West Auckland manager Peter Dixon says that he is considering his future at the club after they lost 2-1 at bottom club Newton Aycliffe on Saturday.
Dixon was deflated by a poor performance from the Vase finalists, that leaves them in sixth place in the table, well adrift of the title chase -- a stark contrast to last season when West were involved right up to the last week of the season.
“I feel as if I’m not getting enough out of the lads,” he said. “I think some of them have been taking the micky in the last two matches against Aycliffe and Birtley, and when I first came to the club, I vowed that I wouldn’t let that happen. I promised the club that those days would be over when I took the job on. Something has to change, and I’m taking time to ponder my future.”
Aycliffe’s second victory of the season was on the cards when Stuart Owen scored from the edge of the area, but former Aycliffe player Elliott Gardner equalised for West with a header from a free kick before half time.
But it was Aycliffe who pushed on, and got the winner with ten minutes left, when former Hartlepool defender Darren Craddock headed home.
Aycliffe are now up to second from bottom, above South Shields.

Another manager who was unhappy about his team’s performance was Bishop Auckland boss Colin Myers, whose side lost 4-0 in their local derby at second placed Spennymoor.
“I expected more commitment and pride from some of my players. I don’t think they realised how much a derby game meant,” he said.
Bishops had the edge on chances before Moors took the lead on 38 minutes, when Anthony Peacock played a 1-2 with Mark Davison and fired into the top corner, and a few minutes later centre half Micky Laws headed the second from a Keith Graydon corner.
Moors were on top in the second half, and went 3-0 up when Bishops defender Chris Lawson deflected a low cross by Micky Rae into his own net, and with 10 minutes left a patient build up involving over a dozen passes ended with Graydon crossing for Stephen Capper to score with a superb volley.
Spennymoor manager Jason Ainsley said: “We didn’t get going until the 25th minute, and in the second half we were well on top.”

Darlington are still eight points clear at the top after beating Whitley Bay 3-1 at Heritage Park, although the game was evenly poised at 1-1 early in the second half until Quakers scored twice in three minutes.
“Whitley Bay gave us a tough game, but again Stephen Thompson turned the game for us,” said Darlington manager Martin Gray.
Whitley Bay manager Ian Chandler said: “I’m really pleased with the way we played, and on another day we could have won. We had a goal disallowed for offside, another effort hit the post, and their keeper pulled off a couple of good saves. It could have gone either way at 1-1.”


Bedlington are third after they won 3-1 at South Shields, who are now bottom. They took the lead through recent signing Mark Doninger after 13 minutes from a Craig Baxter cross, then Phil Bannister made it 2-0 from a Doninger cross. Paul Brayson scored his 17th league goal just on half time, with a slow shot that Shields keeper Tom Courtney misjudged. Peter Kane pulled a goal back for Shields in the second half with a free kick.

Shildon won for the second time this season at Guisborough, this time by 3-0. They took the lead after half an hour when Ben Wood picked up a through ball, turned his man and scored with a low shot. Recent signing Jamie Owens made it 2-0 from the edge of the box, and on 65 minutes, he finished off a four man move from close range. These were his first league goals for the club.
Shildon manager Gary Forrest said: “Considering that we had eight players missing because of injury, we won the game comfortably.”
Guisborough manager Chris Hardy said: “With nine players missing today this proved too much for the necessary level of performance required to get anything out of the game, against a good Shildon side.”


Billingham Town are up to fifth bottom after they drew 1-1 with Sunderland RCA at Bedford Terrace.
Former Darlington midfielder Brian Close hit the bar for RCA, and Town striker Micky Dunwell was just off target before he gave his side the lead, when he scored with a left foot curling shot on 34 minutes. However, the RCA levelled after 57 minutes with a Dave Southern penalty following a foul by Josh McDonald.

Sunderland RCA manager Neil Hixon said: “We edged the first half, it was an even second half, but there were two bad teams on show.”

 

Norton have dropped to third bottom after they lost 3-0 at Dunston.
The home side took the lead with a strike by Lewis Teasdale, and on 9 minutes Micky Dixon scored from a Lee McAndrew cross.
Norton keeper Jim Provett pulled off several good saves to keep Norton in the game, but he had no chance on 53 minutes when Jack Burns headed in another McAndrew cross. Provett again excelled to keep the score down.
Norton manager Andy Campbell said: “It was a poor start, we were 2-0 down after 10 minutes. Dunston were better all over the pitch and deserved their victory. We have three home games coming up and we need to make sure that we pick some points up.”

Dunston manager Billy Irwin said: “We controlled most of the game, created loads of chances and deserved the three points.”


Hebburn came from behind to beat Marske United 4-3 and go into fourth.
They took the lead when a shot by Johnny Davis was blocked, but Tony Stephenson scored from the rebound, but on 20 minutes Marske levelled with a header by Chris McGill, and four minutes later headed his team into the league.
Hebburn levelled with a tap in by Liam McBryde from a Dean Nicholson assist on 52 minutes, but two minutes later David Onions put Marske back into the lead.
But Hebburn rallied in the last ten minutes. Paul Gardiner levelled from the edge of the box, and with ten minutes left Stephenson fired into the top corner.

Hebburn manager Paul Bennett said: “It was a horrible afternoon of football, and not the best performance, but the sign of a good squad when you can literally pinch a win when not playing well. At least it keeps our run going.”
Marske manager Ted Watts said: “We missed two really good chances to make the score 5-2 and ended up losing the game 4-3. It was a game we controlled for long periods, and credit where it’s due, Hebburn never gave up.”

Newcastle Benfield drew 1-1 with Team Northumbria, who haven’t won in six matches. Benfield’s new signing, Denver Morris scored at the second attempt from a long ball, but TN levelled with a strike by Peter Watling from long distance into the top corner.
Newcastle Benfield manager Anthony Woodhouse said: “I thought we should have won the game. Throughout the 90 minutes I think we deserved the three points.”
Team Northumbria manager Paul Johnson said: “It was an improvement on previous games but I felt we should have had all three points. The goal they scored came from a mistake we made rather than something they created so that’s frustrating, but the second half we worked hard and deserved to get a goal.”


Ashington drew 0-0 with Consett at Woodhorn Lane. Ashington’s Liam Atkin had a shot cleared off the line in the first half, while Michael Mackay put one just over the bar for Consett after half time.
Consett manager Kenny Lindoe said: “I’m pleased with the performance and clean sheet, but disappointed we didn’t take one of the numerous opportunities we had in the second half.”


The game between Penrith and Billingham Synthonia was postponed because of a waterlogged pitch.

In the second division, second placed Northallerton slipped up by 4-3 at home to Washington, so are now eight points behind leaders Ryhope CW, who ended Morpeth’s unbeaten record on Friday night.
Michael Latimer put Washington into the lead, but Wayne Gredziak equalised. But Latimer and Chris Tate made it 3-1 to the visitors, and even though Adam Emson pulled a goal back, Daniel Young made it 4-2. Sub Carl Chillingsworth pulled a goal back, and late on, Emson had a goal disallowed.
Washington manager Richie Latimer said: “We controlled the play for long spells, and bar a couple of mishaps, we were well worth our win. It’s a massive thee points away at a hard place to go to.”
Northallerton manager Mark Fanning said: “Our players must learn that defending starts at the front. Washington wanted to win more than we did.”

Darlington RA edged closer to Northallerton by beating Ryton 1-0 at Brinkburn Road, but they left it until the last minute to win the game, Jimmy Muir scoring from a corner.
Darlington RA manager Nick Harrison said: “One goal was always going to win it, and we got it, perhaps fortunately given the chances created on both sides, but luck comes in swings and roundabouts. I don’t know how, but we keep on winning.”


Whitehaven had no problems disposing of Brandon 4-1. Former Middlesbrough youngster Matty Tymon scored a hat trick, after 13, 54 and 80 minutes, with Greg Quayle scoring the fourth after Glenn Hendrix pulled a goal back for Brandon.

North Shields are steadily climbing the table, and they’ve now won eight of their last 10 matches after beating Birtley 1-0. Michael McKeown scored the only goal of the game after a corner was cleared off the line.
Birtley manager Scott Oliver said: “We tired in the second half massively after the extra time at West Auckland in midweek. They had no game which was a factor. Their subs made a difference.”


A second half blitz helped Chester-le-Street to their best win of the season, by 6-1 over neighbours Esh Winning, with six different players getting on the scoresheet. They led by just the one goal at half time, scored by Michael Robson, but they took over in the second half. Recent signing Mark Patterson, Michael Pattison, Lewis Lynch, Michael Hepplewhite and Rhys Weir scored in the second half, with Craig Mickle scoring for Esh at 3-0.
Chester-le-Street manager Colin Wake said: “I thought it was a great second half performance. We’ve managed to get a settled side together, and a win like that has been coming.”

Esh Winning manager Andrew Soppitt said: “It was a decent first half and we should have scored. The collapse in the second half was embarrassing.”


Jarrow Roofing were also amongst the goals, thumping West Allotment 5-1. Ian Dunn put Allotment into the lead, but Roofing hit back through Danny Smart (2), Darren Palmer (2) and Dan Carson.
Jarrow Roofing manager Richie McLoughlin said: “The first half was poor, but we picked it up after the break, and it was a good three points.”

Thornaby picked up a good point in a goalless draw at Tow Law to move them up to fourth bottom, even though they had Michael Joseph dismissed.
Tow Law manager Gary Anderson said: “Yet another two points dropped from a home game after having the majority of possession. Even when Thornaby only had ten men we couldn’t create even a half chance but fair play to Thornaby they stuck to their task well.”


Horden are now third bottom after they lost 3-1 at home to Whickham. Jordan Larty fired into the top corner to give Whickham the lead, but Horden levelled through new signing Lee Bishop.  Joe Danquah finished off a good move to restore the lead just on half time, then Scott Swanston headed the third.
Whickham manager Robin Falcus said: “We were on top in the second half, doing all the pressing. It was a good performance and a deserved win on the day.”
Horden manager Peter Mulcaster said: “Three mistakes cost us three goals. We battered them in the second half, but once again a defeat.”


Stokesley won their bottom two clash against Alnwick by 4-0 at Broughton Road. They took a half time lead with a penalty by Ross Hodgson, and he headed a second just after half time. Gary Redman scored from the edge of the box, and then Hodgson completed his hat trick. It was Stokesley’s first home league win for nearly two seasons.
Alnwick are now nine points adrift of Stokesley.
Stokesley assistant manager Chris Lax said: “It was very pleasing to get our first home win of the season and hopefully that kicks starts us to many more. When we passed the ball about Alnwick couldn’t live with us and we should have won by a bigger margin. I’m pleased Ross Hodgson got a hat trick and Gary Redman also got on the scoresheet as his work ethic over the last few weeks has been tremendous.”

In the Evostik League, Blyth recovered from their 8-1 drubbing at Worksop in midweek when they beat Stafford Rangers 1-0 at Croft Park, with a goal by Ryan McGorrigan.
Blyth are without a manager at the moment, and are being linked to at least one Northern League manager.
Whitby dropped to sixth bottom when they were beaten 2-0 at home by Hednesford.


In the Durham Challenge Cup, Durham City won 4-1 away at Jarrow, with Gary Shaw scoring a hat trick.
Seaham Red Star had an excellent 7-0 away win at Hartlepool, with Kris Goss scoring a hat trick.
Seaham manager Mark Collingwood said: “We couldn’t get going in the first 20 minutes but after that we were fantastic. To come to one of the better Wearside League teams and win so convincingly has delighted me, the new signings are bedding in nicely.”

The revised draw for the last sixteen now reads: Shildon v Consett, Dunston v Gateshead, Hebburn v Durham City, Norton v Crook, Billingham Synthonia v Seaton Carew, West Auckland v Spennymoor, Sunderland RCA v Bishop Auckland, Seaham Red Star v Jarrow Roofing. Ties to be played on or before January 12 next year.