Griffiths screamer puts Moors into promotion driving seat

Moors substitute Keith Graydon changed the course of the game when Moors went down 3-1 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 well and truly in the promotion driving seat with a 25 yarder into the bottom corner.

The goal means that Moors are eight points behind the Nation, with six games in hand – which sounds a lot better than the eleven point gap which existed when Nation led 3-1 with ten minutes left.

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 setpieces. 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 all the way through the game.”

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 from the right which the Nation thought should have gone their way, and after his shot was blocked, Liam Henderson was on hand to slot the ball into the bottom corner.

The 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 left wing corner midway through the second half, but then the game swung Moors’ way when Graydon arrived.

Henderson headed his second goal from a Graydon free kick on 81 minutes, then Griffiths beat Aaron Taylor with a shot into the bottom corner to send the vociferous Moors fans, who had travelled to Carlisle on free buses wild with delight, and put them in the promotion driving seat.

Nation manager Willie McStay said; “I’m very disappointed that mistakes have cost us. I thought we were by far the better team in the game 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 now three points behind the Nation after hammering Billingham Town 8-0 at Bedford Terrace.

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

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.

Town have conceded 18 goals in their last two matches.

Billingham Town manager Darren Trotter said; “Each week we learn more about the squad and the young lads learn more about what is needed to perform at this level. As we have always said, it’s about next season.”

Shildon manager Gary Forrest said; “It was a good performance. We closed the goal difference gap a bit as it may just boil down to that at the end of the season.”

Guisborough are still hanging on to the leaders in fourth after they beat Sunderland RCA 2-1 at the King George.

Mikey Roberts put Guisborough into the lead from the penalty spot to give him his 27th league goal of the season, then Luke Bythway hit a blistering 25 yarder for the second before half time.

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

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

Sunderland RCA manager David Lee said; “We deserved at least a point with the amount of chances we created and how much we dominated in spells. One great strike won them the game.”

The other title contenders, West Auckland, saw their game at Penrith postponed because of a waterlogged pitch, which only 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 when Jonny Butler scored from a low cross by Jordan Lavery.

Hebburn were dangerous in the second half, and hit the bar through Channon North and Calvin McMahon, although keeper Gary Rogers still pulled off a couple of good saves at the other end.

Bishop Auckland manager David Bayles said; “We missed enough chances to win four games. We cleared the air with one or two people after the game.”

Hebburn manager Scott Oliver said; “It was a fair result. It was their first half and in the second half we had the best chances. My young lads are learning.”

Consett came back from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Whitley Bay at Belle View.

Whitley had much the better of the game early on and scored two penalties by 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 to score, and then Scott Canham equalised with a 25 yard free kick. Consett had defender Scott Martindale dismissed for two yellow cards in stoppage time.

Consett manager Kenny Lindoe said; “We were second best in the first half and Whitley should have been out of sight. We improved in the second half and two quality finishes got us out of jail. Whitley played very well and we didn’t, and I feel fortunate to have gained a draw. It’s a funny old game.”

Whitley Bay manager Leon Ryan said; “The first 45 was the best we’ve played since we’ve taken charge, we were totally dominant and should have been five up. Two soft goals killed us, so we’re massively disappointed but still unbeaten in the league. Credit Consett, they said we didn’t deserve that.”

Newcastle Benfield easily beat Marske United 4-0 at Sam Smiths.

Benfield took the lead after just 8 minutes with a Stephen Stewart tap in, then Stephen Slaughter added the second with a 25 yarder.

Gary Day got the last touch to the ball in a goalmouth scramble for the third, and Phil Airey fired the fourth.

Newcastle Benfield manager Steve Bowey said; “It was a great result. 17 year old Lewis Scorgie was excellent in midfield, as was 37 year old Steve Stewart, It was an amazing team performance.”

Marske manager Ted Watts said; “We never got going. We gave them three goals. A week off now, so let’s hope we can bounce back.”

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 after Steve Preen’s shot was blocked.

Morpeth manager Nicky Ward said; “It wasn’t a bad first half, but we were second best all over the park in the second half.”

Dunston manager Billy Irwin said; “One of the best results of the season especially as we had eight players missing. The lads who played today were a credit to the club.”

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

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 when Robbie Bird scored from a through ball, with the Synners defence appealing for offside. Crook are now nine points clear of the relegation zone.

Crook manager Gary Pearson said: “It was an important win today after a bad run of results. We had to grind it out and picked a team to do that. It wasn’t a great spectacle, but we knew it wouldn’t be before the game. Chris Hughes played in four different positions due to injuries during the game.”

Billingham Synthonia assistant manager Lee Tucker said; “We failed to take a couple of clear cut chances that would have seen us win the game, but we certainly didn’t deserve to lose it.”

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

Team North had more of the chances in the first half, and took the lead from the spot on 42 minute through Peter Watling after a handball.

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.

Team Northumbria manager Paul Johnson said; “We deserved the points today and to be fair had chances to score more so very positive looking forward to the games coming up in our fight to survive the unbelievable position we find ourselves in at the moment. Play like we did at Aycliffe and we will win more than we lose finishing the season.”

Newton Aycliffe manager Allan Oliver said; “It was an all round poor performance, only two or three players came out of the game with any credit.”

In the second division, Tow Law crowned their 3000th 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.

Tow Law manager Gary Anderson said; “A draw was a fair result for both teams. We worked hard to keep South Shields out and had to defend for long periods of time, riding our luck, but on the other hand we could have won if we had taken our chances.”

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 with a 25 yarder, 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 then snatched a point with a penalty after Adam Forster was fouled.

Stokesley assistant manager Nicky Ward said; “It was a great performance. They put everything into it to be 3-1 up with seven minutes to go but just couldn’t hold on. It was a fantastic point against the leaders, we’re delighted.”

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 to score from a few yards. Borley was more successful with another free kick from 20 yards with four minutes left.

Jarrow Roofing manager Richie McLoughlin said; “A very hard game, and it was a battle from start to finish. The two subs on together changed the game, Stephen Young and Dave Borley.”

Chester-le-Street manager Colin Wake said; “Absolutely gutted. Two refereeing decisions cost us at least the draw we deserved from the game. Two free kicks from outside the box costs us, and that’s all I can ask for from a group of lads who do it for the love of the game.”

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

Allotment took the lead when Martin Butterworth could only a deflect 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.

West Allotment manager Paul Stoneman said; “It was a great result, and apart from a dodgy ten minute start from us, the game was never in doubt. It could and should have been more, but another good three points against a decent side.”

Seaham Red Star dropped from second to third because they were held to a 1-1 draw at home by Darlington RA.

The RA took the lead in the first half with an effort by David Webster that the Seaham keeper could only punch against a defender and then into the net, and it was only in the last minute when David Palmer equalised.

Seaham manager Mark Collingwood said; “We created numerous chances but failed to convert them. Having said that, I thought RA defended fantastically well and they deserved their point. Promotion is now out of our hands so I would like to congratulate the other three on winning promotion. We will have another go next season.”

Darlington RA manager Nick Harrison said; “We’re disappointed not to have won conceding so late but we played well, worked hard but didn’t take our chances to seal the game. I’m considering pestering the referee at half time because he didn’t give us a thing in the second half after the opposition management had a word.”

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 with a 25 yarder. Anthony Johnson scored the third with a deflected shot to give Heaton the points. They have games in hand on all the clubs above them, but they need two of the others to slip up.

Heaton Stannington assistant manager Geoff Walker said; “We played very well and thoroughly deserved. We should have been 3 or 4 up at half time. It was a great all round team performance and great to get three goals.”

In the relegation battle bottom club Ryton and Crawcrook lost 2-0 at home to Thornaby, for whom Lee Bythway and Gerard Livingstone scored in the first half. 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.

Esh Winning manager Gavin Mudd said; “We were very poor after doing well lately. We never showed up.”

Norton manager Andy Campbell said; “We’re very pleased. We’ve been on a poor run lately but we turned it around and it could have been more than 7-0. I’m pleased for my three strikers.”

In the other games, Willington beat Whitehaven 3-1 at Hall Lane. Aiden Bowers took the lead on 25 minutes, but Kevin Connolly levelled four minutes after half time. Graham Lazonby put Willington back into the lead on 56 minutes, and Chris Hardy made sure from the spot near the end.

Willington manager Rob Lee said; “It was a good hard game, I think overall we deserved all three points.”

Whickham won 1-0 at Alnwick with a goal by Mattie Atkin.

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.

However, Whitby lost 2-1 at home to Ashton United, David McTiernan scoring for them when they were 2-0 down.