West Auckland are now in a position to challenge at the top of the table after they won for the third successive game by 2-0 against North Shields on Saturday.

West are now up to seventh, four points off the top of the table and with games in hand on all but one of the clubs above them.

West were on top right from the start, and they took the lead when full back Neil Pattinson scored with a screamer from 25 yards. Dennis Knight then hit the bar and seven minutes into the second half he struck a penalty straight at the North Shields keeper.

Shields almost equalised, but after Ian Ward missed a chance, he headed a Pattinson cross home for the second, West manager Anth Smith said; “The players have listened to some of the things that we’ve told them. Their concentration levels were very good. They ticked all the boxes.”

Bottom club Crook Town’s woes continued when they were thumped 6-2 at home by Bedlington, who are now top of the table.

Crook got off to a bad start, conceding a goal to Bedlington’s Lee Scott in the first 45 seconds, and after that, Bedlington took full control. Scott went on to complete a hat trick, with Jordan Nellis (2) and Scott Blandford scoring the others. Kallum Holbrook scored twice for Crook when the score was 4-0, but that only gave them false hope. They have still only picked up two points from their ten games.

Bedlington manager Ian Skinner said; “We started bright and got off to a great start. We built on that and went in at half time 3-0 up. They got back to 4-2, but we stepped up our game and managed to put the game to bed with two further goals. Credit to the players for sticking at it but we need to stop having little spells during games when we lose our way.”

Durham City are now up to sixth thanks to a 2-0 away win over Penrith.

City took the lead after just 10 minutes when Ross Wilkinson headed in a free kick by Callum Hope, and on 39 minutes Kyle Fryatt made it 2-0 with a good effort. Fryatt could have scored more in the second half, while Matthew Read missed a penalty for Penrith late in the game.

Durham manager Ian Chandler said; “It was a good victory with chances for both teams. We had a fair few chances in the second half all falling to Kyle Fryatt, but he still had a very good game.”

Whitley Bay came back from 3-2 down to win 5-3 at Billingham Synthonia, for whom striker Michael Sweet scored a hat trick and still finished on the losing side.

Sweet put Synners into the lead on just three minutes, but Whitley player-manager Leon Ryan headed his side level. Paul Chow outran the Synners defence to put Whitley into the lead, but Sweet hit back twice before half time to give Synners the lead.

Peter Watling then equalised and scored again to put Whitley 4-3 up, and Craig McFarlane volleyed the fifth from a Robbie Bird cross..

Billingham Synthonia manager Lee Tucker said; “It was poor defending that cost us. We were in control of the game until Steven Huggins went off and we conceded three goals in the last 25 minutes.”

Whitley Bay manager Leon Ryan said; “It was a great three points. We were behind twice but the players showed great attitude and application. That’s three wins in a row now.”

Newton Aycliffe are two points above the relegation zone after they were beaten 3-2 at Celtic Nation.

Zak Boagey gave Aycliffe the lead when he followed up to score from the rebound after his penalty was saved by the CN keeper, but Dean Douglas levelled for the home side fro ma rebound off Aycliffe keeper Will Jones. CN sub and assistant manager Johnny Allen struck just on half time to put his side in the lead, but Connor Lowes levelled just after the break. But Allan won it for Nation when Lee Hoolickin crossed for him to score from a few yards. Allan missed a penalty late in the game.

Newton Aycliffe manager Allan Oliver said; “We need to strengthen our squad quickly.”

Guisborough striker Anthony Hume scored a hat trick in their 4-1 home win over Sunderland RCA.

After a goalless first half, Guisborough midfielder Adam Gell was dismissed for his second yellow card, but nevertheless Guisborough went into the lead when Tommy Marron scored from the edge of the box. The RCA were then reduced to ten when Gavin Barton was shown his second yellow, and Guisborough went 2-0 up when Hume scored from a James Risborough cross. Hume capitalised on a mix up in the RCA defence, and lobbed the ball perfectly into the net from distance, before Danny Wray pulled a goal back. Hume completed his hat trick from the penalty spot late in the game.

Guisborough manager Chris Hardy said; “It was another three points, given the fact we played most of the second half with ten men, and the lads showed great character and stuck to the game plan. We’ve scored 13 goals in our last three matches, and this holds much promise for the coming months.”

Sunderland RCA manager David Lee said; “The game was a lot closer than the scoreline , 4-1 flattered them. The sending off affected us more than them.”

Jarrow Roofing were beaten 3-1 at home by Morpeth.

Michael Chilton put Morpeth into the lead from a Chris Jewels assist, then Sean Taylor made it 2-0 from a Steven Anderson pass.

Dan Kirkup pulled a goal back on the hour, but Anderson made sure with a powerful shot from a long clearance. Roofing are now fifth from bottom.

Jarrow Roofing manager Richie McLoughlin said; “We were unlucky not to take at least a point. We hit the bar and post in the second half.”

Morpeth manager Nicky Gray said: “It was a very tough game between two committed teams, but I was delighted with the workrate from the lads. We’ve beaten a very good Jarrow side.”

In the second division, Washington ran riot at Stokesley, winning 9-2 after being 7-0 up at one stage. Mark Davison scored four for Washington, with Chris Winn (2), James Cassidy, Michael Coghlan and James Fairley scoring the others in what is thought to be Washington’s record away win. It’s not the best in the league this season, that honour belongs to Northallerton who reached double figures at Esh Winning earlier in the season.

Connor Hood and Gerard Richardson scored for Stokesley, who didn’t have any subs.

Washington manager Stephen Hutchinson said; “We took our chances really well. It would have been nice to keep a clean sheet but I think at 7-0 we took our foot off the pedal. Everyone was happy with the result and the scoreline, An all round good team performance.”

Stokesley manager Nicky Ward said; “We struggled for numbers. We had lads away, and three dropped out on the morning of the game, so we only had the bare eleven.”

Norton were also amongst the goals , putting eight past Alnwick without reply at Station Road, and in the process set a club record home win in the Northern League.. Rocky Andrews and Karl Charlton both scored two apiece, with Gary Mitchell, Matthew Hawkins, Harrison Davies and Michael Jameson getting the others. Andrews and Davies scored twice in the first five minutes.

Alnwick were in the top three in the opening weeks of the season, now they’re down to sixth bottom.

Norton manager Andy Campbell said; “We played really well and scored some excellent goals. We created numerous chances and the score could have been more, and we kept a well-earned clean sheet.”

Rocky’s brother Sonny was also twice on target for Seaham Red Star in their 4-2 home win over Whickham. Star led 2-0 with goals by David Palmer and Lewis Wing going into the closing stages. Andrews made it 3-0 on 91 minutes, then Stephen Aiston and Jack Moulding pulled two back on 92 and 96 minutes. However, Andrews scored another for the home side on 98 minutes.

Seaham manager Mark Collingwood said; “It was an awful match that lacked any real quality. Whickham were a tough nut to crack, the pre match aim was three points and we did that comfortably. We have played a lot better and lost games this season, so I’m delighted with the three points.”

Willington provided the shock of the day, winning 2-0 at Ryhope CW, the goals coming from Mark Comby and sub Mark Bell in the second half. Willington keeper Jack Patton pulled off some good saves in the first half.

Ryhope CW manager Gary Pearson said; “Sometimes you learn more about your players from a loss than a win, If you don’t match a team’s workrate you don’t deserve anything out of a game, and that’s why Willington thoroughly deserved all three points. Far too many under par performers who lacked passion, commitment, desire and quality.”

Willington manager Rob Lee said; “The players put in a lot of hard work. Their commitment went up from 100 per cent to 200 per cent.”

Darlington RA are now unbeaten in their last seven league matches after a 4-1 victory at Esh Winning.

The home side started well and led through Lee Hall, but then they had Steve Parnaby sent off after 20 minutes and let the RA take control.

Sam England, Rob Moncur, Phil Caley and Mark Sims scored to put them fourth in the table.

Darlington RA manager Paul Bowman said; “We’re pleased with the win. The game took the usual pattern with us conceding the first goal. We showed our character again and played some good possession football until we got the openings. At times we tried too hard and made the wrong decisions but that was dictated because our tempo dropped.”

Esh Winning manager Chris Blakelock said; “4-1 looks a straight forward win, but that isn’t the case, because we hammered them for the 20 minutes and went one up. Then our centre forward got sent off and we played the rest of the game with ten men. The lads legs got tired and they got a few break away goals. They got away with one.”

Tow Law drew 1-1 with Thornaby. Anthony Lee scored for Tow Law, with veteran Jamie Clarke on target for Thornaby.

Tow Law manager Gary Anderson said; “It was a very poor performance in the first half but a much improved second. We had more about us and could have probably sneaked a win, but a point was a good result considering the first half.”

Northallerton held league leaders Team Northumbria to a 1-1 draw at Ainderby Road. Luke Hannant put TN into the lead, but Colin Anderson equalised for Northallerton.

Northallerton manager Peter Mulcaster said; “I was disappointed with a draw. We were by far the better team. We bossed the game, and at half time we should have been out of sight.”

South Shields are now up to sixth after a late goal by Adam Sharp gave them a 1-0 win over Chester-le-Street.

Chester-le-Street manager Colin Wake said; “We didn’t do enough to win the game so felt a draw would have been the right result. South Shields have a route one approach with long throws into the box from everywhere having to be defended, and we went to sleep once and were punished. We haven’t been good enough offensively and need to improve in that department.”

Ryton and Crawcrook continued the good start to their season by beating Heaton Stannington 3-2, thanks to a last minute winner.

Ryton led twice through Dan Robinson and David Backhouse, but their goals were cancelled out by Andrew Robertson and Ben Telford, but there was no time for a third equaliser as Will Forsyth scored in the last minute.

Heaton Stannington assistant manager Geoff Walker said; “It was a gutless display. There were only about three players to come out of the game with any credit. We had five or six players missing, but no excuses.”

Billingham Town are still without a league win after they lost 2-1 at Birtley. After a goalless first half, Kai Hewitson and Robert Smith scored in the space of ten minutes, with Daniel Ballantyne responding for Billingham Town.

Birtley manager Tony Boakes said: “We played well today against a well organised Billingham. It was a good solid performance.”

Brandon are still stuck on the bottom after they conceded five for the second time in three days, this time at home to second placed Hebburn. Channon North scored a hat trick for Hebburn to give him 14 for the season, with Lee McMahon and Callum Smith scoring the others.

Hebburn manager Scott Oliver said; “I was really pleased with the players’ attitude. They never took the game for granted.”