West are out of the doldrums after 4-1 win

West had a period of dreadful form in which they won only once in six league matches, but they’ve now won their last two matches to stay on top of the table.

Manager Steve Skinner said; “It was an identical performance to last week when we won at North Shields.

“It was a good all-round performance, and we look like a team again. The penny has dropped, and the players have reacted well to a few harsh words.

“The performances are much better than they were a month ago, and now the players are showing why they’re a good side. They’re in good spirits now.”

West took the lead on 9 minutes when recent signing Craig Ruddy made a good run and crossed for Dave Gordon to blast home, then Matty Moffat dribbled past three defenders and set up Jonny Gibson who fired into the top corner.

West then got a disputed penalty for handball that Moffat converted, then Ashington got a penalty at the other end which Marc Walton missed.

However, Walton pulled a goal back for Ashington before Ruddy set up Steve Richardson to get the fourth in the last minute.

West have a big local derby at Shildon this Saturday.

Second placed Guisborough are now unbeaten in their last thirteen league games after they comfortably won 5-0 at Bishop Auckland, who had a man sent off.

Callum Martin put Guisborough into the lead from a few yards out, then Nathan Steel fired the second. James Risborough scored another before half time, Guisborough’s 100th goal in all competitions this season.

Bishops were reduced to ten men when Kyle Davis was red carded for a foul on Chay Liddle. Curtis Round made it 4-0 with a 25 yarder and Andy May completed the scoring as Bishops dallied at the back.

Guisborough are a point behind West Auckland having played a game more, with North Shields three points further back.

Bishop Auckland manager David Bayles said; “Everything that could go wrong, did go wrong, but at least this week the lads ran through brick walls for each other. I thought we matched Guisborough for 90 per cent of the game – they had three shots at goal in the first half and scored three times.”

Guisborough manager Chris Hardy said; “The opening 45 minutes saw three very well taken goals but that aside our overall player lacked tempo and quality.

“The second half saw a much improved approach to the game showing good ball possession and a option of a end product when necessary.

“For long periods we again showed good maturity with our application and game management, which from a management perspective was very pleasing.”

Shildon pose the biggest danger to the top two following their comfortable 5-1 home win over third bottom Sunderland RCA.

Shildon were in control as soon as they opened the scoring after 25 minutes, when Ben Wood set up Chris Emms to score from a few yards, and Emms scored the second from a Micky Rae pass.

Rae was involved in the third when he opened up the defence for Billy Greulich-Smith to score, then Wood tapped in the fourth within a minute. Marc Doninger chipped the fifth before Stephen Callen scored a late consolation.

The Railwaymen are now up to fourth.

Shildon manager Gary Forrest said; “We’re happy to have made some ground up on north Shields and Marske. We’re in a strong position if we win our next two matches.”

Consett’s new boss Colin Myers watched his side draw 2-2 with title chasing North Shields at Belle View.

Consett took the lead when Chris Moore crossed for Michael Mackay to score at the second attempt and equal Colin McLeod’s club record of 241 goals and his 36th of the season, but North Shields levelled when Gary Day set up Denver Morris to score.

Luke Sullivan restored Consett’s lead with a 20 yarder, but Shields again hit back to level again through Gary Day.

North Shields assistant manager Andy Bowman said; “I thought we were really poor first half, then showed character in the second half, and came from behind twice in the game. It’s always a good point up there on that surface.”

Marske dropped into fifth after they were beaten 1-0 at Jarrow Roofing, who are now level on points with them but have played seven games more.

Roofing thoroughly deserved their win against Marske, who have lost twice in their last three games.

The only goal came on 36 minutes when Bruno Pilatos crossed for Lewis Teasdale to head home.

Jarrow Roofing manager Richie McLoughlin said; “It was a great win, I’m over the moon with the result. Our lads were superb, and it was a great three points.”

Marske manager Carl Jarrett said; “That was the first time this season that I can say that it was a very poor display by the lads.”

Newton Aycliffe had a big win in their battle to avoid the drop when they won 4-1 at Whitley Bay.

Aycliffe couldn’t have had a better first half, with Martin Young twice scoring with efforts from outside the box. Paul Garthwaite added a third when he finished off a move involving six players. After Robbie Bird pulled a goal back for Whitley, Stuart Banks finished off any revival hopes with a good effort near the end. Aycliffe are now eight points above third bottom Celtic Nation.

Newton Aycliffe manager Peter Dixon said; “I was delighted with the players’ response after last week’s defeat. We’re back to what we were earlier in the year.”

Whitley Bay manager Paul Atkinson, who missed the game because of food poisoning said; “After hearing the result it’s simply not good enough. We are playing teams fighting for results and we are lying down and taking it.”

Bedlington’s new manager, Gary Innes had a winning start in his new job when they won 2-1 at Billingham Synthonia.

Stephen Young put Bedlington into the lead after just a few minutes when he dribbled through and rounded the keeper, and he scored another three minutes into the second half from ten yards out. Synners had Dan Dillon red carded, but they still pulled a goal back through Michael Sweet, his 13th goal in his last five league matches.

Synners have now dropped back to fourth bottom, six points above Celtic Nation.

Celtic Nation came back from 2-2 to draw with Durham City.

City took the lead through Jonny Davis when a defensive clearance dropped nicely for him, and then they went 2-0 up through Ryan Noble’s effort from an Arjun Purewal through ball.

But the Nation hit back when Durham keeper Jordan Harkess turned a Dean Renyard corner into his own net before half time. Durham missed several chances to make sure, but the Nation grabbed a point when Aaron Taylor scored from the spot following a foul.

Durham manager Ian Chandler said; “It was a better display, but when your keeper lets a goal in direct from a corner, and we then give away a third penalty in as many games – we make things very easy for opponents.”

Newcastle Benfield striker Paul Brayson took his goals tally in the league this season to 33 when they won 5-2 at bottom club Crook Town.

Brayson scored twice in the first half, and after Colin Lough pulled a goal back for Crook, he completed his hat trick after half time. Dan Taylor and Mark Convery scored the other goals, with Chris Hardy scoring a second for Crook.

Newcastle Benfield manager Steve Bowey said; “Crook put up a great fight. We did a professional job, the lads never took it easy and gave Crook the respect they deserve.”

Second division leaders Seaham Red Star are now eleven points clear and looking nailed on for promotion after results went in their favour.

Seaham beat Birtley 4-1, after going a goal down to Chris Mordue early on. But Seaham hit back with goals by Liam McBryde, Lewis Wing, Carl Thorp and David Palmer.

Birtley manager Tony Boakes said; “We were much better than the last few weeks. We started well, but in the second half fitness showed.”

Second placed Washington lost 2-1 at South Shields. James Talbot gave Shields the lead from a Paul Kane cross, but Washington levelled through Joe Walton . Stephen Ramsey headed the winner before half time.

Washington manager Steve Hutchinson said; “It was a bad day at the office. We weren’t at the races from the kick off. But the lads are all man enough to hold their hands up and are looking to put it right and keep in the promotion chase.”

Norton were held to a goalless draw at home by Whickham to leave them a point behind Washington.

Norton manager Andy Campbell said; “I was disappointed with our lack of creativity. We got a clean sheet, but really we needed all three points.”

Team Northumbria are just two points behind Norton after they won 2-1 at second bottom Tow Law, thanks to a last minute winner.

David Dormand and Louis Storey scored for Team North, while TN defender Robert Spence turned an effort by Tow Law’s new Brazilian striker Gus Silva past his own keeper.

Tow Law manager Steve Murray said; “We played well and deserved more. There were plenty of positives from the game.”

Hebburn have now put together a run of eight seven straight wins after a 3-1 victory at Esh Winning, and with their games in hand, can overtake Norton and Washington.

Shaun Reay put Hebburn into the lead, and Esh were reduced to ten men when they had Paul Richardson red carded for swearing. Channon North made it 2-0 with seven minutes left, his 32nd goal of the season, and Andrew McIntosh got the third. Kyle Sumner pulled a goal back with two minutes left.

Hebburn manager Scott Oliver said; “We were always in control of the game, but we shouldn’t have left it late to score our second and third goals. That’s eight wins in a row but we’re not playing that flash.”

Esh Winning manager Chris Blakelock said; “We had too many players missing, then there was an horrendous decision to send one of our players off.”

Bottom club Brandon are still three points behind Tow Law after they were beaten 4-0 at home by Thornaby, who included new signing Theo Furness. Ged Livingstone, Richie Walker, Danny Lofts and Joe Melvin scored the goals as Thornaby recovered from their 11-1 midweek defeat.

Willington just got the better of Darlington RA in the best of seven at Hall Lane.

Phil Caley put the RA into the lead with a 30 yarder, but Willington stormed back with goals by Michael Gibson, Marc Bell and Adam Burnicle. The RA pulled back before halftime to level at 3-3 through John Wood and Caley, but in the second half Willington got the decider through Burnicle’s second of the game. In the last minute Caley headed against the bar.

Darlington RA manager Warren Moncur said; “We took the lead, but with poor defending they scored three goals.”

Willington manager Rob Lee said; “It was a hard fought result. It was a good result after we went to sleep at 3-1.”

Billingham Town are still just above the relegation zone after they were defeated 1-0 at Ryton and Crawcrook, recent signing Ryan Burneyeat scoring the only goal.

Billingham Town manager Darren Trotter said; “It was a really poor game. Neither keeper was tested, Ryton scrambled their goal in. We need a big improvement in the coming weeks if we are to move away from the relegation zone.”

Stokesley are in the same predicament after they lost 3-1 at home to Heaton Stannington.

Richie Hoggins put Heaton into the lead, but Dave Edwards headed Stokesley level before half time. However, Heaton were stronger in the second half, and Hoggins and Ben Telford added further goals.

Stokesley manager Nicky Ward said; “It was a competitive game. We competed but let in two sloppy goals which cost us and Heaton shaded it on the day.”

Heaton Stannington assistant manager Geoff Walker said; “It was a poor first half and we gave the ball away too easily. We went a goal up and then conceded just before half time. We played much better in the second half. We deserved all three points and keeps the unbeaten run going with ten points out of the last twelve.”

Chester-le-Street had a good win by 1-0 away at Northallerton, Lewis Herron scoring their goal with ten minutes remaining.

Northallerton manager Danny Mellanby said; “It was a poor performance today, and Chester deserved to win as they wanted it more than us.”

Chester-le-Street manager Colin Wake said; “A much better performance than last week’s debacle. A performance full of grit and determination and full of honesty which I always expect from the lads . It wasn’t pretty but it was effective, we limited Northallerton to very little and we created quite a few half chances on the break in the second half, ending with us taking a deserved lead.”

Ryhope CW beat Alnwick 2-1. Nathan O’Neill put Ryhope into the lead from the penalty spot, then recent signing Conor Winter got the second from ten yards. Adam Shanks pulled a goal back for Alnwick in the last minute.

Ryhope CW manager Gary Pearson said; “It was another solid performance. We should have been a lot more, and at 2-0 up a charitable penalty well into injury time made the game look a close contest.”

In the EvoStik Premier Division, Whitby drew 1-1 at Buxton, Lee Mason scoring their goal after 69 minutes.

Blyth won 2-1 at Rushall Olympic. Robbie Dale gave them an early lead with a penalty, and after Rushall