Newton Aycliffe manager Peter Dixon was unhappy with an injury time equaliser which denied his side three valuable points against Morpeth in their fight against relegation on Saturday.

Aycliffe are left six points above the relegation zone, and all the clubs below them have games in hand. “I was told that the referee played eight minutes over time, and I really don’t know where he got that from.

“Their equaliser denied us a victory I thought we deserved. By the time they scored, we should have been in the showers. The way we played was really good, and the desire of the players was unbelieveable. The performance has given us a lift for the rest of the season.”

Aycliffe took the lead just before the hour through Mark Stephenson, but Sean Taylor levelled in stoppage time.

 

The relegation fight in both divisions could take a new twist though if Celtic Nation resign from the league, as they are reported to be having difficulties both financially and a lack of volunteers. They have told the league that they will complete their fixtures, but their future is uncertain after the end of the season.

The league has told them that they will support them as much as possible.

 

 

Guisborough are back on top after they came from behind to win 2-1 at Whitley Bay.

Whitley took the lead after 15 minutes when Peter Watling ran through and beat keeper Nick Liversedge, but just after the half hour Guisborough levelled when Luke Bythway headed in a cross by Chay Liddle.

They got the winner in the opening minute of the second half with an effort by Curtis Round, which the Bedlington keeper could only help into the net.

Guisborough are now unbeaten in their last 17 league games.

 

The morning’s leaders, West Auckland, were held to a goalless draw at Bedlington.

They had the edge on chances in the first half and Alex Francis hit the bar, but Bedlington improved in the second half and had a goal disallowed. Right at the end, Matty Moffat had a shot cleared off the line.

It is understood that five clubs have made enquiries about Moffat, who was transfer listed last week. .

 

With North Shields in the Vase, Marske overtook them and went third by winning their local derby 2-0 at Billingham Synthonia.

Marske took the lead when former Synners player Craig Gott found Josh MacDonald, who lifted the ball over the keeper. Gott then missed a penalty after MacDonald was fouled, but MacDonald got the second when he pounced on the rebound to score after Sam Garvie’s shot was blocked.

 

Shildon also jumped over Shields by winning 3-0 at West Allotment.

They took the lead after 10 minutes with a clever back heel by Paul Connor from Sam Hodgson’s cross, and they went 2-0 up when Mark Hudson set up Marc Doninger, who fired home. Shildon took control and scored the third when Connor scored from another Doninger cross.

Shildon are five points behind Guisborough with three games in hand.

 

Dunston UTS, in sixth, had a goalless draw at home to Durham City, but they lost ground on the other leaders. Dunston keeper Liam Connell pulled off several good saves.

 

Sunderland RCA stay third bottom after they lost 2-0 at Newcastle Benfield.

The home side took the lead with a penalty by Paul Brayson, his 39th league goal of the season, and midway through the second half Dan Taylor scored from the rebound after Brayson’s header was saved.

 

Consett striker Michael Mackay took his league tally for the season to 30 with a hat trick in their 4-0 win at relegated Crook Town.

Former crook player Adam Nicholls crossed from the left for him to score the first two and just after half time Chris Moore opened up the Crook defence for Mackay to complete his hat trick and goal number 42 for the season. Moore put Aris Guerin-Lokonga to get the fourth.

 

Ashington are picking up under Steve Harmison, and they had a 3-0 away win at Penrith. Dylan Williamson scored from a left wing cross, then Paul Watson made it 2-0. Penrith had two men, Martyn Coleman and Will Paul sent off, before Glen Taylor scored a late third.

 

In the second division, leaders Seaham Red Star just got the better of Northallerton in a 4-3 thriller. Dean Nicholson put Seaham into the lead, only for Stuart Owen to equalise. Gary Shaw and David Palmer put Seaham 3-1 up, before Thom Atkinson pulled a goal back. Lewis Wing put Seaham 4-2 up, before Danny McLachlan scored again for Northallerton.

 

Washington stay second after beating Esh Winning 2-0 at Waterhouses, Chris Winn scoring a goal in each half to give him 32 league goals for the season. He also missed a penalty.

 

Norton are still unbeaten at home and remain third after they defeated South Shields 2-0, with goals by Rocky Andrews and Karl Charlton.

 

Team Northumbria won 4-1 at Darlington RA to stay in third.

The RA took the lead through Phil Caley, but Team North scored three times in the space of ten minutes before half time to put them 3-1 in front. The RA almost pulled a goal back in the second half, but the visitors scored another near the end from the spot. David Dormand scored a hat trick for TN, with Louis Storey getting the other.

 

Hebburn lost ground on the top four because they were held to a goalless draw at home by Thornaby, the visitors having the best of the chances.

 

If Celtic Nation go under and nobody comes up from the Northern Alliance, then that could spell good news in the form of a reprieve for the bottom two clubs.

 

Bottom club Brandon are fighting hard, but they lost 1-0 at home to Heaton Stannington. Brandon, despite having Kieron Weekes sent off, had plenty of chances but couldn’t convert them, and it was Gary Yates who scored the winner for Heaton with a shot into the top corner in the second half.

 

Tow Law won their third successive home game against Billingham Town to keep their hopes of catching third bottom Esh Winning alive. The visitors had the better chances in the game, but Lawyers scored the winner just a few minutes from the end when Simon Ord pounced on a poor clearance and fired past Town keeper Michael Thackeray.

 

Willington beat Chester-le-Street 1-0, with a stoppage time goal by Jason White from a Kenny Wilkes cross.

 

Birtley have only won once this year after they went down 3-1 at Ryhope CW.

Birtley took the lead with a goal by new signing Matt Watchman, but Ryhope hit back through Martin Metcalfe. In the second half, recent signing Conor Winter scored twice for Ryhope to give them the points.

 

Whickham beat Ryton and Crawcrook 4-0 at the Glebe. Mark Fitzpatrick (2), Chad Collins and Mark Pattison scored the goals.

 

Alnwick easily beat Stokesley 5-1. Stokesley only had the bare eleven, and their cause wasn’t helped when Greg Upton was dismissed in the first half. Adam Shanks, Tom McPherson, Stephen Hogg (2) and Keith Douglas scored for Alnwick, with Kristian Kamara replying.

 

In the EvoStik League premier division, Whitby came back from 3-1 down to score twice in the last ten minutes at Halesowen. David McTiernan, Steven Snaith and Mark Robinson scored the goals. Blyth beat Stourbridge 2-0 with goals by Stephen Turnbull and Alex Nicholson.