skilltrainingltd Northern Lg

Cogdon, a prolific scorer in Durham City’s UniBond promotion push last season, has been missing for most of this season because of injury, but Ainsley says that he’s back to his best after scoring twice against Shildon.

“Now that he’s fully fit, it’s like having a new player in the side, and we’ve got to the top of the table without him involved,”

he said. “He looked sharp and he showed that he’s still got his ability to finish chances, no matter how difficult they are. He’s going to be a great asset in the months to come, especially with the Vase coming up.”

Moors took the lead when Gavin Peacock set up midfielder Gareth Waite to score from 25-yards.

Cogdon cleverly set up Craig Ruddy to put Moors 2-0 up, before the latter crossed for the former to head the third. Waite then crossed from the right for Cogdon to sidefoot home from six yards.

Moors were denied a fifth when their former keeper Keith Finch saved a penalty from Keith Graydon.

Shildon boss Gary Forrest said: “Only a couple of our players were at their best, which was very disappointing.”

To make matters worse for Shildon, they had striker Andy Johnson sent off in the second half. Meanwhile, Shildon have transferred former Hartlepool midfielder Mark Tinkler to Esh Winning.

Whitley Bay are three points behind Moors in second, but they had to come from a goal down at Newcastle Benfield before winning 3- 1. Benfield were on top and, after Michael Chilton had an effort cleared off the line, they took the lead when Stephen Young headed in from a corner.

Whitley levelled on 66 minutes when Lee Kerr scored from a Richard Hodgson corner, and former Darlington player Hodgson provided the cross for Phil Bell to put them into the lead with a glancing header.

Whitley wrapped up the points when Chris Carr was adjudged to have handled in the area, was red carded for his protests, and Kerr scored from the spot. Benfield were reduced to nine men when Andy Dugdale was dismissed for violent conduct in stoppage time.

Ashington won 3-0 at Ryton to stay in third place. Joe Race, Robbie Cockburn and Mark O’Dea on target.

Bishop Auckland1 won their seventh successive league game, beating Billingham Synthonia 3-2.

For the second week running, Shields scored twice in the first five minutes. David Graham scored direct from a free-kick, and then Lee-Paul Scroggins scored from a Jonny Wightman cross. Synners pulled one back when Tommy Marron scored from close range on 62 minutes, and then Danny Earl equalised from a Darren Hollingsworth free kick.

However, Shields got a disputed winner when Wightman was tripped, and Scroggins scored from the spot.

Dunston scored three times in the second half to win 4-1 at Bishop Auckland.

Dunston took the lead when Paul Watson’s free-kick was carried over the line by keeper Peter Jeffries, but Bishops levelled on the half hour when Tyson Masters scored from an Adam Strong pass.

Dunston took the lead through Darren Forsyth from a Fergal Harkin corner, and went 3-1 up with another header from a corner, this time by Ben Cattanach.

In the last minute, Martin Bagnall scored the fourth from a Terry Galbraith pass.

Tow Law have won five out of six under new manager Dave Hagan following their 2- 1 win at Billingham Town.

The home side had much the better of the first half, and took the lead when Stephen Baynes set up Steve Roberts to sidefoot in from a few yards, but they fell apart.

Andrew Thompson levelled for Lawyers from the edge of the area, and Mark Eccles fired the winner.

Chester-le-Street led against West Allotment, but lost 3-1. They took the lead with a clever overhead kick by Craig Price from the edge of the area, but Allotment equalised with a left foot shot by Ian Dunn before the break.

Craig Scott volleyed the home side into the lead early in the second half, and even though Chester keeper Josh Carmichael kept his side in the game by stopping a penalty, he had no chance when David Thompson scored the third.

Bishop Auckland5 are still stuck on the bottom after they were easily beaten 4-0 at Bedlington.

The home side took the lead on 26 minutes when Tony Shandran dribbled through the West defence and beat Nicky Thomas, and then Anthony Chapman set up Steve Bowey. Gareth McAlindon scored the third from 25 yards, and Jamie Poole got the fourth with a shot on the turn.

In the second division, there was a remarkable goal at Brandon, where they drew 2- 2 with Jarrow Roofing.

Roofing keeper Gary Frater scored from his own penalty area with a hefty clearance, which took one bounce over the Brandon keeper and dropped into the net.

Liam Bramley gave Brandon the lead, before Davison and Frater put Roofing 2-1 up.

However, Bramley levelled late in the game for Brandon.

Newton Aycliffe threw away a three-goal lead, and had to settle for a point against Northallerton.

Aycliffe took the lead when Paul Broom scored with a low shot into the bottom corner, then Dion Raitt made it 2-0 direct from a free kick. Sean Tarling then hit a 25 yarder into the top corner.

Northallerton got one back when Martin Butterworth ran through and slotted in.

Christian Holliday crossed for Stephen Allison to score and Carl Chillingsworth levelled from a Holliday freekick.

Leaders Sunderland RCA are six points clear after they beat Bishop Auckland4 2-0. Mark Davison set up Paul Taylor after a good move, and then Michael Coghlan fired home a 25-yarder.

Marske United jumped into second with a 4-0 victory at Hebburn. Derek Bradley gave them the lead before Benn Thompson headed a second.

Thompson then set up Rob Jones to score from a few yards, and late in the game Thompson scored from another Gamble assist.

Whitehaven were advised not to travel out of Cumbria by the police for their game at Bishop Auckland2.

North Shields drew 1-1 with Guisborough. Guisborough went ahead thanks to a header by Glen Butterworth, but Glen Taylor fired an equaliser.

Bottom club Darlington RA were on the verge of a valuable win against Bishop Auckland3, but the visitors equalised in the last minute. Chris Burton looked as if he’d given the RA an important win, but Stephen Hodgson levelled for Thornaby in the dying seconds.

The RA are now six points away from safety, because third bottom Team Northumbria came from behind to beat Whickham 2-1, to record only their fourth win of the season.

Whickham took the lead with a Chris Laws penalty, but TN levelled with a long distance free-kick by Gavin Donoghue on 57 minutes, and Philippe Kane grabbed the winner four minutes later.