BILLINGHAM Town’s first goal in over 12 hours of football was enough to give manager Darren Trotter some hope for the future, even though they lost 4-1 at home to Crook Town.

The first division’s bottom club are just a couple of defeats away from relegation.

But Trotter, in his first game in charge since the departure of Wilf Constantine, was encouraged by his team’s performance.

According to Town’s fans, it was their best for some considerable time.

Trotter gave five players their debuts – the club has now registered an astonishing 85 players this season – and said: “I thought 4-1 flattered Crook.

“Considering I’d only had two training sessions with the lads, and some of them don’t know each other, then I thought they did very well.

“They had a lot of energy, and rolled their sleeves up when we were 2-0 down at half-time. Our sub, Danny Ballantyne, made a big difference when he came on, especially as he’s never played at this level before.”

Town gave a spirited performance in the first half, and kept Crook at bay, with keeper Joe Williamson pulling off a couple of good saves, while Crook’s shooting was wayward.

But Crook took the lead on 32 minutes when Chris Wallace headed a Richard Hodgson cross from the right towards goal, and Billingham full back James Leeds sliced the ball into his own net.

Crook right back Marc Ellison got the second before halftime, when he hit a fierce cross-cum-shot across Williamson into the net.

Town kept their heads up, and took the game to Crook in the second half, especially with the introduction of the pace and strength of Ballantyne.

They stunned the visitors by pulling a goal back when Matthew Dixon made a great run down the left, played a one-two, and slipped the ball past Barry Poskett.

There was brief threat of an equaliser before Crook scored their third when Hodgson chipped the ball to the far post for Kyle Davis to head in, then sub Adam Nicholls charged through and fired left-footed into the top corner.

Crook manager Gary Pearson said: “We needed the three points in the light of some of our recent results. We knew it wouldn’t be easy because they’ve got a new manager and some new players.”

David Bayles’ first league game in charge of Bishop Auckland saw them lose 3-0 at Consett on the 3G pitch, thanks to a Michael Mackay hat-trick.

After 66 minutes Andy Cuthbertson squeezed the ball past three Bishop players for former Hartlepool striker Mackay to run through and beat Scott Pocklington.

Mackay scored his second on 80 minutes when a left wing cross was knocked down for him to score from ten yards and he completed his hat-trick when he picked up a long ball down the left and beat Pocklington at his near post.

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Guisborough won 3-1 at Billingham Synthonia, who started well and took the lead when Michael Sweet’s shot was blocked and Kris Hughes followed up to score.

But Guisborough levelled when former Synners player Tommy Marron scored from a corner, then took the lead on 39 minutes when Adam Gell hit a tremendous shot past keeper Seb Furness from the edge of the box.

The league’s top scorer, Danny Johnson, made it 3-1 against his old club on 76 minutes with a clever lob from a Luke Bythway pass. Johnson has now scored 33 league goals this season.

All the other ENL games were postponed.

In the Evo-Stik League, Blyth drew 2-2 at Stafford Rangers after leading 2-1 until four minutes from the end.

Robbie Dale and Danny Parker scored their goals.