Guisborough manager Andy Toman is backing his players to get the club out of trouble after they won their first game of the season 2-1 at promotion chasing Whickham on Saturday.

Guisborough have slumped from one crisis to another this season and Toman is their third manager, but he believes that the club, with new chairman Sandy MacKenzie at the helm, is starting to turn the corner.

"We maybe got a little bit of luck for the winner - the ref missed a foul and a handball - but the lads deserved it for the the amount of work they put in. They didn't let their heads drop after we went a goal down," the former Darlington and Hartlepool midfielder said. "If they keep working hard, then we can get out of trouble."

Whickham took the lead through Michael Hedley from a corner, but Guisborough levelled through Ray Woodhouse.

And midway through the second-half Calum Revely bundled the ball home for the winner.

In the First Division, Newcastle Blue Star went top of the table with an 8-0 thumping of bottom club Brandon, scoring seven of their goals before half-time.

Striker Dave Southern scored twice to take his league tally to 13, with Steve Salvin (three), Anthony Woodhouse, Danny Anderson and Andy Carr getting the others.

West Auckland are now fourth after a 3-2 home win over Chester-le-Street. West took the lead after ten minutes when Chester keeper Paul Newton failed to hold on to a cross and Danny Shoulder scored. Then within a few minutes Mattie Moffat headed the second.

Phil Bell pulled one back for Chester, but Danny Key put West 3-1 into the lead before half-time with a shot from 25 yards.

Chester pulled a goal back again through John Ewart, but couldn't break through again.

Horden are now in the top half of the table following a 4-1 away win at Shildon.

Shildon took the lead with a shot by Wayne Gredziak, but Horden improved after half-time.

Craig Stephens equalised with a header, then David Morgan put them in front with a 25-yard free-kick.

Substitute Martin O'Riordan made it 3-1 with a tap in, and then he got another in the closing minutes following a good build up.

Tow Law boss Graeme Clark gained a point at his old club with a goalless draw at Durham City.

Durham gave a debut to striker Paul Gibbs from North Shields, and they have also re-signed defender Michael Gough from Horden. Lawyers hope to complete the signing of Curtis Taylor from Chester-le-Street.

Whitley Bay drew 1-1 with Morpeth thanks to a last-minute goal. The visitors took the lead after 25 minutes when Ian Nickalls headed in and almost added further goals, but Whitley levelled in the last minute when Tony Chapman volleyed home.

In the other second division matches, Consett have won 13 out of 13 after a 7-0 win at Hebburn.

Consett scored three times in seven minutes just before the half-time interval through Craig Tate, Kraig Wilkinson and Mark Patterson, then in the second-half Tate completed his hat-trick with Scott MacDonald chipping in with another two.

Washington stay second after they won 3-2 at Marske United. Carl Magnay put Washington into the lead but new signing Graham Liddle deflected a shot into his own goal to equalise.

Mark Drake and Gary Messer then made it 3-1, with Glenn Wesson pulling a goal back.

Spennymoor have some breathing space in third after they ended Seaham Red Star's unbeaten away record in a 2-1 win.

Willie Crew gave Seaham the lead after 29 minutes, but Moors, who are unbeaten at home in the league, equalised when Andy Gibson scored.

Moors got the winner on 56 minutes when Justin Perry scored with a shot on the turn.

Darlington RA drew 0-0 with Northallerton at Brinkburn Road, with both sides having good spells of pressure to no avail. The RA have re-signed Steve Johnson from Blyth.

The RA have brought their league cup tie with South Shields forward from to Tuesday night.

Kennek Ryhope CA moved up a place to fifth bottom following a 1-0 home win over Peterlee, Gareth Hill their scorer.

North Shields and Prudhoe drew 1-1. Recent signing Michael Pitt scored for Prudhoe, with Tony Colquhoun equalising.