Newton Aycliffe manager Peter Dixon reckoned that new signing Andy Ferrell made a huge difference to his side when they beat Marske United 5-2 on Saturday.

Ferrell, a former pro at Newcastle, Gateshead and Forest Green, quit as Bedlington manager last week, and Dixon took the opportunity to sign him up at Moore Lane.

“His experience and organisational skills made a huge difference to us,” said Dixon.

“He ticks all the boxes for me, he’s got a different mentality, and he got the best out of our two strikers.”

John Campbell was the main beneficiary, scoring four times on top of the hat trick he scored in midweek against West Allotment.

Both teams had chances before Aycliffe took the lead on 41 minutes when Dennis Knight pounced on a mistake and ran through to score, and just on half time Campbell made it 2-0 at the second attempt from close range.

Jamie Owens pulled a goal back from the edge of the box six minutes after half time, but Campbell made it 3-1 with a free kick.

Nathan Mulligan pulled a goal back from the penalty spot with four minutes left, but Campbell won possession to run through and make it 4-2. Campbell then completed the scoring from close range to keep Aycliffe third in the table.

Marske manager Carl Jarrett said; “I thought we didn’t deserve to be 2-0 down at half time and second half was just full of mistakes and at this level it’s not good enough as you get punished for them. I think my lads have to start rolling their sleeves up as I am not happy with results.”

North Shields are now top of the table after beating Sunderland RCA 3-1.

The RCA took the lead through Callum Hassan, but Kevin Hughes equalised from a corner. Bobby Taylor scored from a Ryan McGorrigan cross to put Shields 2-1 up, and after Shields’ Dean Holmes missed a penalty, Ryan Carr fired the third.

North Shields manager Jon McDonald said; “I was delighted with the second half performance. The conditions were difficult with a strong wind, however if we’d been more clinical in front of goal we could have scored six.”

Sunderland RCA manager Marty Swales said; “We started well and I thought we were the better side. Second half they were the much better side.”

Champions Shildon are in fourth still courtesy of a 3-0 home win over West Allotment.

Chris Bannon pulled off some good saves in the Allotment goal, but he was beaten on 57 minutes when Lewis Wing scored with a low shot.

David Ferguson scored his ninth of the season with a shot that went in off the crossbar, and then sub Micky Rae got the third.

Shildon coach Phil Brumwell said; “West Allotment put in a very disciplined and well organised performance first half, and we performed well below par. We had several clear chances but on the whole couldn’t get our game going and not much in it.

“At half time, after a few words we focused again on our strengths and dominated the second half and played more like we can.”

West Allotment manager Paul Stoneman said; “Overall I was really pleased with our attitude. We frustrated them for an hour then gifted them three goals. Really there were plenty of positives.”

Seaham Red Star are well in touch with the leading group after they beat Washington 3-1 in their local derby.

Denver Morris put them in the lead from a pass by Robbie Bird, but Washington levelled when David Scorer put through his own goal.

Jack Walker restored Seaham’s lead with a good solo goal, then Chris Lynch made it 3-1 with a left foot shot. Seaham are now up to fifth in the table with games in hand on all the clubs above them.

Seaham manager Chris McCabe said; “It was a good result for us really, because we never got going. Defensively we were very good and we scored at the right times of the game. Washington put us under pressure with high balls and we coped really well. It was good to see Denver Morris get on the score sheet he deserved a goal, I was really happy with the result but there’s a lot we can improve on.”

Washington manager Neil Hixon said; “We played ok, we got caught three times on the break and need to be more switched on.”

Dunston UTS are still in the bottom six after losing 4-2 at Morpeth.

They took the lead through Olly Leedham, but Michael Chilton headed the equaliser and then put his side in the lead from a long ball.

Dunston hit the woodwork twice before Scott Heslop headed them level, then after they hit the woodwork again, Morpeth went 3-2 up on 80 minutes through Damon Mullen from a Liam Henderson pass. Matty Halambiec headed the fourth in the last minute.

Dunston UTS manager Billy Irwin said; “We deserved at least a point out of the game. At 2-2 we hit the woodwork three times. We just keep working hard.”

Morpeth manager Nick Gray said; “We were far from our best, but I’m delighted with the three points.”

In the second division, Brandon won their third successive game to climb well clear of the relegation zone after beating Willington 1-0, Shane Todd scoring the goal.

Newcomers Blyth Town took their tally to fourteen in two games with a 6-1 away win at Thornaby, who have now dropped into the bottom six.

Blyth scored three times in the first half hour through David Robinson (2) and Shaun McRoberts and before half time Gary Day made it 4-0. Matthew Robinson pulled a goal back, but Tony Stephenson and Day added further goals. Blyth are now into the top half of the table.

Darlington RA are stuck in the bottom two because of a 3-0 home defeat by Hebburn, for whom Glen Hargrave, Chris Feasey and Kris Summers all scored.

Darlington RA manager Peter Mulcaster said; “Yet another below par performance.”

Hebburn manager Scott Oliver said; “We’re pleased to win. It’s been a while. It could easily have been 1-1 at half time instead of 2-0.”

Crook are too close for comfort to the drop zone after their 2-1 home defeat by Whickham.

Lewis Martin put Crook into a half time lead from the penalty spot, but Whickham levelled when David Fitzpatrick burst through and scored. His brother Mark was sent off, but that didn’t stop David Clasper from heading the winner.

Durham City had a good 3-1 away win at Tow Law, after they were a goal down at half time.

John Meadows put Lawyers into the lead, but City hit back in the second half with goals from Sam Norris (2) and Dan O’Reilly to put them eighth in the table.

Durham manager Chris Moore said; “We didn’t really get going in the first half, but a good reaction in the second half changed the flow of the game. It’s a tough place to come to so it was pleasing that the lads showed a lot of grit and determination to secure the three points.”

Bedlington are just above the RA on goal difference because of their 3-0 home defeat by Alnwick, for whom Liam Brooks, Brent Aisbit and Jake Morrison scored.