Northern League round-up

DARLINGTON RA threw away a two-goal lead in the last five minutes and had to settle for a 4-4 draw against Seaham Red Star. But Lee Tucker saw plenty to build on for their relegation fight.

The new joint manager said: “We were a little too naive in the last five minutes.

We’ve won one game and don’t know how to hang on to a lead. But we played some really good stuff.”

RA led 3-0 inside 30 minutes.

Youngster Glenn Donaldson scored from a Chris Burton pass, then Dale Sheridan cracked in a 25-yarder. Donaldson headed the third from a Dan Lerner cross, but Seaham pulled two back before half-time through Stephen Winspear and Paul Jack.

Teenager Donaldson dispossessed a defender and set up Burton to make it 4-2, but Ian Fairlamb and Michael Patterson salvaged a point.

Spennymoor have opened up a six-point gap at the top of the first division. They came from a goal down to beat Billingham Synthonia 4-1.

Danny Hollingsworth volleyed Synners into the lead but Anthony Peacock levelled from a Chris Emms pull back.

Emms then beat two defenders and scored with a 20- yarder. In the second half, Lewis Dodds crossed for Anthony Lawther to head the third, and substitute Gavin Cogdon grabbed the fourth.

Second-placed Whitley Bay lost 3-1 at South Shields, their third defeat in the last four games. Craig Ellison put Shields ahead but Paul Chow equalised on 75 minutes before both sides had a man sent off. Chris Feasey and Adam Johnson departed in separate incidents for second yellow cards. Stephen Ramsey headed in for Shields and Jonny Wightman scored from the penalty spot in stoppage time.

Ashington are a point behind Whitley after a 1-0 win at West Allotment, Scott Blandford scoring after 63 minutes.

Dunston are fourth after a 2-0 win at Newcastle Benfield.

New signing Lee McAndrew scored both for Dunston.

Tow Law have won four in a row under new boss Dave Hagan after they beat bottom club West Auckland 2-1.

West took the lead after 15 minutes through a Stuart Irvine penalty, but Mark Eccles headed the equaliser.

West keeper Nicky Thomas made some good saves, but he had no chance when Lewis Teasdale lobbed him for the winner, the striker’s eighth goal in his last five matches.

Norton striker Sonny Andrews scored a hat-trick as they stopped their slide with a 3-2 win at Ryton. His first was wiped out by an Alex Benjamin penalty, but after halftime Andrews beat three defenders to fire home, then made it 3-1 berfore Benjamin pulled a late goal back.

Bishop Auckland conceded an injury time goal to draw 3- 3 against Penrith. Bishops led through an Adam Emson penalty, but Penrith hit back with a Grant Davidson effort just on half-time then Graham Anthony lobbed them into the lead on 70 minutes.

Emson levelled straight from a free kick and Wayne Gredziak scored from a few yards with five minutes left, but Paul Pattinson headed the equaliser from a corner.

Horden lost 4-1 at Shildon after new signing Karl Richards scored from a right wing cross in the first 20 seconds.

Andy Johnson levelled then defender Chris Hughes scored twice in two minutes and Karl Everitt finished off a six-man move for the fourth.

Chester-le-Street striker Nathan Fisher is the division’s leading scorer after he bagged all four in the 4-2 win at Billingham Town.

He scored the first two from from passes by Craig Price and Ben Johnson, then completed his hat-trick from another long pass by Price.

Town pulled one back just after half-time when Sean Boynton scored from a Shaun Clarke free kick, but Fisher chipped over the keeper for his 17th of the season. Clarke scored a late goal for Town.

Esh Winning lost 2-1 at Bedlington, for whom Steve Bowey beat Esh’s new keeper Andrew Spence from the spot.

After a good run and strike by Jamie Dawson, Esh were denied by a deflected shot from Anthony Chapman.

Consett drew 2-2 at home to Morpeth, for whom Paul Jackson headed the equaliser in the dying seconds. Chris Scott had equalised just on halftime for Consett and Andy Cuthbertson scored from long range with ten minutes left.

The top of the table clash in the second division between Sunderland RCA and Jarrow Roofing ended in a 3-3 draw.

After a goalless first half, the RCA went two up in three minutes through Steve Halliday and Mark Davison, who added the third after Craig Nelson pulled a goal back.

Kevin Davison scored for Roofing from the spot, and Paul Wardle put through his own goal.

Newton Aycliffe beat second- placed Whitehaven 2-0 at Moore Lane, their first home league win since August.

In the 55th minute Paul Stout headed his second goal in four days from a cross by Dion Raitt. With five minutes left a Whitehaven defender put the ball into his own net, although Dan Lennon claimed the last touch.

Marske United defender Stuart Jackson scored his first hat-trick as they came from behind to win 4-2 at Birtley.

The hosts were leading 2- 1 when they had Nicky Evans sent off, and Rob Jones levelled with a left-foot shot.

North Shields are unbeaten in 11 league games after a 2-0 home win over Thornaby.

Glenn Taylor and John Amos scored.

Northallerton won 1-0 at Whickham, Ian Smurthwaite scoring from the spot with ten minutes left.

Northallerton expect to resign their former striker Carl Chillingsworth from Marske early this week.

Hebburn moved out of the bottom three with a 5-0 win at Gillford Park. Willie Crew (2), Michael Armstrong, Karl Mc- Mann and Gary Dadd scored their goals.

Guisborough, who have games in hand, beat Washington 3-1 with goals by brothers Luke and Lee Bythway, plus Gary Wood.

Stokesley won 5-2 at Brandon after scoring three goals in the first 30 minutes through Paul Crager, Lev Yalcin and Andy Jennings. Johnathon Heslop and Phil Robinson pulled two back, but Simon O’Shea and Yalcin completed the scoring.

Crook Town are through to the quarter-finals of the Durham Challenge Cup after winning 5-2 at Boldon CA, Gavin Barton (2), Darren Kokes, Tom Berj and an own goal their scorers.