after being a goal down. Simon Ord put the Lawyers into the lead, and the RA equalised on 50 minutes when Mike Colman scored with a 20 yarder. They won it when Jim Wilson played a 1-2 with Rob Moncur and scored from a tight angle.

Darlington RA manager Paul Bowman said; “We’re very pleased with the win. Not the best football but we have played but conditions were very difficult. The group showed great character to stick with the game plan.”

Tow Law manager Gary Anderson said; “I thought we deserved at least a point but it wasn’t to be. We have gone through a rough start but we played well and didn’t deserve to lose today.”

Hebburn won the game of the day in the division, against Norton by 4-0. Channon North scored twice to take his tally for the season to seven, with Shaun Reay and Dan Smith scoring the others.

Hebburn manager Scott Oliver said; “A really pleasing day when 1 to 11 played well. We pressed the ball all over the pitch.”

Norton manager Andy Campbell said; “I’m gutted with the defeat. We should have been 2 or 3 up at half time instead of being behind. We go again in the derby on Wednesday night. I set a target start of season and at the minute we’re on course.”

Heaton Stannington hit top form, thumping Birtley 7-0, plus they also missed a penalty. Lewis Burns scored a hat trick, with Michael Creswick and Gary Yates both scoring two apiece.

Heaton assistant manager Geoff Walker said; “It was an outstanding performance. We hit the woodwork twice before we scored our first goal, then ran riot, missed a penalty and missed even more chances. Could have been easily double figures.”

Birtley manager Tony Boakes said; “It was a really poor showing from us. We never recovered after going 2-0 down. We changed things in the second half but the players didn’t respond.”

Ryhope CW are now up to second after beating third bottom Esh Winning 5-0. Jack Pounder and Nathan O’Neill put Ryhope 2-0 up at half time, then after the break Richard Hodgson (penalty), Pounder and Phil Hall scored further goals. Pounder has now got six for the season.

Ryhope CW manager Gary Pearson said; “We dominated the game from start to finish in blustery conditions. It was a much more convincing performance which could have resulted in the scoreline being bigger than it was.”

Esh Winning manager Chris Blakelock said; “I thought we competed well in the first half, but after half time the old problems returned.”

South Shields were also amongst the goals, easily seeing off Thornaby 6-0. They scored twice in the first 25 minutes through Stephen Ramsey and Steven Graham, but Thornaby folded after half time. Chris Feasey, David Molloy and Peter Kane (2) scored in the second half.

Brandon are still without a win after they were beaten 1-0 at home by Willington in their local derby, Liam Whitworth scoring the goal that mattered. Brandon have failed to score in five of their seven league games this season.

Willington manager Rob Lee said; “Well deserved three points. We missed a good few chances.”

Billingham Town, who were relegated last season, are also still looking for their first win after they lost by the best of seven against Alnwick. Keith Douglas and Brad McClelland put Alnwick 2-0 up at half time. The teams exchanged goals, with Louis Whensley and Joel Callender scoring for Town, and Brett Robertson and Stephen Hogg for Alnwick. An own goal made it 4-3 to Alnwick, but Town couldn’t get another.

Billingham Town manager Darren Trotter said; “I was bitterly disappointed with the performance. The players played as individuals and not as a team. We need improvement quickly.”

Ryton and Crawcrook drew 2-2 with Chester-le-Street to stay in the top four. Ryton took the lead with a goal by Will Forsyth, but Chester hit back to lead with goals by John Honour and Ben Johnson. However, Ryton levelled near the end with a goal by Lee McGill.

Chester-le-Street manager Colin Wake said; “To be honest we stole a point. It was another disappointing weekend display by us, we were behind for the majority of the game and snatched an equaliser then another to go in front, but we couldn’t hold on even for that period. More than happy with a point which we didn’t deserve but disgusted with the performance, we are like Jekyll and Hyde at the moment.”

In the EvoStik Premier Division, Blyth’s Ryan Hutchinson scored with three minutes left to give them a 2-1 away win at Halesowen, Dan Maguire having put them into the lead earlier.

Whitby drew 1-1 with Witton Albion, Sam Calvert scoring their goal.