Skinner; We're not out of title race yet

The much-anticipated game between the morning’s leaders and the third placed club produced a passionate and exciting game which saw West take the lead twice and Shildon finish with ten men.

A point will be of more use to Shildon than West as the title race stands at the moment, but Skinner said; “Our main aim was to make sure that Shildon didn’t go above us in the table, and we succeeded in that. I think we shaded the better chances in the game. I was disappointed with the officials – I thought that we should have had a penalty, and there was a foul in the build up to the second goal.

“We’re not out of the title race, in fact I think it will go to the last fortnight of the season. Shildon still have to win their games in hand.”

Shildon manager Gary Forrest said; “I thought a draw was a fair result, although I was disappointed with both goals we conceded. We showed good character to come back twice from a goal down and then deal with the last ten minutes.

“Our objective wasn’t to get beat, I think we’re happier with a draw than they are. It was a really good game. It beggars belief why somebody should go to St James Park when there is much better football closer to home.”

West took the lead in just the second minute when Craig Ruddy, who left Shildon for West just a month ago, got away on the end of a Lewis Galpin through ball and slotted it past Kyle Hayes in the Shildon goal. There were chances at both ends – Doninger cleared off the line for Shildon after a great run by Alex Francis -- before Shildon levelled when Lee Scroggins found Paul Connor running through and he tucked the ball into the corner.

Matty Moffat went close at the start of the second half, but he put West ahead again when he controlled a Francis pass ten yards out and poked the ball past Hayes.

Shildon quickly levelled when Connor got round the back of the West defence and pulled the ball back for Doninger to score at the near post.

Shildon had promising midfielder Sam Hodgson dismissed for two yellow cards, and late in the game Moffat’s header from six yards out was denied by a finger tip save from Hayes.

Guisborough took advantage to move top of the table with a 1-0 away win at West Allotment. Nathan Mulligan had a shot cleared off the line before Guisborough took the lead with a superb 25 yarder from Curtis Round. Allotment had two efforts cleared off the line and then had a goal disallowed as they piled on then pressure in the second half.

Allotment are now fourth from bottom, while Guisborough are unbeaten in their last 16 league and cup matches.

Guisborough manager Chris Hardy said; “Our first half performance had a lot of quality and control about it, without having that real cutting-edge in the offensive third.

“Unfortunately our second-half display seemed to lose quality and control and as a result we had to withstand some home pressure, which in fairness I thought the lads showed real resilience and grit to see the game out and secure all three points from this fixture.

“The match winning goal was a real cracker courtesy of Round which in my opinion was good enough to win any game and I'm just please that proved to be the case.”

West Allotment manager Paul Stoneman said; “We were tremendous for the third game in a row and got nothing. What a cruel game. We absolutely battered them in the second half, they said the same. We had a goal disallowed for absolutely nothing, a penalty turned down and three or four blocked on the line and numerous other chances. Our lads were awesome, we are still in disbelief at getting nothing.”

Marske United won their first away game in the last three by winning 6-1 at bottom club Crook, although they were a goal behind at one stage.

Crook took the lead with a goal by new signing Lewis Turnbull , but Jamie Owens levelled with his 20th league goal of the season.

Marske took the lead four minutes after half time when Owens was fouled in the box and Craig Gott scored from the spot. Josh MacDonald set up Sam Garvie to beat and defender and score the third, then Gott converted another penalty after Garvie was brought down. Gott then completed his hat trick, before Danny Brunskill ran through and got the sixth.

Marske manager Carl Jarrett said; “It was good to get back to winning ways to pick our confidence back up. We totally dominated the game from start to finish.”

Jarrow Roofing are now joint fifth with Marske and Dunston UTS after they easily won 4-1 at third bottom Sunderland RCA, with new signing Paul Chow the star man.

Chow, who has returned to the club from Whitley Bay, set up the first goal for Lewis Teasdale after just 74 seconds, then Chow flicked the ball on for Teasdale to score the second on 25 minutes. Colin Larkin pulled a goal back, but on the hour Chow was brought down and Teasdale completed his hat trick from the spot. Chow then charged down a clearance for Malky Morien to tap in.

Jarrow Roofing manager Richie McLoughlin said; “We played well and had to dig in at 2-1, but came good in the second half and Paul Chow had four assists.”

Sunderland RCA manager Marty Swales said; “We conceded after three minutes then started chasing the game. We conceded four goals which were all mistakes. We’re gutted after Tuesday’s win at Aycliffe.”

Consett striker Michael Mackay broke the club scoring record when they beat Ashington 6-2 at Belle View in new manager Colin Myers’ first home game in charge.

Josh Gray put Consett into the lead at the second attempt, but Ashington equalised through James Harmison. Gray then set up Matty Slocombe to restore the lead, but Ashington hit back again to equalise through a Glen Taylor penalty.

But Consett took control in the second half. Chris Moore beat a defender and fired past the keeper, then Mackay scored his 242nd goal for the club from a Calvin Smith pass. After Gray hit the bar, he set up Mackay to score his 38th goal of the season, with Luke Sullivan rounding the keeper for the sixth.

Consett manager Colin Myers said; “We were very good going forward, but I was bitterly disappointed with the two goals we gave away.”

Ashington assistant manager Ian Skinner said; “First half we competed well and created chances, showing good character to come from behind twice to 2-2. Second half we never came out and our second half display is not acceptable.”

In the fight to avoid the drop, Billingham Synthonia won 2-1 at Newton Aycliffe, with striker Michael Sweet continuing his prolific form.

Aycliffe took the lead with a free kick by Dennis Knight into the top corner after 16 minutes, but Synners levelled almost immediately when Tommy Marron crossed for Sweet to score from a few yards.

Sweet scored his second before half time, when he turned on another Marron pass and beat Aycliffe keeper James Winter. Sweet has scored 16 goals in his last eight matches.

Synners are now sixth bottom, eight points above the relegation zone.

Billingham Synthonia manager Conrad Hillerby said; “We showed quite a bit of character to win the game. More togetherness has given us a chance of avoiding relegation.”

Newton Aycliffe manager Peter Dixon said; “I couldn’t have asked for anything more from the players. Billingham were better than us in front of goal.”

Ian Chandler saw his old club Whitley Bay beat his new club Durham City by 4-3 at New Ferens Park.

Durham took the lead through Callum Hope, but Whitley hit back with goals by Peter Watling (2) and Alex Kempster. New signing Scott Blandford made it 4-1 after half time, before Durham staged a late revival with goals by Ryan Noble and Kyle Fryatt.

It was the first win for Whitley manager Paddy Atkinson.

Durham manager Ian Chandler said; “Another game full of individual mistakes which against cost us goals. We had several chances which were saved and ultimately chasing the game for the final 20 minutes.”

Whitley Bay manager Paddy Atkinson said; “The players produced a similar performance to the one they gave at Blyth a fortnight ago.”

Newcastle Benfield beat Bedlington 1-0, Paul Brayson scoring the winner from a Mark Turnbull cross against one of his old clubs, his 34th league goal of the season.

Newcastle Benfield manager Steve Bowey said; “It was a great result. The pleasing thing is a clean sheet. At times the lads were brilliant but credit to Bedlington, they kept coming, but I thought we deserved the three points. A hard fought win.”

Bedlington manager Gary Innes said; “We’re disappointed, but we have to take the positives.”

Morpeth beat Penrith 3-1 and are now ninth in the table. Matthew Grieve, Ben Sayer and Sean Taylor scored the goals, with Martyn Coleman replying.

The Cumbrians finished with nine men, because they had Jake Smith and Ben Jackson sent off in the last 25 minutes.

Morpeth manager Nick Gray said; “The lads played well up until went 3-0 up then stopped playing for the last 20 minutes. It was a good win against a good team.”

In the second division, Norton climbed over Washington into second by comfortably winning 5-0 at Birtley. Nicky Martin, Karl Charlton, Gary Mitchell and Matthew Hawkins (2) scored their goals.

Norton manager Andy Campbell said; “We’re back to winning ways. We played really well and created plenty of chances. Now we need to carry this on.”

Washington dropped a place because they were held to a 1-1 draw at home by Northallerton. Dale Elgie put Northallerton into the lead, but Mark Davison equalised.

Northallerton manager Danny Mellanby said; “I’m pleased with the performance of the players, it was a deserved point against a good side.”

Team Northumbria easily beat bottom club Brandon 5-1, with David Dormand scoring a hat trick. Luke Hannant and Louis Storey scored their other goals, with James Ellis scoring for Brandon, which was the first goal in the game.

Hebburn are still keeping the pressure on the leading group and they won their eighth successive game when they beat Willington 2-1.

Marc Costello put Hebburn into the lead after 8 minutes, but Adam Comby levelled for Willington midway through the half. However, Channon North got the winner on 57 minutes, his 33rd league goal of the season.

Willington had Stephen Howe dismissed for two yellows.

Hebburn manager Scott Oliver said; “I think we deserved the win. We created the better chances. Willington were a constant threat on the break.”

Willington manager Rob Lee said; “I thought a draw would have been a fair result. We went down to ten men and could have got a point.”

Esh Winning continued their revival when they won 2-1 at Thornaby, and are now fourth bottom. Ben Sanderson put Esh into the lead on 41 minutes, then Paul Basey got the second on 66 minutes. Stephen Morrison pulled a goal back for Thornaby.

Tow Law won only their third league game of the season when they beat Ryton and Crawcrook 3-2 at Ironworks Road. Ryton led 2-0 at one point with goals by Sam Moore and David Backhouse, but Lawyers hit back well through recent signing Dan Maddison (2) and Simon Ord.

Tow Law manager Steve Murray said; “The win was deserved, we’re delighted.”

Stokesley dropped to third bottom after they were beaten 3-0 at Billingham Town. Joel Callender put Town into the lead with a powerful left foot shot on the end of a three man move, then former Stokesley player Ben Bonner fired the second. Bonner then lobbed the keeper for the third from an Alan Taylor pass.

Stokesley manager Nicky Ward said; “We played really well but couldn’t finish which cost us dear. Two poor goals from setpieces but played well. We’ve got to take our chances better.”

Billingham Town manager Darren Trotter said; “I was very pleased with the attitude of the players. They were very disciplined, kept their emotions together and carried out a very professional performance on a team that didn’t stop working.”

Ryhope CW had a good win, by 3-1 at Darlington RA. They took the lead when Jack Pounder nodded the ball down for Conor Winter to tap in, then after half time Pounder fired the second. Winter broke away and got the third, before the RA pulled a late goal back through Jim Wilson.

Ryhope CW manager Gary Pearson said; “It was a great performance again. After the first ten minutes we quickly realised that we weren’t going to be able to get the ball down so we concentrated on winning a battle which paid off in the end.”

Heaton Stannington beat South Shields 3-0 with goals by Brian Dodsworth, Brian Yates and Ben Telford.

Heaton Stannington assistant manager Geoff Walker said; “We’re absolutely delighted with the performance. The workrate all over the pitch was first class. Not much in the first half but went in 2-0 up. We dominated the second half, we got a third and could easily have scored more. Very pleasing as Shields like ourselves have been on a good run.”

Whickham beat Alnwick 3-2 at the Glebe, Andrew Brown scoring the winner for the home side late in the game.

In the EvoStik League, Blyth beat Stamford 4-1 at Croft Park, with goals by Matthew Wade, Michael Richardson, Dan Maguire and an own goal.

Whitby lost 2-1 at Marine, Dale Hopson having put them ahead.