skilltrainingltd Northern Lg

Nine-man Moors grabbed the three points they needed to draw level with Whitley at the top of the first division, and inflict the visitors’ first league defeat of the season.

The title race looks as if it will be between those two with Ashington the possible outsiders, and Ainsley said: “I’ve told the players that the title certainly isn’t won, because Whitley are still a very good side and will battle all the way to the end of the season.

“I thought we played some very good football, and battled hard, especially when we went down to nine men. I thought the game was a great advert for the Northern League, because there was some great football played.

“I’m as proud as punch of the players, because they looked like a team that wanted to win. But it’s no good beating Whitley Bay and then losing our next match.”

Whitley went close twice in the first five minutes, but Moors hit back with a Michael Rae effort that struck the bar.

The goal that mattered came after 34 minutes when Craig Ruddy fired past Tom Kindley from 25 yards into the top corner.

Both sides were reduced to ten men when Moors’ Paul Stephenson and Whitley striker Adam Johnston were red carded following a scuffle, and after 72 minutes Lewis Dodds was shown his second yellow for a foul.

Former Spennymoor and Whitby midfielder Craig Veart has taken over as manager of Horden following the decision of Simon Corbett to quit.

Corbett, who guided Horden to the second division title last season, has taken a new job in London which means that he can’t devote as much time as he would like to the club.

“I can’t combine my fulltime job, with football and my family,” he said. “It’s not fair on so many people, and if I can’t give the job 100 per cent, then I’m not going to do it. I came to Horden to do a job, and it’s a shame that I can’t finish it off.”

Ian Clark, who was part of Corbett’s management team, has also quit, which has paved the way for senior player Graham Robinson to take on a coaching role.

Horden lost 2-0 to Billingham Synthonia in Corbett’s last game in charge. Andy Harbron put Synners in front with a 30-yarder, and Colin Iley broke through and added the second.

Second division Darlington RA are looking for a new manager, following Max Rees’ decision to stand down after the 1-0 home defeat by Hebburn in their basement battle.

“I’ve not had the backing of certain players and people from the club,” he said. “Some players have admitted to me that they let me down because they didn’t have enough fighting spirit.

“I gave the job my best shot, but it hasn’t worked. I’d like to wish the next manager the best of luck.”

The RA are inviting application for the manager’s job, and in the meantime they could turn to former manager David Woodcock to help them out for their next game at Marske on Saturday.

Hebburn scored the only goal of the game after 50 minutes through Michael Armstrong.

Ashington are now in clear third place in the first division after they won comfortably by 4-1 at Billingham Town. Robbie Cockburn put Ashington into an early lead, with Lee Hamilton adding the second.

Scott Blandford chipped Town keeper Josh Moody for the third from almost the halfway line, and Gareth Bainbridge wrapped up the points. Town’s consolation came from Sean Kell late in the game.

Penrith are now fourth after a 2-1 win at Bedlington.

They took a 40th minute lead with a penalty by Graham Anthony, but Bedlington seemed to have salvaged a point on 85 minutes through Anthony Shandran. However, centre half Wayne Robertson got the winner from a corner with only seconds to go.

Consett beat Ryton 3-1 at Belle Vue to move into the top seven. Ryton took the lead in the second minute with a freekick by James Allsopp, but Consett levelled within a minute when Steve Johnson ran clear and beat Gareth Powell in the Ryton goal.

Gary Ormston scored his eighth league goal of the season from the edge of the area to put Consett back into the lead, and Steve Huggins scored the third from a free kick just before half time.

Dunston dropped two places after they were beaten 1-0 at South Shields, who gave a debut to keeper Nikki Lawson from Spennymoor. The only goal in a game of few chances came after 63 minutes, when Dunston defender Lee Bell turned a Chris Feasey cross into his own net.

Tow Law, with coach Billy Johnson in charge of the team, beat Esh Winning 3-2 at Ironworks Road. Micky Fort set up Lewis Teasdale to put the Lawyers in front on 32 minutes, but former Tow Law player Danny Craggs cut in from the left and fired the equaliser for Esh just after half time.

Teasdale quickly restored Lawyers’ lead with a deflected free-kick, but Dane Wilson seemed to have grabbed a point for Esh with a header from the edge of the area on 85 minutes. However, Teasdale broke away and scored the winner in the last minute.

Lawyers are interviewing several people tonight for the vacant manager’s job.

Norton won for the first time in seven with a 4-0 away win at West Allotment, the second time they have beaten them this season.

Sonny Andrews latched on to a long ball and put Norton into the lead, then Allotment defender Lee McAndrew put through his own goal. Anthony Ormerod made it 3-0 with a low shot, and in the secondhalf Andrews added a fourth.

Bishop Auckland lost 2-1 against Newcastle Benfield.

Bishops keeper Peter Jeffries kept Bishops in the game early on with two good saves, but Adam Emson scored his third goal since his transfer a fortnight ago when he beat two defenders and fired past Andy Grainger on 15 minutes.

However, the champions levelled through Chris Carr from close range just after half time, and then Bishops defender Chris Lawson turned the ball into his own net for the winner.

In the second division, Sunderland RCA, who lost their first game of the season last week, are back on track after they won 4-1 at Brandon. The RCA took a first half lead through Paul Taylor, and went 2-0 up through Mark Davison on 52 minutes. Steven Fothergill pulled a goal back, but Davison and Ashley Davis finished Brandon off.

Davison has now got 14 league goals for the season.

Whitehaven had a easy 6-1 win at Whickham. Kevin Donnelly scored a hat-trick for Whitehaven, with Darren Donald, Gary Hodgson and Stuart Shaw getting the others.

Craig Rook scored a late consolation for Whickham.

North Shields stretched their unbeaten league run to nine games after hammering Seaham Red Star 6-0. They were 2-0 up by the 16th minute through Rob Livermore and Brian Smith, and by half time Mark Minto and James Luccock added further goals. Anthony Lowther and John Amos scored in the last five minutes of the game.

Jarrow Roofing dropped to fourth and lost their unbeaten away record because of their 4-1 defeat at Guisborough.

David Onions put Guisborough into the lead just before half time, but Tony Thirkell equalised soon after the break. However, Guisborough took control and Lee Bythway scored in a goalmouth scramble, and new signing Richie Walker set up Onions for the third. Thirkell was red carded for Jarrow before Glen Butterworth got the fourth.

Crook Town, who had already beaten Northallerton twice this season, surprisingly lost 4-2 at the Millfield.

Northallerton took the lead when Richard Thompson scored from an Andy Ramsbottom pass, but Crook levelled through a header by Darren Kokes. Thompson restored Northallerton’s lead, but Gavin Barton levelled for Crook with a curler from the edge of the area.

Northallerton finished the stronger, and went 3-2 up with Stephen Allison scoring from close range.

Allison got another ten minutes from time to inflict only Crook’s second league defeat of the season.

Marske dropped points in their 3-3 draw at Team Northumbria, but they played for more than an hour with ten men after Craig Skelton was dismissed, and then they played the last ten minutes with nine men after Andy Swalwell was sent off.

TN led 2-0 at one point before Marske hit back for a point. Lee Johnson scored a hat-trick for TN, with Benn Thompson doing the same for Marske.

Birtley have dropped to second bottom because of Hebburn’s win at Darlington RA, and their 3-1 home defeat by Gillford Park. Glen Scurfield cancelled out Gillford’s opening goal by Sean Bannon, but in the second half Bannon and Kyle Armstrong added further goals.

Newton Aycliffe were well beaten 4-1 at home by Stokesley.

Andy Jennings put Stokesley into the lead, and in the second-half Simon O’Shea and Jennings made it 3-0.

Elliott Gardner pulled a goal back, but Bryan Stewart made sure with a 25 yarder.

Washington sit four points off a promotion spot because of their 2-0 defeat at Thornaby.

Dean Fox scored both goals for Thornaby, his first was a header on 44 minutes from a Karl Garside cross, and his second was with a minute left when he broke away from the halfway line.