Bottom club Crook Town have added Peter Mulcaster to their management team as they try to climb away from the relegation zone following their 4-1 defeat at Celtic Nation on Saturday.

Mulcaster has been appointed manager, with John Toomey and Adrian Webster working with him as they try to reduce the twelve point gap between them and safety, Mulcaster, who has been a Northern League manager for 30 years, watched the game from the stands, and will meet the players later in the week. Toomey who has been in charge for three games, welcomed the move, and said; “I’ve known peter for a lot of years, and I know how he works. He’s got a wealth of knowledge and experience, and he’ll help me and Adrian develop.

“As for the game, after we had a man sent off, Celtic nation exploited the extra man very well.”

Crook held the home side to a goalless draw at half time, but they had defender Peter Bryson dismissed for retaliation.

The Nation broke through after half time through Johnny Allan, then Aaron Roberts (2) and Simon Tucker added further goals before Crook pulled a goal back through Corey Nicholson.

Billingham Synthonia won for the first time under new manager Conrad Hillerby by shocking Durham City 2-1 at New Ferens Park.

Theo Furness gave Synners the lead with a deflected shot after 14 minutes, and they had a second disallowed for offside before Ryan Noble pulled a goal back with a header from a Steven Stewart cross.

Synners didn’t fold as they had in midweek at West Auckland and after an end to end second half, they got the winner in the last minute when Michael Sweet scored from the penalty spot following a handball offence. It was Synners’ first win in ten league matches.

Durham manager Ian Chandler said; “After last week’s excellent performance we let ourselves down badly. Individually there were quite a few displays which culminated in a poor team effort.”

Billingham Synthonia manager Conrad Hillerby said; “I’m really pleased to get my first win. The players worked really hard and created some good chances to win the game.”

Jarrow Roofing are up to fifth after they won 3-1 at West Allotment.

Roofing took the lead when John Pendlebury headed a long throw into his own net after 15 minutes, but Allotment equalised when Sean Reid hit the post and Marc Fenwick scored from the rebound.

Alex White headed Roofing back into the lead from a corner, but then midfielder Shaun Vipond was shown his second yellow. However, roofing kept calm, and Lewis Teasdale scored the third in the last minute.

Meanwhile, Oxford United are expected to complete the transfer of Roofing striker John Campbell early this week.

Jarrow Roofing manager Richie McLoughlin said; “It was a good win, but both teams gave it a go. We could have scored four in the first half , but only got one. After half time they played well and got a goal back but we stepped up and got two more.”

West Allotment manager Paul Stoneman said; “We were flat today, the lads looked tired after the extra time on Wednesday and it showed. At 1-1 we were the better side then they scored against the run of play but overall no complaints, they deserved it.”

Penrith beat Bedlington 3-1. Jamie Hope put Penrith into the lead, and on 74 minutes Scott Blandford equalised. But Hope and Martyn Coleman hit back for Penrith in the last 11 minutes.

Bedlington manager Ian Skinner said; “We were below par in he first half. Second half we had a good 25 minutes when we were on top and got back level. We then threw the game away with individual errors.”

In the second division, Brandon won their first league game of the season at the 22nd attempt when they won 2-0 at Tow Law.

They couldn’t have got off to a better start when new signing Jonny Atkinson scored after just 55 seconds , and they increased their lead on the hour when Steve Turnbull scored from the penalty spot. They nearly added further goals late in the game as the team won for new manager Paul Tunstall in only his fourth game in charge.

Brandon manager Paul Tunstall said; “We fully deserved our win, all my players fought a battle and put a great shift in. We changed our formation to combat Tow Law’s three centre midfielders and that helped us in the second half. We created three great chances after we scored the second but failed to take them, but this was a big step forward for the club.”

Saturday morning’s leaders Team Northumbria lost 1-0 at Chester-le-Street, for whom Dan Hepplewhite scored midway through the first half. Chester defended well after that, with keeper Aiden Ames pulling off several good saves.

Chester-le-Street manager Colin Wake said; “It was a really hard earned win against the best wide we have played this year. We scored the goal and had something to hang onto which we did thanks to some great saves by Aiden Ames our keeper, but we had opportunities in the break which we didn’t take. Overall, we’re really pleased given they showed us no respect either before or after the game.”

Norton took over at the top by easily winning 5-0 at Esh Winning. Karl Charlton scored a hat trick, with Nicky Martin scoring the other two.

Norton manager Andy Campbell said; “We’re very happy. We’re top of the league and thoroughly deserved our three points. We were excellent in the first half, second half we took our foot off the pedal, but still should have been more than 5-0.”

Darlington RA came from behind to win 3-2 at Billingham Town and go fifth.

The home side took the lead when Alan Taylor crossed for Daniel Ballantyne to head in after 27 minutes, but Sam England levelled for the RA from a few yards out after 51 minutes.

Town went in front again through Matthew Dixon from close range, but the RA equalised again when Freddie Huscroft headed in a free kick. The sub then scored the winner two minutes from time with a shot through the crowd of players.

Billingham Town manager Darren Trotter said; “We played as well as we have all season, the only thing we didn’t do was score more goals, Once they scored, mentally we got caught up in a game when we should have seen the game through at 1-0 and 2-1, but you can’t have everything. It’s early in our development and the lads have been positive all season.”

Darlington RA manager Warren Moncur said; “Billingham probably deserved to be in the lead at half time. Just after we drew level, Billingham scored to go 2-1 up. We then went 3-5-2 and flung everyone forward. Sub Freddie Huscroft scored two great goals to set up the win that we deserved overall.”

Heaton Stannington lost ground on the leaders by losing 3-2 at home to Hebburn Town.

Hebburn took the lead through Channon North, but Heaton hit back to lead at half time through Lewis Burns and Lee Waugh. Hebburn scored twice in the second half through Marc Costello and North, with his 27th league goal of the season, to give them the points, but they also had North red carded.

Heaton Stannington assistant manager Geoff Walker said; “It was a very entertaining game. I think we deserved a draw, and the ref was very poor. Denied us what looked a blatant penalty but credit to Hebburn as they are a good side with lots of pace.”

Hebburn manager Scott Oliver said; “We deserved the win. We made hard work of it as usual. We were aware that we need to start keeping clean sheets. The Channon North sending off was ridiculous.”

Washington kept a firm grip on fourth place by thumping Thornaby 5-1 at the Nissan Sports Complex. Washington went 2-0 up thanks to goals by James Fairley and Chris Winn in the first 28 minutes , but just before half time Kieron Edwards pulled a goal back from the penalty spot. However, Fairley went on to complete his hat trick, with Winn adding another.

Thornaby manager Paul Edwards said; “We were beaten by the better side on the day, although 5-1 was a bit harsh.”

Washington manager Steve Hutchinson said; “We’re happy with the win after going 2-0 up. Maybe we got in our comfort zone a little and took our foot off the pedal and conceded a penalty. We came out the second half and stepped it up again and deserved to win the game comfortably.”

Northallerton won for the second time under new manager Steve Skinner, when they beat Birtley 3-1 at Ainderby Road. Jason Newall and Craig Perry put Northallerton 2-0 up inside 35 minutes, and after a Northallerton defender put through his own goal to let Birtley back into the game, Danny McLachlan scored the third.

Birtley manager Tony Boakes had to name himself on the subs bench because of a shortage of players.

Northallerton manager Steve Skinner said; “I was very pleased. The lads worked hard on a heavy pitch, played some good football to fully deserve the win. The team was strong all over the park and listened to all the info that was passed to them.”

Birtley manager Tony Boakes said; “We only had eleven fit players today and I had to name myself on the bench. We never got going on a heavy pitch and conceded two goals from corners, and a mistake for Northallerton’s third.”

The games at South Shields and Willington were postponed.

In the EvoStik League, Whitby lost to an early goal at Barwell, while Blyth beat Kings Lynn 3-2, Danny Maguire, Robbie Dale and Jarrett Rivers scoring their goals.