Any one from four can win title says Ainsley

Both teams hoped for better than a point as Celtic Nation increased their lead on the day to three points, but Moors, together with West Auckland, have the games in hand to overcome the top two.

“It’s an exciting run in, and one of four teams, possibly five, could win it. Our aim is to finish in a position to get promoted,” he said.

“I thought for the away team we were very comfortable and thought the way Shildon set out they were more concerned about us. Second half, apart from the first five minutes when they could have had a penalty, we should have won the game. We played the better football throughput on a very heavy surface and deservedly equalised. That’s four points out of six we have taken off them this season, and it’s a better point for us.”

Shildon boss Gary Forrest thought that the dismissal of midfielder Lee Scroggins for two yellows was key when they were leading 1-0.

“Until then, I thought we were dominating midfield. I thought the sending off was harsh, and some of the Spennymoor players and Jason Ainsley agreed.

“It was difficult to play on the heavy surface, so we tried to keep the ball in their third of the field. One goal was never going to be enough, but I thought we had a good penalty shout that wasn’t given.”

There were few chances created on a heavy pitch that passed a lunchtime inspection following lots of hard work by volunteers in the morning.

Both sides struggled to get any proper rhythm going, but Shildon took the lead on 20 minutes when Ben Wood’s shot was blocked, and the ball ran for Mark Hudson to turn home.

Moors went close with a glancing header by Micky Laws and a shot on the turn by Liam Henderson before half time, and after the break almost conceded a penalty when Joe Walton appeared to haul down Darren Richardson. Moors thought they should have had one when Anthony Peacock appeared to be pushed, but the ref booked him for diving instead.

Ben Wood was denied by Moors keeper Peter Jeffries when he was clean through, but Shildon were reduced to ten men on 70 minutes when Scroggins, who was booked in the first half, was shown his second yellow for a foul. Five minutes later, Moors levelled when Walton nodded down a free kick for Liam Henderson to sweep home.

It was all Moors after that, with Henderson and Dan Taylor both going close.

Shildon’s Durham Challenge Cup tie against Dunston will now be played at Dunston on Tuesday night because it has been postponed three times at Dean Street, and now switches.

Celtic Nation took advantage of the draw at Dean Street and West Auckland’s postponement to go three points clear at the top in front of a 674 crowd at Gillford Park.

Willie Gibson fired a free kick from the edge of the box into the top corner after 20 minutes, and recent signing Jim Paterson ran through and scored the second soon after half time. Micky Rae lobbed the third near the end to give him 13 league goals for the season.

Guisborough’s hopes of a top five place suffered a blow when they were beaten 2-1 at Durham City.

The conditions didn’t help in a goalless first half, but Josh Gray fired Durham into the lead just after half time. Ian Ward nearly got a second, but Guisborough levelled with six minutes left when sub Luke Bythway equalised with a good shot.

However, City won it deep into injury time when Denver Morris was fouled, and Scott Fenwick tucked away the penalty.

Durham assistant manager Ian Skinner said; “Two good footballing sides who both tried to play in very difficult conditions. Overall, we had the better chances and just about deserved to win. It was pleasing to score a late winner as we have conceded a number of late goals in recent games.”

Guisborough manager Chris Hardy said; “The game had all the hallmarks of potentially a excellent game of football but unfortunately gale force winds put paid to this. A share of the points would have been a fair result but credit to Durham for their efforts and securing all three points.

“It's not very often I make comments regarding the officiating of our games but I feel I should take this opportunity to compliment the referee, Rebecca Welsh, who I thought was excellent from start to finish.

Ashington missed a chance to go into the top four when they were beaten 1-0 at home by Bedlington, who have climbed to sixth bottom. The only goal of the game was scored by David Brown from an Andrew Leeson header.

Ashington assistant manager Perry Briggs said; “We were very poor today. We didn’t create anything, there were no positives to take out of the game.”

Newcastle Benfield gave themselves a boost ahead of their Vase tie against Spennymoor this week when they beat Whitley Bay 3-2.

Steven Baptiste put Benfield into the lead after just 2 minutes with a header from a corner, then Paul Brayson curled the second from the edge of the area. Brayson then fired the third, his 28th league goal of the season, as they threatened to run riot.

But Whitley hit back when Paul Chow scored from the penalty spot, and in the second half he fired another. Whitley have lost their last four league matches.

Newcastle Benfield manager Steve Bowey said; “We played really well in spells and should have won the game comfortably. We gave away two sloppy goals and create a good dozen chances. Brassy and Baptist were a real handful up front.”

Whitley Bay manager Ian Chandler said; “We had a terrible start to the game. We were three down after 25 minutes and fought back to 3-2, possibly even deserved a draw, but you can’t give teams three goals start. Fantastic performances from Craig MacFarlane and young Chris MacDonald at left back was the best I’ve seen fro a long time.”

Crook Town staged a late fightback to earn a 2-2 draw at home to Team Northumbria.

TN The first half was poor with hardly any chances, but soon after the restart, TN quickly went 2-0 up with efforts by Mark Fenwick and Louis Storey.

But Crook launched a late fightback to grab a point with a header by Craig Hughes and a shot by Marc Ellison, which the TN keeper should have done better with.

Team Northumbria manager Paul Johnson said; “We should have taken all three points, I’m gutted at the manner in which we conceded two goals in the dying minutes of the game. At 2-0 up we had five great chances in the second half to kill the game off, and then our own mistakes again led to their first goal. We need to start making our own luck and stop being so nice to opposition forwards.”

Crook manager Gary Pearson said; “The first half was a non event with neither team playing any kind of football. No real chances and no real quality. They went 2-0 up, and we made a triple substitution to change the game. We are happy with a draw in the end, but wanted a win before the game. We’re looking for a win to get our season going again.”

In the second division, Seaham Red Star stay third after easily beating Alnwick 5-0.

The visitors missed a penalty through Keith Douglas in the first half, but with the wind behind them, Seaham took complete control and scored through Dean Nicholson, Lewis Wing, Josh Allen, Lee Kerr and Josh Home-Jackson.

Seaham manager Mark Collingwood said; “It was a great result in difficult conditions after a testing week with our points reduction. Alnwick had chances in the first half when they were shooting with the wind but failed to convert them, we were clinical in the second period and fully deserved the three points. Eleven cup finals remain for us.”

Jarrow Roofing, who have five games in hand on Seaham, didn’t slip up against Darlington RA, beating them 1-0 and are in fourth RA keeper Mattie Calvert pulled off some good saves in the first half, but he had no chance just before half time when Liam McBryde scored his 16th league goal of the season from a Danny Carson assist. The RA, with new signings David Mitchell and Ross Morrow in their side, improved in the second half and nearly scored themselves, but Roofing keeper Andy Hunter denied them.

Roofing included new signing Corey Barnes from Crook and once of Darlington.

Darlington RA manager Nick Harrison said; “I thought we were a bit unlucky to lose, and were much improved from midweek. Our two new signings, Ross Morrow and David Mitchell, had great games.”

Jarrow Roofing manager Richie McLoughlin said; “It was a good game in windy conditions and on a heavy pitch. Both keepers made some great saves, especially their lad who kept it at 1-0. I‘m happy with a win, and we need to get a run going now.”

Norton kept their slim promotion hopes alive by winning 5-3 at Tow Law after being 3-1 down at half time.

They took an early lead through Dale Mulligan, but Danny Wilson levelled on 26 minutes, and by half time Dean Thexton added two more. But Marcus Laing pulled a goal back on 55 minutes, then Nicky Martin and John Seaton scored in the space of four minutes. Christian Selby scored the fifth in the last minute.

Norton manager Andy Campbell said; “We were poor in the first half and went in 3-1 down, so I had a rant and got the reaction I was looking for. We changed the shape and personnel and played really well in the second half. We need to play more like we did in the second half, and not like in the first.”

Tow Law manager Gary Anderson said; “I’m very disappointed with the second half performance, we threw away a comfortable lead at half time.”

Stokesley eased their relegation worries by winning 2-1 at Willington.

The home side had Corey Nicholson dismissed for violent conduct after 10 minutes, but nevertheless they went in front on 36 minutes through Graham Lazonby from a few yards, but Stokesley levelled after 55 minutes with a strike by Greg Upton, his second in as many games. They got the winner with four minutes left when Matt Robinson headed in a Stuart Browne cross. Willington had Liam Whitworth dismissed for his second bookable offence in stoppage time.

Willington manager Rob Lee said; “No comment, sorry.

Stokesley assistant manager Nicky Ward said; “It was a tough game in tough conditions. They had a man sent off early on which didn’t help them but we had lots of possession and enough chances to win before we got the winner eventually. The boys will get a big boost from this, and we are delighted to come away with three vital points”

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Esh Winning are deep in trouble after their second half fightback failed to secure them a point at Washington, and instead they lost 4-3.

James Fairley scored twice inside five minutes, and just on half time Mark Davison made it 3-0. Esh fought back in the second half and pulled two goals back through Luke Thompson and Anthony Phillipson by the 78th minute. But Arron Croft restored Washington’s control, and Graham Embleton’s late goal wasn’t enough.

Washington manager Stephen Hutchinson said; “We did well in the first half and were winning 3-0, but we took our foot off the pedal. We’ve gone out and thought it was easy. Fair play to Esh they came out and gave a good fight and they made the game difficult in the end.”

In the Evo-Stik Premier Division, Blyth beat Witton Albion 4-2 at Croft Park, coming back from 2-1 down at one point.

Robbie Dale put them in the lead after 6 minutes, but after Witton scored twice to lead 2-1 at half time, Dale and Dan Maguire (2) scored in the last half hour.