Durham hurried into changes but draw 1-1 at West

The point was even more deserved from Durham’s point of view considering that they had to change their team sheet because of an injury in the warm up, and then lost another player because of injury early in the game.

Durham assistant manager Ian Skinner said; “It was a well-earned point which we deserved in a scrappy game on a difficult pitch. We lost our centre back Jordan Galloway in the warm up, and our left back Paul Weldon after 10 minutes which meant we played with a makeshift back four with players playing out of position. Massive credit to our players as we continue on our unbeaten run.”

Durham took the lead when Steven Turnbull headed in from a corner, and West nearly levelled from a Dennis Knight free kick.

But Knight equalised on the hour when, with his back to goal, he hooked a cross from Brian Close into the top corner.

West manager Peter Dixon said; “I was happy with our desire, workrate and commitment, but our finishing in the final third was a million miles away.”

Crook manager Gary Pearson blasted his players after they could only draw 1-1 at second bottom Hebburn.

“One team worked hard with desire and commitment, the other just turned up expecting to be given three points,” he said. “I was really disappointed with our attitudes and lacklustre performance, but as in life you get out what you put in and if I’m honest we were lucky to escape with a point.”

Crook took the lead when a long clearance into the Hebburn half led to a dreadful mix up between keeper Chris Rogers and defender Kris Summers, with Summers heading the ball over his keeper into the net.

Hebburn levelled with a header by Channon North, but Crook again took the lead when a quickly taken corner by Kyle Davis to Robbie Bird, who beat two men and fired home.

But Hebburn deservedly picked up a point when an effort by Shaun Reay took a wicked deflection off a defender and beat Crook keeper Barry Poskett.

Hebburn manager Scott Oliver said; “It was an horrific own goal, but we recovered well. I’m glad we are competing well despite our lack of experience.”

Spennymoor gained revenge for their FA Vase defeat last week by Newcastle Benfield when they beat them 1-0 at the Brewery Field. Moors are now in fourth place, 13 points behind leaders Celtic nation with seven games in hand.

The game didn’t have the same intensity as last week, with few chances created. The winning goal came on 50 minutes when Keith Graydon volleyed an Andrew Stephenson cross on the turn into the top corner. Sonny Andrews almost added a second with a header near the end.

Newcastle Benfield manager Steve Bowey said; “We were very flat and Spenny deserved the win, but not many chances in the game. I think a lot of the lads were thinking about the Vase game. We were poor as an attacking option today, didn’t create anything of note.”

Spennymoor manager Jason Ainsley said; “It was an important three points against a team who set their stall out for a point. Peter Jeffries never had a save to make in the 90 minutes although it took a superb move to carve out the winner with Rash scoring a great goal after fantastic work from Steva.”

It looks as if 40 points won’t be enough to avoid relegation this season, so there are several teams hovering near the drop zone.

Dunston UTS warmed up for their Vase quarter final against West Auckland with a 2-1 away win at Bedlington.

After a goalless first half, Dunston’s Steve Goddard fired them into the lead on 49 minutes, and he dribbled through for the second with ten minutes left. Bedlington’s Paul Watson pulled a goal back near the end.

Dunston UTS manager Billy Irwin said; “We’re happy with three points especially on a dreadful surface.”

Bishop Auckland played for 75 minutes of the game at third bottom Team Northumbria with ten men and drew 1-1.

Bishops took the lead after 2 minutes when TN defender Louis Storey turned a Dean Douglas cross into his own goal, but then they had midfielder Kieran Megran dismissed for his second yellow card.

Despite the man disadvantage, Bishops nearly made it 2-0 but the post denied Jonny Butler.

TN levelled on the half hour with a shot by Peter Watling, his 21st league goal of the season.

TN could have had keeper Andrew Jennison dismissed for handball outside the area on an assistant’s flag, but instead the referee awarded a drop ball.

Bishop Auckland manager David Bayles said; “Everybody put a big shift in. Jonny Butler was excellent, and Chris Lawson was immense.”

Sunderland RCA, who are fourth bottom, drew 1-1 at Billingham Synthonia.

They got off to a great start when Joe Hughes touched in a cross from John Jury after just 25 seconds, but Synners levelled on 25 minutes when RCA defender Danny Wray challenged Michael Sweet inside the box, but diverted the ball past his own keeper. RCA keeper Jon Carmichael pulled off an excellent save from David Abel in the second half.

Billingham Synthonia assistant manager Lee Tucker said; “It was a disappointing game in which we had the majority of possession but lacked the quality to make it count.”

Sunderland RCA manager David Lee said; “It was a good spirited defensive display for a hard earned point.”

Newton Aycliffe’s tendency to leak goals continued when they lost 4-1 at Consett.

The visitors took the lead after 24 minutes through Tom Atkinson and they missed a couple of chances to score a second.

Michael Mackay levelled for Consett from a long ball on 52 minutes, then Aristote Guerin-Lokonga finished off a run with a good finish.

Aycliffe hit the post, before Andy Cuthbertson made it 3-1 from a Dave Coulson set up. Mackay raced clear and scored the fourth, his 30th of the season when he ran through and lifted the ball over the keeper.

Aycliffe have now conceded 23 goals in their last six league matches.

Newton Aycliffe manager Alan Oliver said; “They had more quality than us.”

Consett manager Kenny Lindoe said; “The first half was like a pre-season friendly and we never got out of second gear. Fortunately the players responded to my request for a higher tempo in the second half and we turned the game around with two goals in the first ten minutes and ran out comfortable winners in the end.”

Guisborough had an excellent 4-0 away win at Marske United in their local derby. They took the lead when Danny Johnson rounded Marske keeper Robbie Deane to score, but then Marske had defender Liam O’Sullivan sent off for lashing out at Johnson.

Mikey Roberts got the last touch to a Callum Martin for the second after half time, and he scored his 26th league goal of the season when he finished off a good move. Johnson then scored his 35th league goal of the season when he held off a defender and fired past Deane.

Guisborough manager Chris Hardy said; “It was an assured performance from start to finish, these fixtures tend to be nip and tuck type affairs as I've seen over the years, but today certainly wasn't the case with free flowing football that our opponents didn't come to terms. A 4-0 score was a fair reflection of the game.

“Coupled with the fact that Roberts and Johnson added two apiece to their goal tally and of course a clean sheet made for a very pleasing outcome.”

Ashington and Morpeth drew their Northumberland derby 0-0.

Morpeth manager Nick Gray said; “I’m happy with a point at the end of my most difficult week in football, The lads worked very hard and all their application was excellent. I think a draw was a fair result on a difficult pitch.”

Ashington assistant manager Perry Briggs said; “It was a close fought game that neither team deserved to win. We can still finish in the top six which will be a great performance.”

In the second division, leaders North Shields were twice pegged back by Norton before they won 3-2. Kieran Wrightson put Shields into the lead after 32 minutes with a deflected shot, but Dan O’Brien equalised from long range. Norton’s Marcus Laing was dismissed for deliberate handball, but Gareth Bainbridge missed the penalty. John Parker though headed Shields into the lead on 67 minutes, but Norton levelled again with an effort by Nicky Martin. However, Gareth Bainbridge grabbed his 37th league goal of the season for the winner.

Norton manager Andy Campbell said; “Robbed really if I’m honest. Marcus Laing got a red card for handball but couldn’t get out of the way. Apart from that we gave them a scare and really deserved at least a draw. I’m sure Shields will go up as champions but gutted for all my players who put a really good shift in and deserved to get something but unfortunately got taken out of our hands.”

The other top four clubs also won.

Jarrow Roofing have now won six successive games to consolidate second place , following their 4-0 win over Ryton and Crawcrook. Stuart Nicholson created the first two goals for Paul Gardiner and Liam McBryde either side of half time, then Danny Carson got the third with a 25 yarder. Former Darlington player Corey Barnes set up the fourth for Andy Appleby on 71 minutes.

Jarrow Roofing manager Richie McLoughlin said; “It was a poor first half but 1-0 right on half time. We were a lot better in the second half and we had lots of chances.”

Seaham Red Star scored three times in the first half, and held on for a 3-2 win at Whickham. Conor Winter headed them into the lead, then Lee Kerr scored from the edge of the box. Whickham pulled a goal back through Ian Robson, but former Whitley Bay striker Lee Kerr quickly made it 3-1. Stephen Aiston scored a late consolation for Whickham.

Seaham manager Mark Collingwood said; “It was a great win at a difficult venue. We were superb first half but I was disappointed with our performance in6 the second period. Having said that a win at Whickham is a good win, we won’t throw the towel in.”

Whickham manager Robin Falcus said; “We had two big players missing which affected us massively. We were really poor and gave away three poor goals. We scored two in the second half, but we were miles away.”

West Allotment are third after a 2-0 home win over Whitehaven.

Allotment keeper Ryan Beal pulled off three good saves in the first half, but Rob Nolan put Allotment into the lead from the penalty spot soon after half time. Liam Hudson made a good run and set up the second for David Henderson on 75 minutes.

West Allotment manager Paul Stoneman said; “A win is a win, but wasn’t pretty from start to finish. Our keeper kept us in it in the first half. We were slightly better second half, but we looked tired.”

Heaton Stannington unveiled their new seated stand against Esh Winning, and were rewarded with a 1-0 win, courtesy of a Dean Deagle free kick. Esh stay second bottom, just a point above bottom club Ryton.

Heaton Stannington assistant manager Geoff Walker said; “It was a much needed three points from a very scrappy game. Esh never let their heads drop.”

Esh Winning manager Gavin Mudd said; “We played really well, had more chances than them but just didn’t take them.”

Northallerton are still clinging to their slim promotion hopes with a 1-0 away win at Brandon. The game was decided on 70 minutes when Dale Elgie opened up the defence with a long ball for Graham Caygill to lob the advancing keeper.

Northallerton manager Peter Mulcaster said; “We made hard work of the result. We couldn’t get out of second gear, but there was only going to be one winner.”

Chester-le-Street were denied the three points at Alnwick by a late equaliser. Chester took the lead with a goal by new signing Richard Cunningham from a Damien Stevens assist, and they held on until the last minute when Dale Kennedy scored.

Chester-le-Street manager Colin Wake said; “It was a disappointing result with us conceding in injury time but delighted with the performance considering we had seven players missing. No real quality in the game but I thought we were going to pinch it with one bit of quality. But we keep the unbeaten run going, that’s the main thing.”

Tow Law had a good 2-1 away win at Stokesley. They took the lead when Dean Thexton got the last touch to a high ball into the Stokesley box, and then he scored from a corner. Stokesley pulled a goal back with a bullet header by Greg Upton, his third in four games, and despite their late pressure, they couldn’t force an equaliser.

Tow Law manager Gary Anderson said; “It was very pleasing to finally pick up three points which were thoroughly deserved. We played very good football first half which gave us a good lead, but second half Stokesley made us work hard to come away with the three points but on the whole it was a deserved result.”

Birtley came from behind to draw 2-2 at Washington. Dave Southern gave Washington a 17th minute lead , then James Fairley added the second just after half time. But Cameron Nicholl pulled a goal back on 64 minutes, and with two minutes left Dylan Morse equalised.

Washington manager Steve Hutchinson said; “We should have had the game out of sight. We were the better team by far at 2-0 up and cruising, but then we gave two goals away both from corners. I’m disappointed in the result, but the all round performance was good.”

Thornaby climbed into midtable with a 3-2 away win at Darlington RA on Saturday evening. Steve Allison scored twice for the RA, with Lee Bythway, Joe Melvin and Liam Woodhouse scoring for Thornaby.

Darlington RA manager Nick Harrison said; “With a back four of an average age of 20, I thought we did well and deserved more from the game. We worked very hard and we’re just switching off at times and giving the opposition a head start.”

South Shields and Willington drew 0-0 in the other second division game. It was Shields’ first clean sheet of the season in their 25th league game.

Willington manager Rob Lee said; “Both defences played well and a draw was a fair result considering we had a few players missing.”

In the Evostik League, Blyth were held to a 1-1 draw at home by AFC Fylde. Dan Maguire gave them a 35th minute lead which they held on to until four minutes from time when Richard Allen equalised.

Whitby lost 3-1 at Grantham Town, Craig Farrell equalising for Whitby at one point midway through the first half.

The Durham Challenge Cup final between Spennymoor and Shildon will be played at Bishop Auckland’s Heritage Park on Good Friday morning.

The draw for the semi finals of the Northumberland Senior Cup is; Newcastle United Reserves v Whitley Bay, Ashington v Blyth.