Forrest says that standard has been set as Railwaymen make up lost ground

Shildon were the pre-season title favourites in the eyes of some, and they have fallen behind in their fixtures because of their FA Cup commitments. But Forrest believes that his team has now set the standard as they try to catch the leading pack. They are now tenth with at least three games in hand on the clubs above them.

“I thought that we stepped up to another level in the second half, and it was certainly our best performance of the season so far,” he said. “The passing and movement were excellent, and we scored some very good goals.

“But we have to keep it going, that’s the standard now. We’ve only played 14 league games, if we win our games in hand, then we can go top – but that’s much easier said than done.”

Shildon couldn’t have asked for a better start, and took the lead after just 30 seconds through Paul Connor’s strike from a few yards out. Shildon keeper Kyle Hayes made a couple of good saves against his old club, but just on half time Danny Moore fired the second. Shildon took full control in the second half. Connor added two more to complete his hat trick, and right at the end Ben Wood added the fifth.

Whitley have now conceded eleven goals in their last two games.

Whitley Bay manager Leon Ryan said; “We were in the game at half time, but then two stupid goals gave them the momentum. But Shildon are a top team and punish you if you’re not at the races. The best team won.”

Crook caretaker manager John Toomey did his chances of getting the job on a permanent basis the power of good when the bottom club came back from 3-1 down and 4-2 down to earn a point at home to Penrith.

Crook took an early lead through a Corey Nicholson header from a free kick, but then Penrith hit back quickly with goals by Connor Thomson, Martyn Coleman and Sam Bell by the 20th minute.

But Penrith then had centre half Dan Robinson sent off for a foul on David Mitchell, and soon after half time, Rob Nolan pulled a goal back. Jordan Little put Penrith 4-2 up at the second attempt from the penalty spot after Ryan Graham blocked his first effort, but Crook came storming back.

Mitchell pulled a goal back, then new signing Wyn Fremlyn fired the equaliser.

The Crook board is to meet on Wednesday to discuss the manager’s position, and Toomey is now hoping that he’s in pole position.

Crook manager John Toomey said; “I couldn’t have asked for any more from the players. Every single one of them dug in and grafted hard. I couldn’t fault their effort and commitment, and their heads didn’t drop when we went 3-1 and 4-2 down.”

West Auckland are now four points clear at the top after they beat Sunderland RCA 4-0 at the Seagrave Stadium West took the lead after 8 minutes when Robbie Briggs found Stephen Richardson, and he turned and fired in from the edge of the box. West missed a few chances before they made it 2-0 , when Mattie Moffat set up Richardson to beat the RCA keeper Josh Carmichael.

Moffat, who was returning after injury, scored the third when he lobbed the keeper from another Briggs pass, and then he added the fourth with a powerful header from Neil Pattinson’s cross.

West Auckland manager Anth Smith said; “It was a comfortable win, and could have been more. Mattie has been a big miss because of his injury, and he could have had a hat trick.”

Second placed Dunston lost a thriller 4-3 at home to Guisborough. Adam Gell put Guisborough into the lead on 18 minutes, but Dunston levelled through David Coulson. Dunston defender Ben Cattanach put a Callum Martin cross into his own goal to give Guisborough the lead again, then Liam McPhillips headed them further into the lead. Dale Burrell pulled a goal back with a 25 yarder, but Danny Earl quickly made it 4-2. Andy Bulford scored a late penalty, but Guisborough held on to go seventh in the table.

Dunston UTS manager Billy Irwin said; “We gave three poor goals away in the second half, and can’t expect to win games doing that.”

Guisborough manager Chris Hardy said; “It was a hard fought, fantastic three points. Taking the lead and maintaining it through the game gave us a great platform to secure victory.”

Durham City produced their best performance of the season to defeat third placed North Shields 2-0. Former Sunderland striker Ryan Noble put Durham into the lead with a curling shot from the edge of the box after cutting inside, and soon after City keeper Mark Cook was stretchered off with a leg injury.

But despite his absence, Chris Wallace dispossessed a defender in the second half, ran into the box and coolly beat Shields keeper Chris Bannon.

Durham manager Ian Chandler said; “That was probably the best performance since I took over at Durham. They were two superb goals, but the all round team effort was fantastic.”

Sixth placed Jarrow Roofing were held to a draw 1-1 by Celtic Nation, The Nation took the lead when Luke Miller scored in a goalmouth scramble, but Roofing, who were without the sought-after John Campbell, levelled through Dan Kirkup off a free kick.

Jarrow Roofing manager Richie McLoughlin said; “It was a poor game, a point was even and though we had more chances and we had no forwards, I was happy with a draw.”

West Allotment climbed five places in the battle to avoid relegation by winning 4-2 at Bedlington, with David Dormand scoring all four goals.

Lee Scott fired Bedlington into the lead from long range, but Dormand quickly equalised from a few yards. He scored the second by beating a defender and then firing home, and completed his hat trick by charging down a clearance by Bedlington’s new keeper, Dan Staples and heading in. His fourth came from a pass by Kallum McGlen, before Bedlington pulled a late goal back through a header by Scott.

West Allotment manager Paul Stoneman said; “Our lads were excellent from start to finish on a really heavy pitch. We were missing three big players today, but I’ve got such an honest group of players within the squad and the lads who came in were superb. We deserved the win.”

Bedlington manager Ian Skinner said; “We need to eradicate the individual errors which are costing us goals. Until we do that, we will not win football matches. On a positive we had good possession at times without any real purpose.”

Third bottom Billingham Synthonia are now six points adrift after they lost 2-0 at home to Morpeth.

Recent signing Keith Graydon created the first goal for Morpeth, Michael Chilton scoring with a looping header from his 13th minute free kick, and five minutes after the break Sean Taylor crossed for James Novak to fire home.

Billingham Synthonia manager Conrad Hillerby said; “We competed relatively well, but conceded a goal in the first half which was an individual error and early goal from outside the box in the second half. Plenty of effort, but lacking in quality.”

Morpeth manager Nick Gray said; “It was a good solid performance from the lads.”

The games at Bishop Auckland and Newton Aycliffe were both postponed, while the game between fourth placed Marske and Consett was abandoned with twenty minutes left after the floodlights went out. It was the second time in four days that a game involving Marske had to be abandoned.

In the second division, Darlington RA bounced back to form in great style when they beat Heaton Stannington 5-1 at Brinkburn Road.

The RA took the lead when Christian Holliday crossed for Jim Wilson to score, but Heaton levelled through Jonathan Wright from a free kick.

Holliday put the RA back in front from an overhead kick after 55 minutes, and four minutes later Heaton were reduced to ten men when Darren Kokes was pulled down by keeper Dan Rule. Nathan Wilson scored from the spot.

Holliday fired the RA 4-1 in front, and in stoppage time Phil Caley scored the fifth.

Darlington RA manager Warren Moncur said; “I thought we thoroughly deserved to win. We took the game to Heaton and didn’t let them play. We’ve been stop-start lately for various reasons, but we bounced back nicely.”

Heaton Stannington assistant manager Geoff Walker said; “It was a poor performance, lack of fight and heart. Our keeper was sent off after giving away a penalty at 2-1. We missed a great chance at 1-1, but didn’t deserve anything overall. Darlington wanted it more on the day.”

There’s a three way tie at the top of the division.

Leaders Team Northumbria are top now only on goal difference after they were held to a goalless draw at home by Ryhope CW, who defended well throughout the game.

Ryhope CW manager Gary Pearson said; “A good hard earned point. We defended superbly from start to finish and soaked up all the TN attacks. TN controlled the game in large spells but lacked a cutting edge but were by far the more offensive.”

Seaham Red Star are now level on points with them after beating Esh Winning 3-2.

Esh were much better than the last time the two teams met in the Vase, when Seaham won 12-1.

Paul Basey gave Esh the lead from the penalty spot, but Liam McBryde scored twice within a few minutes to put Seaham in front. Basey levelled for Esh before half time, but Seaham edged it when McBryde completed his hat trick.

Seaham manager Mark Collingwood said; “We were below par but we have won and that’s the main thing. Their keeper was superb, we have played a lot better than today this season and lost the game, so I’m happy with three points. Esh were excellent today and they will get even better as their new players gel.”

Esh Winning manager Chris Blakelock said; “I thought we were excellent, we pushed them all the way and really deserved a point. We’re starting to settle in terms of personnel it will only be a matter of time before results come.”

Norton are third on goal difference after beating bottom club Brandon 3-0. Rocky Andrews put Norton into the lead after 31 minutes, but Brandon missed a penalty through John Harrison. Norton took advantage and scored twice through Gary Mitchell and Dale Mulligan in the last 15 minutes.

Norton manager Andy Campbell said; “We weren’t at our best against a stubborn side but got over the line scoring three good goals and maybe could have been more if it wasn’t for their goalie.”

Brandon manager Paul Tunstall said; “I’m disappointed to come away without a point. I felt that we matched, if not outplayed Norton for long periods of the game. We created most of the chances but couldn’t put them away. We missed a pen in the 72nd minute to make it 1-1 and that was the game changer. The lads just need that bit of luck, but when you’re down there at the bottom, you sometimes feel everything’s against you.”

Washington are hard on the heels of the top three after coming from behind to win 4-2 at Hebburn.

The home side led with two goals by Channon North to give him 25 league goals for the season, but Washington hit back with goals by Michael Coghlan, Adam McGuinness, Chris Winn and Mark Davison.

Hebburn manager Scott Oliver said; “It was a really good first half, but a really bad second half. Sums it up, although extra time at Aycliffe in midweek didn’t help. Washington were excellent in the second half, they won every tackle and header.”

Washington manager Steve Hutchinson said; “The players showed great character once again to come back from two down. We have to stop conceding early on but overall we’re very pleased with the response in the second half and pleased with the application.”

Tow Law are now looking over their shoulders at the bottom two after being thrashed 6-1 at Alnwick, who lost 8-0 last week.

Adam Shanks gave Alnwick the lead, then Scott Duggan equalised from a free kick. Tony Brown restored Alnwick’s lead, and then it all went wrong for Tow Law. Centre half Paul Greenwell was red carded for use of the elbow, and they collapsed. Shanks went on to score four for Alnwick, with Keith Douglas scoring the other.

Tow Law manager Gary Anderson said; “We competed in the first half which was pretty even until we had a man sent off which cost us. This was embarrassing for the club, which does not deserve to be in this position.”

Northallerton’s new manager Steve Skinner said before the game that he wanted to pick up more points away from home, and his players duly obliged with a 2-0 away win at Whickham. Danny McLachlan and Aaron Ramsbottom scored the goals.

Northallerton manager Steve Skinner said; “I’m very pleased. The lads took everything on board before the game, they worked very hard for each other, and showed they are capable of playing as a team away from home.”

Thornaby had a setback when they were held to a 2-2 draw at home by Chester-le-Street. Craig Winter headed Thornaby into the lead after just five minutes, but Chester hit back to equalise through Glen Hargrave then Scott Heslop set up Ben Johnson to put Chester into the lead.

Thornaby levelled through a Jamie Clarke penalty after Richie Walker was brought down, and with minutes left they nearly won it, but Jamie Barton was denied by the post.

Nevertheless, Thornaby are still unbeaten at home in nine league games this season.

Chester-le-Street manager Colin Wake said; “It was a much better performance against a good Thornaby side. It was a fair result as after going down 2-1 Thornaby put us under a lot of pressure and only a contentious penalty gave them a share of the points.”

Birtley striker Jak Mitchell scored a hat trick as they beat South Shields 3-1. David Molloy gave Shields the lead, but Mitchell levelled ten minutes after half time from a rebound off the post. He fired his second after a mistake in the Shields box, and completed his hat trick after Dan Maddison’s shot was blocked.

Stokesley are still fourth bottom after losing 4-2 at Ryton and Crawcrook. Dan Robinson scored a hat trick for Ryton with David Backhouse getting the other, while Greg Upton and Ben Bonner scored for Stokesley.

Stokesley manager Nicky Ward said; “The second half cost us, giving three sloppy goals away, but Ryton took their chances very well and deserved the three points.”

Willington were denied all three points against Billingham Town when the visitors snatched a point with a last minute goal in a 2-2 draw. Daniel Ballantyne headed Town into the lead from a free kick after 18 minutes, but Willington levelled when Mark Bell took advantage as the Willington defence over a long clearance and equalised.

Town full back Ian Bishop made a mess of a clearance, allowing Adam Burnicle to put Willington 2-1 up before half time, and Willington looked as if they would hold on until Michael Dalton fired home a left foot shot with just two minutes left.

Willington manager Rob Lee said; “Two points lost. The game should have been finished off in the first half but their keeper pulled off some good saves. .We have to learn to kill games off. They scored in the last few minutes to take a point.”

Billingham Town manager Darren Trotter said; “Considering the number of players who dropped out for various reasons, we did well. We’ve been so difficult to break down this season, but we gave them two goals with absolute clangers.”

In the EvoStik Premier Division, Whitby lost 3-1 at home to Ilkeston, Dale Hopson scoring.

In the FA Trophy, Blyth face a long trip to Halesowen in midweek after a 1-1 draw at Croft Park, the visitors scoring in the last minute to cancel out Robbie Dale’s goal.