North Shields manager Anthony Woodhouse had harsh words to say to his players after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Northallerton in the second division last night.

Shields looked good for one of the promotion places a month ago, but they have picked up just two points from their last four league games, opening the door for Team Northumbria and Marske United to launch a late challenge.

“It was a disappointing result but a fair one,” he said. “We aren’t playing well at the moment and we’re struggling to grind results out which is going to cost us. We need to get out of the rut that we’re in otherwise we’ll be lucky to finish fifth!

“Some harsh words were said in the dressing room after last nigh’ts game so we’ll see which of my players have the character and attitude to fight back and challenge for their shirts!”

Shields stay fourth on the same points as Team Northumbria, who have played a game more. Marske are six points further back with games in hand on them both.

On Saturday, Shields are at home to Crook, Team Northumbria are at Whitehaven, and Marske have a local derby at second placed Guisborough.

Northallerton manager Mark Fanning said: “It was a tough game on a hard surface. I thought we went behind against the run of play but after that they improved. In the second half we put them under more pressure and got the equaliser with twenty to go. They then had us under pressure until the final whistle but we held firm. I thought a draw was a fair result.”

In the first division, Esh Winning are now just one defeat away from the drop after they were beaten 1-0 at home by Sunderland RCA, courtesy of a late goal by the RCA’s Paul Taylor.

Esh boss Andrew Soppitt said: “We turned up with the bare eleven, with me and Gary O’Hara on the bench and one coming at half time from work. But we got on with the job, which is basically to have a team until the end of the season. RCA created a few chances in the first 20 minutes, and as the game settled we came into the game and had a few half chances but both teams didn't create a lot. Second half we tired but still in the game we battled hard. RCA were guilty of missing a few good chances and we rode our luck a bit. With five minutes to go, a through ball ran to our keeper who kicked it, but it ricocheted off the RCA striker Paul Taylor into the goal. Another kick in the teeth, could only happen to a team down at the bottom!”

Chester-le-Street debutant Callum Patton had a night to remember at Gillford Park, scoring twice in his side's 5-1 win. Chairman Joe Burlison said: " A really excellent performance last night given we went a goal down to Gilford in first half – they looked good and moved the ball about well – but we competed and scored two goals just before the interval through Mark Davison and an absolute screamer by Lee Harrison to send us in 2-1 at the interval. "We introduced Callum just after half time and with his first touch lobbed the keeper from 20 yds – further goals from him and Nick Kane secured the 5-1 to enforce the superiority we had in the second half – with a bit better finishing it could have been another three."