Spennymoor missed a chance to go top of the STL First Division table when they lost 4-1 at Ashington last night, and afterwards manager Jason Ainsley blasted his players..

Moors struck first with a strike by Steve Richardson on 30 minutes, but then Mark O’Dea and Dan Taylor hit back for Ashington before half time. Moors went further behind to another strike by Taylor less than a minute after the resumption, before Phil Bell scored the fourth from the penalty spot.

"Absolute schoolboy defending. We went one up and were quite comfortable without playing well then conceded two in the last ten minutes of the half. I told the players to come out with more hunger and low and behold a minute into the second half a long ball over the top, and our full back got caught wrong side for 3-1. Then then another long ball over the top, our defender dived in when the lad was going away from goal. If I wasn't so angry it would be laughable. We must pick ourselves up and go on another good run starting Saturday. "

In the second division, Ryton had a good 2-1 away win at Alnwick. Daniel Streibelt and Luke Sullivan put them 2-0 up before half time, with Jonathan Colley replying for Alnwick. Ryton manager Dave Hagan said: "We led at half time with two well taken goals, but we lost our way in the second half when we had to make three substitutions. We held firm after they scored."