Moors take big stride in quest for promotion

Moors substitute Keith Graydon changed the course of the game after his side went 3-1 down with some typical precise passing and setpieces, but for the second Saturday running, the Nation threw away a two-goal lead, with Griffiths putting Moors in the promotion driving seat with a 25 yarder into the bottom corner.

Moors are eight points behind the Nation, with six games in hand.

Moors manager Jason Ainsley said: “It was a very important equaliser by Kallum, but Keith changed the game, because until then the ball was like a hot potato. I thought that we matched them in all departments, apart from defending against set-pieces.

Nobody seemed to want to get hold of the ball. But Keith’s experience and delivery for the second goal were vital.

“Yet again, though, we can’t question the lads’ character, and I was delighted for our fans, who were superb.”

Moors showed some promise early on, but the Nation took the lead when Willie Gibson found James Paterson from a corner, and the midfielder neatly sidestepped a challenge, and curled the ball left footed past Peter Jeffries.

Moors levelled when Anthony Peacock picked up a quickly-taken free kick and, after his shot was blocked, Liam Henderson slotted in.

Nation regained the lead on 43 minutes when Gibson floated a free-kick into the penalty area, and Peter Murphy beat Peter Jeffries at the far post.

It was looking good for Nation in front of a record 1,019 crowd when Liam Atkin headed in a corner, but then the game swung Moors’ way when Graydon arrived.

Henderson headed his second goal from a Graydon freekick on 81 minutes, then Griffiths beat Aaron Taylor with a shot into the bottom corner.

Nation manager Willie McStay said: “I thought we were by far the better team, both tactically and individually, but a lack of commitment and bravery at key moments cost us.

“We’ve got all it to do now.

We need to win our last four matches and hope that the others slip up.”

Shildon are three points behind the Nation after hammering Billingham Town 8-0.

Ben Wood opened the scoring from a Paul Connor pass on 11 minutes, and three minutes Chris Emms ran through and scored the second. Connor turned in the third , then Emms curled the fourth.

Billy Greulich-Smith dribbled through from the right and fired past Joe Williamson, then he scored again from an Emms assist. He completed a hat-trick on 82 minutes from another Emms pass. Mark Hudson volleyed the eighth from the edge of the area.

Guisborough are hanging on to the leaders in fourth after they beat Sunderland RCA 2-1. Mikey Roberts put Guisborough into the lead from the penalty spot, then Luke Bythway hit a blistering 25-yarder for the second.

The RCA pulled a goal back in the second half through Jim Wilson, but remain fifth bottom.

Guisborough could still win the title, as they have Spennymoor and Shildon to play.

The other title contenders, West Auckland, saw their game at Penrith postponed because of a waterlogged pitch, which adds to their fixture congestion with the FA Vase semi-final coming up over the next two Saturdays.

Bishop Auckland were held to a 1-1 draw at home by second bottom Hebburn.

The visitors took the lead after 12 minutes when Scott Wallace ran through and beat Scott Pocklington, and after they missed several chances, particularly through Sean Tarling and Dean Douglas, Bishops levelled through Jonny Butler.

Consett came back from two down to draw 2-2 with Whitley Bay.

Whitley led through Paul Chow to give him 33 league goals for the season.

Whitley couldn’t finish off Consett, who pulled a goal back when Aristote Guerin- Lokonga set up Michael Mackay, and then Scott Canham equalised with a long-range free kick. Consett had defender Scott Martindale dismissed for two yellow cards in stoppage time.

Newcastle Benfield beat Marske United 4-0 at Sam Smiths, with Stephen Stewart, Stephen Slaughter, Gary Day and Phil Airey scoring.

Dunston UTS won 2-0 at Morpeth. Gary Ormston scored from a Lee McAndrew corner to give them the lead on 55 minutes, and McAndrew scored the second.

Crook gave themselves some breathing space with a valuable 1-0 home win over Billingham Synthonia.

Synners had the better of the first half and nearly scored when David Abel’s header was pushed onto the post by Barry Poskett, while Darryl Evans was denied at the other end.

There were plenty of chances in the second half, and the winner came in the last minute through Robbie Bird, with the Synners defence appealing for offside.

Team Northumbria are just two points from safety after they won 2-1 at Newton Aycliffe.

Team North took the lead from the spot on 42 minute through Peter Watling after a handball.

Durham City winger Chris Moore looks for an opening during their 6-1 win over Bedlington

Lewis Aird put TN further into the lead on 61 minutes, and Aycliffe gained a consolation in a poor display when James Owens curled in a beauty from the edge of the box.

In the second division, Tow Law crowned their 3,000th league game by drawing 1-1 with South Shields.

Dean Thexton put them into the lead on 63 minutes, and it looked as if Lawyers might celebrate the big day with a win until Luke Richardson equalised.

Leaders North Shields were within seven minutes of defeat at Stokesley, but they fought back from 3-1 down to earn a 3-3 draw. They now need just two wins to gain promotion.

Drew Lambert gave Stokesley the lead from distance, then Matthew Robinson scored a second on 39 minutes.

Shields pulled a goal back for 2-1 through Dan Smart, but Kristian Kamara restored Stokesley’s two-goal lead from the penalty spot.

Gareth Bainbridge, the leading scorer in the division had other ideas. He pulled one back with a good shot, and snatched a point with a penalty after Adam Forster was fouled.

Jarrow Roofing, who are fourth, won 2-0 at Chester-le- Street, both goals coming in the last nine minutes.

Roofing took the lead when David Borley’s free-kick was saved, but the ball ran loose for Dan Kirkup to set up Stephen Young. Borley was more successful with another free kick from 20 yards with four minutes left.

West Allotment moved up to second thanks to a 3-1 win at Northallerton.

Allotment took the lead when Martin Butterworth deflected a Stephen Little header into his own goal, then Michael Bell crossed for David Dormand to score the second before half time. In the second half, Dormand split the defence for Tony Lancaster to turn home.

Aaron Ramsbottom pulled a goal back for Northallerton with a free kick from 20 yards.

Seaham Red Star dropped from second to third after a 1-1 draw with Darlington RA.

The RA took the lead when an effort by David Webster that the Seaham keeper punched against a defender and then into the net. In the last minute when David Palmer equalised.

Fifth-placed Heaton Stannington kept their slim promotion hopes alive by winning 3-1 at Birtley.

Heaton took the lead with a goal by Joe Wear three minutes before half time, then Lee Johnson made it 2-0 from distance. Anthony Johnson scored a deflected third.

In the relegation battle, bottom club Ryton and Crawcrook lost 2-0 at home to Thornaby, for whom Lee Bythway and Gerard Livingstone scored. Ryton are six points adrift of second bottom Brandon.

Third-bottom Esh Winning had a damaging 7-0 away defeat at Norton. Gary Mitchell took his career goals tally past the 150-mark with two of the goals, while Karl Charlton also scored a hat trick, with Nicky Martin getting the other two. Esh have some breathing space, as only one club is going to be relegated from the second division this season.

Willington beat Whitehaven 3-1 at Hall Lane. Aiden Bowers gave Willington the lead, but Kevin Connolly levelled.

Graham Lazonby put Willington back into the lead on 56 minutes, and Chris Hardy made sure from the spot.

• In the Evo-Stik League, Blyth stayed in the thick of the play-off fight by winning 1-0 at Ilkeston with an 11th minute goal by Dan Maguire. Whitby lost 2-1 at home to Ashton United, David McTiernan scoring.