"We need to restore confidence," says West boss Skinner

After being in pole position to win the league two months ago, West have dropped to second, and have failed to win any of their last four league and cup matches.

“Team morale and confidence are low,” said Skinner, who was in charge of his first game.

“Durham wanted to win more than us. There wasn’t a lack of effort by our players, it’s just that things aren’t coming off for them. It’s strange to see considering that we are second in the table.

“We’ll work on the spirit and the confidence, and when that improves, then we’ll kick on. We’ll start that in training this week, plus I’m trying to bring in some new players to give us a boost. We must get over this hurdle of feeling sorry for ourselves, and work hard together.”

Both teams had chances before Ryan Noble broke away for Durham on the end of a Luke Carr pass and beat West keeper Dan Lowson, but West levelled at the start of the second half when Durham defender Arjun Purewal was sent off for handball in the area, and Alex Francis scored from the spot.

Both sides missed chances to win the game, before Durham’s Ross Wilkinson got the winner from a corner in stoppage time.

Durham manager Ian Chandler said; “We took the game to West and restricted them to almost nothing in the first half. We went 1-0 up, but after we had a good chance, they went up the other end and the ref gave them a dubious penalty but then shocked everyone by sending off Arjun Purewal. But we dug in again, and got the winner.”

Shildon made up ground on the leaders by coming from behind to beat Jarrow Roofing 2-1 at Dean Street.

Both sides missed chances before Roofing took the lead after 31 minutes when Wayne Phillips beat two defenders and crossed Malky Morien to have a header cleared off the line, but Paul Gardiner scored from the rebound.

Roofing keeper Andy Hunter pulled off three good saves but he was beaten on 51 minutes when Mark Doninger pounced on a mistake in the Roofing defence and had a shot blocked by Hunter, but Doninger scored in the goalmouth scramble that followed.

Hunter made two excellent saves, so it was a surprise that he was at fault for the winner, when he fumbled a low cross from Lee Chapman into his own net.

Shildon manager Gary Forrest said; “We thought it was going to be one of those days, because their keeper kept pulling off worldies . The players kept plugging away, they’ve turned things around in the last few weeks.”

Jarrow Roofing manager Richie McLoughlin said; “We were unlucky, we gave them two goals and missed good chances at a good time in the game. But we are still progressing and doing fine.”

Guisborough are now unbeaten in nine league matches and up to third thanks to a late winner against Newcastle Benfield.

Luke Bythway gave Guisborough the lead from the penalty spot on 19 minutes after a foul on Chay Liddle, but Paul Brayson levelled with his 23rd goal of the season just before half time.

There were chances at both ends before Bythway set up Liam McPhillips to fire Guisborough into the lead with four minutes left. Steve Tobin levelled from a corner with a minute remaining, but in stoppage time Benfield keeper Andy Grainger dropped a corner, and Bythway took advantage and scored the winner.

Guisborough manager Chris Hardy said; “With the scores level at half-time and level on 90 minutes this would have been in truth a fair reflection of the game but credit to our lads for going to the final whistle and somehow managing to win the game in the 94th minute.

“This being said although we weren't at our best the better chances and a higher percentage of possession were certainly in our favour and I for one have seen us play a lot better than we did today and come away with no points.”

Newcastle Benfield manager Steve Bowey said; “I thought it was a great game of football, two very good passing teams. A draw was probably a fair result, to lose it in the manner we did was very disappointing, but I thought the lads were excellent in terms of work rate and quality.”

Bishop Auckland pulled off an excellent win by 4-0 at Whitley Bay.

Andrew Johnson gave them a good start when he broke clear and slotted past Whitley keeper Sean Korsbo, then Whitley had defender Craig Smith red carded in an off the ball incident.

Bishops exposed Whitley in the second half. Glen Lane was fouled in the area three minutes after halftime and Johnny Butler scored from the spot, then Johnson got through again and curled the ball home for the third. Johnson set up Butler for the fourth on the hour, and after that Bishops coasted to the end.

Bishop Auckland joint manager Steve Riley said; “We played with a high tempo and great attitude. Although Whitley made it hard for us, once they went down to ten men we were always quite comfortable and in control of the game. Olly Hotchkiss and Kyle Davis were excellent, as was Andrew Johnson, who deserved his goals. His attitude has been great over the last few weeks when he hasn’t had the best of luck in front of goal.”

West Allotment left Celtic Nation firmly in the bottom three by winning their game 2-0. Nation defender Kyle May put a Liam Hudson cross into his own net early in the game, then Michael Bell headed the second. Hudson hit the post later, while Nation had Tyler Bowman dismissed for swearing.

West Allotment manager Paul Stoneman said; “It was a much needed win. I told the lads that I didn’t care how we got it, as long as we won. We’ve been playing really well and getting nothing, we did ok and deserved to win but missed some gilt edged chances to win by a lot more.”

In the second division, leaders Seaham Red Star scored a last minute winner to give them the points at Billingham Town.

After a goalless first half, Liam McBryde fired Seaham in front, then he got a second when he raced through and beat Town keeper Michael Thackeray.

But Town pulled a goal back with a long distance shot by Daniel Ballantyne, then Drew Lambert set up Gary Redman for the equaliser with five minutes left.

But with two minutes left, Lee Kerr got the winner from the edge of the box.

Seaham manager Mark Collingwood said; “It was a great three points against a very hard working side. Billingham had a game plan not get beat and they showed a never say die attitude. They are hard to play against, we displayed great character and I am delighted with a maximum points return. We deserved them on the balance of play.”

Billingham Town manager Darren Trotter said; “I thought we deserved a point. The turning point was when we lost Steven Jackson from midfield. They scored two good goals before we could get organised but the lads worked hard to get it back to 2-2. Lack of experience cost us in the end.”

Second placed Norton stayed five points behind the leaders by winning 1-0 at Heaton Stannington, Harrison Davies scoring the goal after 20 minutes when he broke in from the right and beat the keeper at the near post.

Norton manager Andy Campbell said; “Delighted with the three points. It wasn’t a great game on a poor surface but we got there in the end.”

Heaton Stannington assistant manager Geoff Walker said; “We were every, very unlucky not to get something. That’s another result they have ground out by the odd goal. We didn’t have any luck in front of goal. Our two forwards caused them loads of problems without getting their rewards.”

A penalty deep into stoppage time helped Washington scrape past Alnwick by 3-2 Washington took the lead through Chris Winn, but Stephen Hogg levelled for Alnwick. The visitors went ahead through another Hogg goal early in the second half, but Washington levelled with a Mark Davison penalty for a foul on Chris Winn, and well into stoppage time, they were awarded another penalty for a foul on Winn that Davison again converted.

Washington manager Stephen Hutchinson said; “the lads showed great character to keep going right to the end and our constant pressure was too much for Alnwick to deal with. We were awarded a penalty in the dying minutes to win 3-2. There were no complaints about the penalty and it’s what we deserved.”

Team Northumbria easily beat Birtley 3-0, all of their goals coming from Ben Murdock, who later went in goal for the last 15 minutes after Andy Jennison went off injured.

Birtley manager Tony Boakes said; “Once again we let bad goals in but credit to Team North, their movement caused us problems.”

Hebburn are the only other club with a realistic chance of catching the top three after they came from behind to beat Stokesley 3-1.

Stokesley took the lead after 37 minutes through debutant Joe Carter , but Marc Costello levelled two minutes after the restart. Shaun Reay put Hebburn into the lead, and Channon North made it 3-1 right at the end with his 30th league goal of the season.

Hebburn manager Scott Oliver said; “We took our chances in the second half, but needed a great save from Phil Holgate to win the game. Stokesley never stopped working.”

Stokesley manager Nicky Ward said; “We competed well and I felt we deserved something out of the game, but sloppy defending cost us a point. Other than that, I’m pleased with the performance and we’re moving in the right direction as a squad. Their keeper pulled off an unbelievable save at 2-1.”

Esh Winning’s revival continued in great style when they hammered Tow Law 6-1 at Waterhouses to put them eight points ahead of second bottom Lawyers.

Taylor Hughes gave Esh the lead after 16 minutes, then Tow Law had Shaun Ryder red carded for swearing at the referee. Luke Thompson made it 2-0 before halftime, then in the second half Lee Blades scored twice in three minutes . Hughes scored the fifth on the hour, and after Anthony Lee pulled a goal back, Liam Dempsey got the sixth right on time.

Tow Law manager Steve Murray said; “So disappointed. One of our players decided to swear at the ref who sent him off, then gave us a free kick. We were down to 10 men with 70 minutes left to play.”

Darlington RA’s promotion chances now appear to have disappeared after they lost 2-1 at home to South Shields.

The visitors took the lead with a goal by new signing Chris Renshaw from the edge of the box but the RA levelled with a header by Phil Caley. However, Paul Kane got the winner before half time.

Darlington RA manager Warren Moncur said; “It was an even game from start to finish. At 2-1 down in the second half we pressed for an equaliser, but they also had a couple of chances on the break.”

Danny Mellanby’s first game in charge of Northallerton saw them lose 2-0 to Willington at Hall Lane.

After a goalless first half, Marc Bell fired Willington into the lead from the edge of the box, then Adam Pinkney scored the second with a left foot shot from 12 yards. Willington are now in the top half of the table.

Northallerton manager Danny Mellanby said; “Willington dealt better with the pitch conditions better than we did. If I’m honest, the game shouldn’t have been on.”

Willington manager Rob Lee said; “It was a good, battling team performance in heavy conditions.”

Whickham are level on points with Willington after beating Chester-le-Street 1-0 with a goal by Scott Donaldson.

Chester-le-Street manager Colin Wake said; “It was a very disappointing second half in which we didn’t do well enough offensively to earn anything from the game.” Whickham just about deserved it as they worked hard to put us under pressure all second half.”

In the EvoStik League premier division, Whitby drew 1-1 at Ilkeston, Niall Doran scoring their goal.