Forrest -- we must improve 100 per cent for FA Cup tie

Shildon stunned Whitby by beating them in the FA Cup in midweek, but another giantkilling against Stalybridge this Saturday looks unlikely if the Railwaymen repeat this kind of performance.

“You can’t afford to go to West Auckland and defend like we did. West didn’t have to work for their goals, we gave the goals to them on a plate,” he said.

“We lacked energy for most of the game, we seemed to be flat, and after we conceded a bad second goal, the confidence drained from the players. We got going again at 3-1, but you can’t afford to leave it until the last 20 minutes.

“If we’re going to have a chance of beating Stalybridge this week, then we have to improve by 100 per cent. We were nothing like the team who beat Whitby in midweek.”

But West deserve due credit, as they played well for the first 70 minutes, and recorded their fifth successive win to put them in second place, four points behind leaders Bedlington with four games in hand.

Shildon went behind to a dubious penalty on 8 minutes when the ref decided that Shildon full back Darren Richardson fouled West striker Steve Richardson, and Robbie Briggs converted the penalty.

Shildon levelled on 20 minutes when Darren Craddock headed home a floated free kick by Mark Hudson, but then a bizarre mix up between Craddock and keeper Lewis Graham presented Richardson with the opportunity to volley in from the edge of the area.

West should have had another penalty when Richardson seemed to be hauled down by Craddock, but that didn’t matter so much because on the hour Richardson used his pace to get down the right and pulled the ball back for Briggs to sidefoot into the top corner.

Shildon pulled a goal back when West keeper Daniel Lowson parried a low shot by Ben Wood, and Billy Greulich-Smith was on hand to turn the ball home. Shildon nearly levelled but Bobby Moore headed wide from a Craig Ruddy cross.

West Auckland manager Anth Smith said; “I thought we controlled most of the game, and with better finishing at key times, we could have scored more. Considering we had several players missing, the players who came in, did very well.”

Consett lost their unbeaten record when they went down 2-0 at Ashington.

The home side went ahead when Lance McGlen scored from the rebound after Glen Taylor’s shot was blocked, and made sure near the end when Marc Walton netted from a Dean Critchlow lay off. It was Ashington’s first clean sheet of the season.

Ashington assistant manager Perry Briggs said; “The lads put a shift in today and that’s all we ask. Consett are a good side and had plenty of possession but we defended well. Our centre halves were outstanding.”

Consett manager Kenny Lindoe said; “We gave away two soft goals and missed too many to mention.”

Marske United nearly lost their unbeaten record to bottom club Crook Town, but they came back from 2-0 down with six minutes left to win 3-2.

After a goalless first half, it looked good for Crook when Andy Blackburn chipped Marske keeper Dan Molyneux, then Stuart Hardy pounced on a mistake at the back to make it 2-0.

But with six minutes left Josh Myers pulled a goal back with a glancing header, then Crook midfielder David Webster put through his own goal from a yard out. Marske surged forward for the winner, and got it through Jamie Owens, his sixth league goal of the season.

Crook manager Nick Harrison said; “If I didn’t have a sense of humour I wouldn’t be able to cope. The lads were excellent to a man. They didn’t deserve what happened.”

Marske manager Carl Jarrett said; “We were nowhere near our game today. Fair credit to Crook, we went two goals down to our mistakes and looked like taking all the points, but we got a get out of jail card for the last ten minutes.”

Bedlington are now four points clear after they beat Newcastle Benfield 3-0 at Welfare Park, with second half goals from Jordan Nellis (2) and Lee Scott.

Bedlington manager Ian Skinner said; “We didn’t quite play to the level we have recently in the first half and credit to Benfield for taking the game to us. Second half we got to grips with the game and dominated the second half, scoring three very good goals,. I’m starting to sound like a broken record but all credit to these players who keep rising to the challenges we set them.”

Newcastle Benfield manager Neil Saxton said; “It was the same old story for us, too many missed chances.”

Newton Aycliffe had a morale boosting away win at Billingham Synthonia by 1-0, thanks to Dan Mitton’s first goal for over four years.

He broke through after just 6 minutes when he headed in a free kick by Martin Young, and two minutes later Connor Lowes nearly added a second. Aycliffe missed more chances to make the game safe, and Zak Boagey struck the crossbar. Aycliffe keeper Will Jones made a good late save from Matty Osmond.

Newton Aycliffe manager Allan Oliver said; “It was a much needed three points, and the margin of victory could have been bigger. We could have scored more in the first half.”

Billingham Synthonia manager Lee Tucker said; “We were awful and deserved what we got.”

Ian Chandler’s return to his old club Whitley Bay with Durham City saw them lost 2-1 after being in the lead at one stage, when Callum Hope set up Kyle Fryatt to fire them in front.

But with Paul Robinson back in the team on his return from Blyth, Whitley equalised when Robinson floated in a free kick for Paul Chow to head in. Whitley got the winner when Chow scored from the spot after Robinson was brought down.

Durham manager Ian Chandler said; “I was bitterly disappointed. We took the lead and were comfortable until five minutes before half time when we conceded two goals. Other than that we defended well, our keeper had one shot to save but we didn’t create anything either. Overall we were poor.”

Whitley Bay manager Leon Ryan said; “It was a fantastic three points, we should have been out of sight by half time , but they were always in the game at 2-1. I’m really pleased, I thought we deserved the win and dominated throughout.”

Guisborough continued their climb up the table with a 6-0 thumping of West Allotment. They took the lead on 19 minutes when Anthony Hume scored from a James Risborough cross, and it stayed that way until the 50th minute when Nathan Mulligan dribbled past several defenders and scored from the edge of the box. He made another mazy run to score the third, and then Allotment collapsed. Matthew McQueeney strolled through and scored the fourth, then Chay Liddle scored the fifth, and Mulligan completed his hat trick from a Callum Martin cross.

Guisborough assistant manager Steve Dowling said; “A tight first half could have been level , but once the second goal went in, we played some really good stuff and maybe could have had more. The team has been playing well the last few weeks, we just need to push on now.”

West Allotment manager Paul Stoneman said; “Again we’ve performed for an hour and then caved in. I’m really disappointed in my team again.”

Sunderland RCA’s new manager Marty Swales now knows the size of the task ahead as they lost 2-1 at Jarrow Roofing, their tenth league game without a win.

Roofing took the lead after 14 minutes with a John Campbell penalty after Jonathan Wright was brought down, but that was cancelled out when Gavin Barton scored from a free kick. However, Campbell beat two defenders and fired the winner just before half time. Roofing have signed midfielder Shaun Vipond from West Auckland.

Jarrow Roofing manager Richie McLoughlin said; “It was a good three points. We played well, and a good game all round.”

In the other game, Morpeth drew 0-0 at Penrith, hitting the crossbar three times during the game through Sean Taylor twice and Shaun Bell.

Morpeth manager Nick Gray said; “It was a great response from the players after Wednesday and with seven unavailable I was proud of how we dug in and with a bit of luck the three times we hit the crossbar, on another day they could have gone in.”

In the second division, after scoring eight last week at home to Alnwick, Norton almost equalled that by beating Birtley 7-2. They got off to a great start when Michael Jameson scored after 4 minutes, then Rocky Andrews added another on 13. Jameson made it 3-0 before half time, but at the start of the second half Birtley pulled two goals back through Martin Soulsby and Robert Smith. Jameson missed a spot kick for his hat trick, so when Norton were awarded another penalty, it was converted by Harrison Davies, who scored from another spot kick five minutes later. Davies then completed a seven minute hat trick, this time from open play for 6-2, then Marcus Laing scored another.

Norton manager Andy Campbell said; “I was very pleased with the result. We created some fantastic chances but we got sloppy before and just after half time. We thoroughly deserved the points.”

Seaham Red Star were also amongst the goals again, beating Ryton and Crawcrook 6-0. Sonny Andrews (2), David Palmer (2), Liam McBryde and Daryl Donnelly scored their goals.

Northallerton had a good 4-3 home win over Washington at Ainderby Road. They led 4-1 at one stage with goals by brothers Aaron and Andrew Ramsbottom, Stuart Owen and Mark Stephenson with Mark Davison scoring for Washington, but the visitors nearly snatched a point with late goals by Paul Wardle and Chris Winn.

Northallerton manager Peter Mulcaster said; “It was a very hard win against a very good side. I’m very pleased after Tuesday’s debacle against South Shields.”

Second placed Hebburn thought they were on course for victory at Willington when they led 2-0 at half time, but the home side hit back and drew 2-2.

It looked good for Hebburn when they led with goals by Dan Smith after 50 seconds and Shaun Reay on 38 minutes, but seven minutes from the end Jason White scored from the penalty spot, and in the last minute Stephen Howe headed in from a David Lee cross.

The consolation for Hebburn is that they still possess the division’s only unbeaten record.

Hebburn manager Scott Oliver said; “Another last minute equaliser, it has gone beyond a joke. It wasn’t as if we were under pressure, we’re stunned.”

Willington manager Rob Lee said; “We were 2-0 down at half time, and we came back strong playing some good football. I was very pleased with the result.”

South Shields’ six game winning run came to a halt at home to Heaton Stannington, who beat them 4-2. Heaton scored twice in three minutes in the first half through Michael Creswick and Ben Telford, then Joe Wear got the third. Shields had Colin White red carded, and Lee Johnson made it 4-0. Shields scored late goals through Chris Locke and Barrie Smith.

Heaton Stannington assistant manager Geoff Walker said; “I’m absolutely delighted with our performance. We were solid and hard working right through the side. We could only name two subs and one was a keeper.”

Billingham Town won their first league game of the season when they beat Stokesley 3-2 and move out of the bottom two.

Ben Bonner gave Stokesley a 10th minute lead from a cross by Connor Hood, but Town levelled on the half hour with a Drew Lambert penalty after a foul on Dan Ballantyne, who then lobbed Town into the lead.

Stokesley broke away through Craig Peel and levelled on 51 minutes, but then he was sent off for swearing at the referee. Town then got a penalty following a push by Lloyd Evans, and Lambert scored for the second time in the game from the spot. Evans was then dismissed for two yellow cards to leave Stokesley with nine men.

Stokesley manager Nicky Ward said; “A lack of discipline cost us today. We got back into the game at 2-2, then we had two men sent off for misconduct which cost us dearly. But we’ll still take the positives out of it, especially from the first half when we had good chances.”

Whickham grabbed the points at Alnwick thanks to a last minute winner.

Alnwick led with a goal by Darren Riddell, but Whickham hit back with goals by Sean Best and Rudi Nellis. Adam Shanks seemed to have rescued a draw, but Whickham’s Steven Aiston scored the winner.

Whickham manager Robin Falcus said; “It was a good win. We worked hard and our two forwards were quality. A lot of teams will struggle up at Alnwick, so I’m really pleased with the win.”

Brandon United were halfway to a shock result at home to leaders Team Northumbria when they led 1-0 at half time, but they lost 4-1.

Craig Roberts gave Brandon a 3rd minute lead, but after half time TN hit back with goals by David Luke, Josh Draycott, Matthew Fisher and Ben Dibb-Fuller.

Bottom of the table Brandon have conceded 25 goals in their last five matches.

Tow Law drew 1-1 with Chester-le-Street at Ironworks Road.

Chester had the better of the first half and took the lead through Leigh Guthrie, but Jon Hewitson equalised in the second half for Lawyers.

Tow Law manager Gary Anderson said; “I thought we started brightly then Chester took control and scored deservingly, but we came out second half and probably deserved a win. Overall a draw was a fair result for both sides.”

Chester-le-Street manager Colin Wake said; “We’re disappointed not to have secured all three points. We should have been out of sight by half time but missed a load of chances and then conceded a goal ten minutes from time.”

Thornaby, whose manager Paul Edwards turned out in goal, had a good 4-2 away win at Esh Winning, who now drop to second bottom. Denis Alderson put Thornaby ahead on 20 minutes, then Richie Walker got the second just on the hour. Tom Morgan pulled a goal back for Esh, but Thornaby replied with an effort by Danny Lofts. A penalty by Karl Turner gave Esh some hope, but Lofts finished them off with his second goal.

Esh Winning manager Chris Blakelock said; “We played some really good football, but individual errors and missed chances cost us dearly.”

Thornaby manager Paul Edwards said; “I had to play in goal because of injuries and suspensions. We controlled the game from start to finish, a well-deserved and much-needed three points.”

In the Durham Challenge Cup, Darlington RA striker Freddie Huscroft scored a hat trick, but they still lost 4-3 at Wolviston.

Darlington RA manager Paul Bowman said; “I’m very disappointed in what was by far our worst performance of the season, if you don’t do the basics correctly, then you don’t get results. Wolviston were deserved winners.”

In the Evo-Stik Premier Division, Whitby drew 2-2 with Marine at the Turnbull Ground. They were 2-0 down after 21 minutes, but David McTiernan and Matthew Waters scored for them in the second half.

Blyth drew 1-1 at Stamford, their goal coming from a Richard Jones own goal after 29 minutes.