skilltrainingltd Northern League

DARLINGTON RA are safe from the threat of relegation from the second division after an unlikely 5-2 victory at Marske United.

The RA were so short of players that they had to give 46-year-old goalkeeper Craig Watson his Northern League debut and joint manager David Woodcock said: “We went there with only 13 players, five of whom were centre forwards.

“They protected Craig to the extent that he didn’t have much to do, and at the other end, scored some good goals.

It’s a relief to be safe after everything we’ve gone through this season.”

The RA got off to a great start when Ian Bishop headed in from a corner. Kevin Duggan made it 2-0 with a 25- yarder and went 3-0 up by the when Christian Holliday rounded the keeper.

Marske pulled one back through Ross Diamond, but Dale Dunn’s free kick was turned into his own net by defender Mark Taylor. Paul Freary added a fifth with Taylor scoring at the other end.

In the first division, Spennymoor strengthened their title hopes with a 3-1 win at Bedlington.

After Karl Richards missed an early penalty for Moors, Alex Lawson lobbed the ball over stranded keeper Niki Lawson to give the home side the lead at half-time, but Moors equalised soon after the restart when Richards scored direct from a corner.

Jamie Clarke put them into the lead when he lifted a long ball over the keeper, and then he scored his 28th goal of the season with a low shot that bobbled over the keeper.

Dunston dropped to fourth after they lost 2-0 at home to Billingham Synthonia.

Danny Earl gave Synners the lead from a David Yale corner, before Colin Iley scored from a Craig Perry pass.

Newcastle Benfield are second after beating Chester-le- Street 1-0. Micky Chilton headed the winner for his 27th of the season.

Bishop Auckland climbed to third bottom after winning their basement clash against Seaham by a single goal.

There were very few chances in a game spoilt by the wind and a bumpy pitch, and there was a long hold up while an ambulance was called for Seaham’s Paul Griffiths, who suffered a knee injury when he fell awkwardly.

Adam Strong missed a couple of chances for Bishops before scoring the winner after 72 minutes when clean through.

West Auckland dropped into the bottom two after a poor second half at South Shields. It looked good for them when Neil Bell scored after 15 minutes, but Shields took control and scored through Chris Feasey, Marc Brocklehurst, Craig Ellison and Stephen Ramsey.

Northallerton are still fourth bottom after they were thumped 5-2 at Ryton, who scored twice in the first-half through Dale Burrell.

Northallerton replied through Martin O’Riordan, but Ryton hit back with three goals in ten minutes from Carl Patterson, John Parker and David Smart. Martin Butterworth pulled a late goal back for Northallerton.

Billingham Town thought their run of 13 games without a win was going to end at home to Penrith, but they were pegged back by a late equaliser. John Alexander gave them an early lead, and they paid the penalty for missed chances in stoppage time when David Lynn headed the equaliser.

Shildon lost 2-1 at home to Tow Law, who took the lead after 35 minutes with a low shot by Kraig Wilkinson. Former Tow Law player Mattie Gowland equalised for Shildon from ten yards, but after 75 minutes, Lee Hamilton dispossessed Shildon keeper Andrew Spence and tapped in.

Sunderland Nissan beat Ashington 4-0. Tyson Masters fired into the bottom corner to give Nissan the lead, then Andy O’Shea got the second.

Neil Tarrant found the top corner from the edge of the box for the third, and in the second half Richard Hodgson scored from the spot after Andy Appleby was fouled.

The game between Morpeth and West Allotment was postponed 15 minutes before kickoff because the match referee ruled that the pitch was unplayable.

West Allotment boss Gary Middleton will take over as the new Ashington manager following the resignation of Andy Gowens, but Middleton will remain in charge of his current club, for the time being.

In the second division, Norton are two points away from promotion after they hammered Prudhoe 8-1 at Station Road. They were 7-0 up at halftime, with Nathan Mulligan, Gary Mitchell and Micky Dunwell all scoring two apiece and Sonny Andrews adding another.

Mitchell completed his hat-trick in the second half to take his league tally for the season to 17. Andrew Brown scored a consolation at 7-0.

Esh Winning need five points from three games for promotion after they won 3-2 at Whitehaven. Whitehaven were ahead twice with goals by Craig Robson, with Craig Coates and Graham Liddle equalising. Esh finished the stronger and Kieron Megran fired the winner.

Horden are third after winning 2-0 at bottom club Thornaby.

They opened the scoring after two minutes through Kevin Devine from a Jamie Arthur pass, and scored a second late in the game when Darren Atkinson cut in and netted from inside the box.

Sunderland RCA pose the only threat to the top three after beating Whickham 3-0.

Mark McLeod scored from a Mark Davison free-kick, then Sean Joseph scored with a 25- yarder. Former Leeds youngster Davison volleyed his 23rd of the season near the end.

Crook Town scored a last minute winner to give them the points at Hebburn, who had defender Gary Dadd dismissed for handling on the line in the first minute and Darren Kokes scored from the spot. They quickly made it 2-0 through Matthew Coad, but Hebburn hit back with two by Daniel Gray. In the third minute of stoppage time Kokes scored a hotly-disputed penalty.

Team Northumbria drew 4- 4 with Brandon, who led 2-0 after just six minutes. John Redhead (2), Luke Harrop and Adam Davey scored for TN, while Alex Wilson, Paul Dixon, Anthony Verity and Billy Greulich-Smith replied.

Jarrow Roofing moved away from immediate danger at the bottom thanks to a late penalty by Craig Nelson at Birtley. Stokesley drew 0-0 with Washington.