West part company with Campbell after heavy defeat

Campbell took over a year ago and saved them from relegation in the last two months of last season, but West have dropped into bottom place in recent weeks, and a nightmare performance sealed his fate, and that of his assistant, Richie Storr.

West general manager Stuart Alderson said; “Andy put a lot of effort into the job, but unfortunately the results haven’t been there. Mark Hudson will be the interim manager, but we’re still looking for a manager.”

Campbell accepted his fate gracefully and said; “The league table doesn’t lie.”

Once Mark Davison put Washington into the lead on 16 minutes, it became a procession. Davison completed his hat trick with Matty Waters scoring before half time, and in the second half Waters scored three more in four minutes. Gary Shaw added two more in the last 10 minutes, but by then Campbell’s departure was inevitable.

Washington manager Neil Hixon said; “It was a brilliant team performance, it could have been double figures.”

Chris McCabe got off to a great start as the new Seaham Red Star manager when they easily beat Chester-le-Street 5-0.

Seaham keeper Shaun Newbrook saved a Michael Hepplewhite penalty early in the game, and then Robbie Bird put his side into the lead. Paul Gardiner scored either side of the break to make it 3-0, Chris Lynch fired in off the post, and Craig Price scored the fifth.

Seaham have appointed Adam Johnston as McCabe’s assistant. Johnston is a former Seaham player, and has won the Vase with Whitley Bay.

Seaham manager Chris McCabe said; “It was a professional performance from us. The players applied themselves really well afetr what has happened in the last week or so. I couldn’t fault any of them, I thought they were outstanding. Their work rate was first class and we played some great football. It was nice for me and my assistant Adam to start with a win as well.”

Chester-le-Street manager Colin Wake said; “An absolutely shocking display from start to finish. We got what we deserved, and in truth, it should have been more emphatic but for poor finishing. A lot of players simply didn’t turn up and in our position we can’t have afford to have one underperforming player, let alone half a team.”

League leaders South Shields were held to a 1-1 draw at home by Newcastle Benfield.

Robbie Briggs hit the post for Shields in the first half, but they took the lead when Gavin Cogdon scored from a Craig Baxter cross. However, Benfield levelled when Paul Brayson hit the bar, but Mechack Kanda scored from the rebound.

The crowd was 1,166, the fourth successive game that Shields have had a four figure gate.

Newcastle Benfield assistant manager Mark Convery said; “It was a real gritty and organised team performance to be able to stop a very good South Shields team that only had limited attempts on goal. We have played all the top teams and we have nothing to fear.”

Newton Aycliffe missed a chance to go third when they were beaten by the best of seven at home to Penrith.

Aycliffe were 2-0 up at one stage, both of them scored by Dennis Knight, but Martyn Coleman pulled a goal back before half time. Andy Murray-Jones and Richard Faustino put Penrith 3-2 up, but Aycliffe levelled through John Campbell.

But on 73 minutes Coleman popped up with the winner, his fifth goal in two games.

Aycliffe manager Peter Dixon said; “We were without both centre halves and it showed, but I was happy with how we played.”

Second placed North Shields couldn’t capitalise because they could only draw 0-0 at Sunderland RCA. The closest either side came to scoring was when Shields’ Gareth Bainbridge hit the post late in the game. Shields are still unbeaten in ten matches.

North Shields manager Jon McDonald said; “We did enough to win the game but didn’t take our chances. I’m pleased to keep a clean sheet and restrict RCA to very few goalscoring opportunities.”

Sunderland RCA manager Martin Swales said; “It was a good hard working performance and our first clean sheet of the season.”

Marske United came from two goals down to draw 2-2 at Whitley Bay.

Whitley were in command in the first half. Ryan Keltie volleyed them into the lead from the edge of the area, and on the hour, Marske defender Nathan Mulligan turned an Alex Kempster free kick into his own net.

But Marske pulled a goal back when Nathan Evans crossed for Mulligan to set up Earl who fired home, and with five minutes left Aaron Ramsbottom scored from a Mulligan cross.

Whitley Bay manager Ian Chandler said; “We played very well throughout but were pegged back to 2-1 with about 20 minutes to go and let the lead slip in the 90th minute which looked like a handball by their scorer. There was some contentious refereeing in the game, I’m afraid to say.”

Marske United manager Carl Jarrett said; “We weren’t at the races today, The game could have been over by half time but again the lads went to the other end and got a draw.”

Guisborough are still without a home victory this season after they lost 3-1 at home to Jarrow Roofing.

Roofing took the lead after 11 minutes when Michael Mackay headed in a cross by Adam Sakr, then Kerry Hedley made it 2-0 with a 20 yarder.

Thibault Charmey pulled a goal back with a low shot five minutes after half time, and he went close to an equaliser, but Paul Chow headed Roofing’s third from a free kick.

Guisborough manager Steve Dowling said; “We never got going until the second half then scored and had chances to equalise, but a good header from Chow sealed the win.”

Jarrow Roofing manager Richie McLoughlin said; “It was a top performance by us. We haven’t won there for a long time and so it was good to come home with the three points.”

Ryhope CW had a morale boosting 6-3 away win at West Allotment, with seven of the goals coming in the second half.

James Ellis put Ryhope ahead in the first minute, then Stephen Young equalised.

Ryhope keeper Chris Rookes saved a Young penalty after half time, before Joe Melvin and Ellis put Ryhope 3-1 up. Jordan Miller and Young hit back for Allotment to draw 3-3, but in the last five minutes, Nathan O’Neill, Ellis and Simon Ord scored to give Ryhope their third league win of the season.

Ryhope CW manager Gary Pearson said; “It was a bit of a roller coaster ride. A lot of really good performances throughout and deservedly took all three points even if we did ride our luck at times. We should have killed the game off at 3-1 but then allowed them back in it with two avoidable goals. We showed great character and a touch of class to score three more times. The standouts were James Ellis who was excellent all day, and keeper Chris Rookes who made three superb saves and stopped a penalty.”

In the second division, Blyth Town pulled off their best victory since they joined the league last month when they won 8-2 at Alnwick. Gary Day scored four, with David Robinson (2), Tony Stephenson and Connor Andrews scoring the others. Liam Brookes had put Alnwick into the lead.

League leaders Team Northumbria are unbeaten now in ten league games after they beat Hebburn 3-0, with goals by Ben Dibb-Fuller, Aiden Heywood and Nicholas Green. Hebburn had Kris Summers sent off when they score was 1-0.

Team North have only conceded three goals in the league this season.

Hebburn manager Scott Oliver said; “Only ourselves to blame. We missed chances at one end and a mistake at the other end which led to a sending off at a vital time.”

Stockton Town dropped points and are now four points behind the leaders after they were held to a goalless draw at Northallerton.

Northallerton manager Darren Trotter said; “I felt that we cancelled each other out. We edged the first half, and Stockton were better in the second half. It was a good point gained.”

Stockton Town manager Micky Dunwell said; “It was a tough game. We were poor in the first half and they could have gone in front early on . Second half we came out better and had chances to win the game but they defended well and a draw was probably a fair result. Another point though , we stay unbeaten and our fifth clean sheet in a row.”

Easington are level with Stockton on points after a good 2-1 away win at Bedlington.

With new manager Paddy Atkinson in charge Bedlington led with a goal by Adam Ward, but Easington hit back in the second half with goals by Dylan Nesbitt and Luke Page in the space of three minutes.

Darlington RA are still third bottom after they lost 2-0 at Billingham Town.

The home side missed an early penalty through Craig Hutchinson, but soon after Chris Dickinson put Town ahead. The RA stayed in the game until two minutes from the end when Jack Connor scored the second.

Billingham Town manager Barry Oliver said; “We made hard work of it today. On another day it could have been double figures, but more pleasing was three points and a clean sheet.”

Darlington RA manager Peter Mulcaster said; “It was a bad first half, but a much better second half. However, we are still not good enough.”

Willington missed a chance to go into the top seven because of a 1-0 away defeat at Ryton and Crawcrook, Adam Chrostowski scoring the only goal of the game after 20 minutes.

Willington manager Gary Innes said; “I’m very disappointed.”

Norton also missed a chance to go into the top seven because they were beaten 2-1 at Durham City. The home side led with a goal by Jeremy Allen, but that was cancelled out by James Marley. However, Dan O’Reilly got the winner for Durham, their first victory in seven matches.

Norton manager Deano Browne said; “It was a very difficult game against a young Durham side who worked really hard. We got back into the game after half time then an individual error put Durham ahead.”

Esh Winning are still rock bottom of the table after they were thumped 6-0 at home by Heaton Stannington, their seventh successive away win. Paul Blackett scored four for Heaton, with Sam Walton scoring the other two.