Furious RCA manager Hixon considers quitting after controversial penalty decision

The RCA looked as if they would hold on for a point, until referee Dean Hulme ruled that Steve Richardson was fouled by RCA defender Paul Wardle, and Micky Rae scored from the spot to give Moors the points in a 2-1 win and keep the pressure on leaders Darlington.

“In no way was that a penalty,” fumed Hixon. “Their player shot wide of goal and then collided with our player. Our keeper picked the ball up ready to take a goal kick, but then the ref awarded a penalty to everyone’s surprise.

“Some refereeing decisions this season have been incredible. We had a goal given against us earlier in the season after the referee blew his whistle for a free kick, and now this. It was embarrassing. I’m thinking of seeing the season out and then resigning.

“Some of these people are ruining the game. I don’t mind losing fair and square if there are no daft decisions, but this was ridiculous. If Premiership or Football League officials make bad decisions, then they’re stood down for a couple of weeks or are demoted, but at this level, they’re just told to get on with it. "

Both sides hit the woodwork before Moors took the lead on 29 minutes when skipper Danny Moore outjumped the RCA keeper Jonny Ball and scored with a header from Andrew Stephenson’s corner, but in the second half Gary Shaw fired the equaliser. It seemed set for a draw until Richardson was fouled and Micky Rae scored from the spot.

Moors are 23 points behind Quakers with eight games in hand, and are playing twice this week ahead of their Vase tie in Guernsey this Saturday.

Spennymoor assistant manager Gavin Fell said: “The boys worked hard, and they did well in very tough conditions. The pitch was very poor. We could have been out of sight in the first half , but we kept going and deserved to win. I was pleased the penalty was given, I couldn’t see it from where I was.”

Billingham Town kept the relegation fight well and truly alive when they came from behind to beat Penrith 2-1 at Bedford Terrace.

Town looked doomed at half time when they trailed to a 28th minute strike by Kevin Halliday, and just after the break Kevin Connelly missed a good chance for the second.

However, Town levelled after 73 minutes with a powerful hit by Harrison Davies from a Glen Butterworth pass, and then near the end Butterworth scored the winner direct from a free kick just outside the box.

Town are now just two points behind fourth bottom Newton Aycliffe, having played a game more.

Billingham Town manager Carl Jarrett said: “It wasn’t a great first half. The lads looked tired from Thursday but after going a goal down, we are now starting to fight for everything and we won the game with two top drawer goals.”

Bottom club Norton are looking doomed after they were beaten 1-0 at Marske United. Norton played much better than of late and nearly scored through Callum Martin, but they were beaten after 78 minutes when Karl Charlton cut in from the left and scored with the outside of his left foot.

Marske climbed three places, above Sunderland RCA, Newcastle Benfield and Penrith, and are five points above the drop zone. Norton are 21 points adrift.

Marske manager Ted Watts said: “It was a very poor game on a heavy pitch. We just edged it – we’ve played better and lost this season.”

Norton manager Andy Campbell said: “We battered them for 85 minutes, and we missed some gilt edged chances. We should have easily won this game. One mistake and we lost.”

Celtic Nation used three goalkeepers in their 4-3 defeat at Hebburn. Usual keeper Dan Lowson started the game, and was beaten twice by James Luccock and Stephen Forster in the first ten minutes. Steve Archibald pulled a goal back for Celtic Nation, but then they had their Lowson sent off for a foul on Luccock, so Michael Reed went in goal and was beaten by Stuart Nicholson’s penalty. Player –manager Steve Skinner went in goal in the second half, and he was beaten after 48 minutes by Nicholson to make it 4-1. But then Reed, playing back in the forward line, scored twice to give Hebburn a late scare.

Hebburn manager Paul Bennett said: “A win at last after a horrendous run of late. We started well and went deservedly 2-0. We got a helping hand when their keeper was sent off and we went 4-1 up. Then a mistake and nerves and doubt kicked in, but we managed to see the game through to claim a massive three points. Credit to the lads who have stood by, they repaid us today.”

Celtic Nation manager Steve Skinner said: “I’m annoyed with some players for not turning up, but those that did, fair play to them as we were down to ten men after 20 minutes. They tried very hard, and were unlucky not to get a point. But sad news again we have lost two more players for at least three weeks, and our squad is now just 13 players.”

Shildon, with an eye on this Saturday’s big Vase semi final against Tunbridge Wells, drew 1-1 with last season’s finalists West Auckland at Dean Street.

There wasn’t much in the game with both sides carving out good chances until West’s Andrew Green was red carded for elbowing an opponent, and a few minutes later Robbie Briggs headed Shildon in front from an Adam Johnston corner.

But typically West rolled up their sleeves and equalised when Mattie Moffat grabbed his 29th league goal of the season, to keep him at the top of the league scoring charts. Moffat missed a good chance for the winner right at the end.

The league has agreed to postpone Shildon’s home game with Billingham Town on Wednesday.

Shildon assistant manager Stu Niven said: “We were frustrated not to win but we’re happy enough with the players and the performance against a strong West Auckland side.”

West Auckland manager Peter Dixon said: “The sending off changed the game, but I thought we could still have won it.”

Durham City, playing their fourth game in a week, drew 1-1 at Billingham Synthonia thanks to a stoppage time goal.

Synners were on top in the first half and took the lead when Nathan Porritt crossed for Nathan Wilson to score from a few yards, and they missed chances to score a second. However, City levelled right at the end when Ricky Fenwick crossed for recent signing Mattie Scott to tap in.

Durham manager Adam Furness said: “The proverbial game of two halves. Synners were the better in the first half although neither side really created much. After the break we changed our shape and approach and had the better of things and gained a deserved equaliser. It was our fourth game in seven days and I thought we showed some real desire after our poor first half and hopefully we now have time to get players back.”

Billingham Town manager Carl Jarrett said: “It wasn’t a great first half. The lads looked tired from Thursday but after going a goal down, we are now starting to fight for everything and we won the game with two top drawer goals.”

Guisborough recovered from their 7-3 defeat on Thursday night to beat Bishop Auckland 3-2 at the King George.

Bishops took the lead through Andy Johnson’s 27th league goal of the season from a Dan Hawkins pass, but Nathan Steel fired into the top corner from 25 yards for the equaliser.

Guisborough were awarded a penalty after Dan Johnson was brought down by Bishops keeper Peter Jeffries, but Jeffries pushed Jamie Poole’s penalty around the post. However Lee Bythway scored from the corner taken by his brother Luke.

Hawkins levelled with a good run and low shot for Bishops on the hour, but Guisborough picked themselves up and scored the winner with a strike by recent signing Dan Johnson.

Bishop Auckland manager Colin Myers said: “It was a very disappointing display, because for part of it we didn’t turn up. We’re capable of doing a lot better. Guisborough fully deserved to win, and if we’d got something out of the game, then we didn’t deserve to.”

Guisborough manager Chris Hardy said: “This was a game that demanded a positive reaction from the lads today after the disappointment of Thursday night and this is exactly what we got, the commitment and application was excellent ensuring we completed all over the park in what was a very physical game this afternoon.

“I'm now hopeful that the extra day recovery before our fixture with Norton Wednesday evening will allow our injury list to shorten and we can see some senior players coming back into the frame.”

Consett had a good 2-0 away win at Dunston UTS. Michael Mackay gave them the lead when cut in from the wing and fired into the top corner after just seven minutes, and he got the second early in the second half when he won possession just outside the Dunston box and fired past Liam Connell.

Consett manager Kenny Lindoe said: “It was a great team performance. We were never troubled in defence, and always dangerous in attack.”

Dunston manager Billy Irwin said: “It was a terrible display and we were well beaten. It was nowhere near good enough.”

Whitley Bay striker Paul Chow is now just one goal short of a double century of goals for Whitley Bay, after he scored both in the 2-2 draw at Team Northumbria.

Chow fired Whitley ahead after 15 minutes, but TN replied with an effort by Mark Fenwick. Chow struck again four minutes before half time to put Whitley 2-1 up, but again TN hit back with Fenwick firing into the top corner.

Whitley Bay manager Ian Chandler said: “We’re disappointed to draw after leading on two occasions but probably a fair result. Two good finishes by Chowie and a good game by Kyle Downey.”

A point was no good for second bottom South Shields in their goalless draw at Newcastle Benfield, who squandered several chances in the game. Benfield are sixth bottom, just four points above the relegation zone, while Shields are 17 points from safety.

Newcastle Benfield manager Steve Bowey said: “We had 27 shots at goal and didn’t score. We had a poor first half and played better in the second half. Two points dropped but credit to Shields they defended really well, but we’ve got to take our chances.”

In the second division, leaders Crook had a good day, picking up three points at Stokesley while most of their nearest rivals dropped points.

Crook won 1-0 at Stokesley with a first half goal scored by Steven Turnbull from a corner. Crook could have added more, but Stokesley improved in the second half and missed a couple of chances for an equaliser.

Crook manager Gary Pearson said: “It was a great start to the game and I thought it was going to be a large score but was so wrong. It ended up a very scrappy game with missed chances on both sides but another three points and results were kind to us.”

Stokesley manager Chris Lax said: “We showed them too much respect and allowed them too much space and time on the ball throughout the first half. We changed things around for the second half and closed them down. We created the better chances and with a bit more luck could have won the game. Our keeper didn’t have a shot to save in the second half. Both encounters this season have been close and Crook will know they have been pushed to the limit.”

Second placed Ryhope CW were held to a 2-2 draw at third placed Jarrow Roofing, after they led 2-0 early in the second half. Michael Charlton put Ryhope into the lead with a left foot shot, and he got a second when he scored from a Chris Trewick assist.

Ryhope keeper Chris Rookes saved a Liam McBryde penalty, but then Roofing pulled a goal back when Andrew Grant-Soulsby scored from close range. McBryde levelled from a rebound for Roofing, and right at the death, Ryhope missed a chance of a winner when Josh Carmichael saved a Nathan Johnson penalty.

Jarrow Roofing manager Richie McLoughlin said: “A draw was even, but we weren’t good.”

Fourth in the table Darlington RA, who hit eight in midweek, conceded five at Whickham in a 5-3 defeat, after they were 2-0 and 3-1 up. Lee Farrington, David Webster and Stephen Allison scored for the RA in the first half.

Tony Thirkell, who usually plays up front for Whickham, had to play as an emergency centre half, but nevertheless he still scored a hat trick, with Andrew Farrey and Abu Salim also scoring.

Darlington RA manager Nick Harrison said: “We were cruising. I said at half time we had to deal with two things – setpieces and the ref – but we didn’t deal with either in the second half.”

North Shields are now fourth after beating bottom club Horden 2-0.

Horden made Shields work hard and held them until midway through the second half when Paul Watson fired home, then Ben Richardson lobbed the keeper for the second.

Tow Law won their eighth away league game of the season when they beat Washington 2-1. Washington took the lead just before half time through Dan Young, but Luke Parkinson and Robert Hurton hit back for the Lawyers.

Tow Law manager Gary Anderson said: “I thought we played decent football throughout the game, but were caught out defensively too many times and fair play to Washington who worked hard all game making it difficult for us to beat them.”

Esh Winning are still in the bottom two after they lost 3-1 at Ryton .

The home side led through Chris Compson after just three minutes, then Paul King converted a penalty on 15. Craig Coates pulled a goal back just before half time, but Esh’s hopes were killed off through Lawrence McKenna on 52 minutes.

The consolation for Esh is that they’re still just a point behind third bottom Alnwick, who lost 3-1 at Seaham Red Star. Kris Goss chipped Seaham into the lead, but Dan Thompson levelled for Alnwick. However Ivan Stoyanov and Alan Pegram scored for Seaham in the second half, with Goss also missing a penalty.

Seaham Red Star manager Mark Collingwood said: “I’m pleased that our bad run has come to an end.”

Birtley had a good result, ending West Allotment’s 12 game unbeaten run .

Allotment hit the post before Birtley took the lead through Peter Henderson from a free kick with ten minutes left, and Matthew Hornsby scored a second from another setpiece.

Birtley manager Scott Oliver said: “We had to dig deep with key players missing. All eleven were top drawer. There was nothing between the teams, until a great free kick from Henderson gave us a lift late on.”

Chester-le-Street were within minutes of victory at Brandon, but the home side scored late in the game to earn a point.

Lewis Lynch gave Chester the lead after just 8 minutes, but they missed several chances to make the game safe, and paid the penalty when Stephen Moody scored with just two minutes left.

Chester-le-Street manager Colin Wake said: “I thought we dominated the game for long periods and couldn’t get the second goal to kill the game off, hitting the bar twice and then getting hit with a sucker punch five minutes from the end. A much improved performance.”

Three games were postponed because of waterlogged pitches, at Newton Aycliffe, Morpeth and Northallerton.

In the Evostik League, Whitby drew 0-0 at Matlock, while Blyth beat Ilkeston 3-2, with goals by Stephen Turnbull, Dan Maguire and a last minute penalty winner by Joe Kendrick.