West boss Williams fumes at costly poor defending

West were looking good when they led 3-1 at one stage, but their defence let them down badly in the last eight minutes.

West Auckland manager Darren Williams said; “It was a poor display first half, but it was better for most of the second half. We were in control 3-1 up, then some of the worst defending I’ve ever seen in my career happened.”

West, who included new keeper Lewis Graham from Shildon and midfielder Brian Close from Newton Aycliffe, went behind to a strike by Mattie Weirs on 33 minutes, but they levelled just after half time when Adam Burnicle’s shot was parried, and Matty Moffat followed up to score.

Craig Ruddy then put them in the lead from the penalty spot after Burnicle was brought down, and Burnicle ran from the halfway line and made it 3-1 on the hour.

But with eight minutes left the West defence failed to deal with a long ball and Logan Powell pulled one back, then they were statuesque again when they failed to deal with another ball into the box and James Ellis equalised.

And on 85 minutes Ellis found space to score an unlikely winner from a right wing cross.

Ryhope CW manager Gary Pearson said; “I’m the happiest I’ve been with one of our results mainly because we snatched all three points against a team near us in the league. Our commitment levels were amazing and the never say die attitude was pleasing. I must say a few months ago we would have laid down and collapsed.”

Newton Aycliffe, who included eleven new players in their matchday squad, bounced back from a turbulent week by beating third bottom Guisborough 3-2 at Moore Lane.

Guisborough took the lead after just two minutes through Mason McNeill, who ran through and beat Aycliffe’s new keeper Phil Pentony.

McNeill hit the bar, before Aycliffe levelled with a low shot into the bottom corner of the net by Jamie Owens on his return to the club from Marske.

The home side took the lead just after the half hour mark with a good goal by another new signing, James Marley, who finished off a move with a powerful shot from the edge of the area. And just on half time it was 3-1 when a strike by Zak Boagey was blocked, and another new signing, Ben Trotter followed up to score.

Guisborough pulled a goal back after 72 minutes through Steve Roberts, but then had striker David Onions along with Aycliffe full back Alan Harrison sent off.

Guisborough manager Gary Forster said; “We started very brightly and controlled the game for the 30 minutes. It was a great goal from Jamie Owens to get them back level against the run of play. Then we conceded a second from another long range strike when we fell asleep at a setplay . Our heads went and they scored again and we were chasing the game from then on. Got one back and could have had an equaliser with a bit more luck.”

Newton Aycliffe joint manager Deano Browne said; “It was a great result for everyone involved with the club. The lads worked really hard and deserved the victory but tired at the end. We scored some great goals and were always a threat.”

Shildon nearly blew a two goals lead against Newcastle Benfield at Dean Street, and won 2-1.

The Railwaymen took the lead on 32 minutes through Amar Purewal from a Matty Robson cross, then two minutes later Lewis Wing got the second with a long range shot.

Purewal hit the post at the start of the second half, before Benfield pulled a goal back with a Paul Brayson penalty, and they nearly levelled on two occasions, but Shildon’s new keeper, Peter Jeffries, denied them. Wing also hit the post at the other end.

Shildon manager Gary Forrest said; “It was a typical Shildon performance again. Some great football at times, but we’re not killing teams off.”

Bishop Auckland’s hopes of climbing into the top five were dashed by a 3-2 defeat at Consett, who are now unbeaten in their last twelve games.

Consett took the lead after 4 minutes when a clearance by Bishop keeper Ed Wilczynski struck one of his own players and dropped nicely for Jordan Nellis to tap in, but Bishops levelled on 57 minutes when Jeff Smith beat a defender and fired past the Consett keeper Sam Guthrie.

Bishops went in front when Jonathan Wright set up Andy Johnson to score his 22nd league goal of the season, but Consett hit back to win the game in the last seven minutes.

Michael Sweet headed the equaliser from a Jordan Lavery cross, then he scored the winner from a good cross by new signing from Aycliffe Alex Kitchen.

Bishop Auckland manager Steve Riley said; “We were very disappointed to lose the game. We went behind to a bad mistake from our goalkeeper and were poor in the first half. Then we recovered at half time and dominated the second half only to be caught twice on the break by our own poor play and naivety.

The players need to take responsibility on the field at certain times as it is costing us points. We shouldn’t be losing games like these.”

Consett manager Mark Eccles said; “It was a great comeback from the lads again. I thought we were the better team and deserved all three points. I was very proud of my players.”

Bottom club Chester-le-Street were well and truly thumped 8-1 at home by third placed Morpeth.

It was all over in the first 15 minutes after which Morpeth led 3-0 with goals by Mark Davison (2) and Ben Sayer. Liam Henderson scored twice, and after Jack Honour pulled a goal back, Sean Taylor, Paul Robinson and Michael Hall added three more in the last 20 minutes.

Chester-le-Street manager Colin Wake said; “I’m absolutely gutted by the level of performance of my players. We never got started and deservedly got a harsh lesson of football against a top side, but we move on.”

Morpeth manager Nick Gray said; “We started the game very brightly and scoring three goals in the first 15 minutes killed the contest but credit to the lads who kept the performance up for the full 90 minutes.”

Second placed South Shields were also amongst the goals, with David Foley scoring four in their 6-2 romp at Washington.

He scored his first in the opening minutes when he scored from the rebound after Alex Nicholson’s shot was blocked, then he crossed for Carl Finnigan to head home. Former Blyth player Nicholson then scored the third from the edge of the box before half time. Foley made it 4-0 from a Kieran Wrightson assist, then scored his hat trick from a long clearance. Charlie Raby pulled a goal back, but Foley scored his personal fourth with an excellent shot into top corner. Matty Waters scored a late consolation for Washington, who are sixth bottom.

Marske United, with Craig Gott back in their team after returning from Spennymoor, easily beat second bottom West Allotment 5-0 at Mount Pleasant.

Aaron Ramsbottom put them into the lead from close range after 7 minutes, then Danny Earl ran through to make the score 2-0. Nathan Mulligan got the third with a shot on the turn after just 15 minutes, and Allotment knew it wasn’t going to be their day when Marske keeper Robbie Dean saved a Stephen Young penalty.

Ramsbottom made it 4-0 from a Mulligan assist in the second half, then Earl raced through again for the fifth.

Marske manager Carl Jarrett said; “We started like a house on fire, which was what we set out to do. The full squad were fantastic today with some great play and goals. It was a great penalty save from Deano and a clean sheet. I’m very happy with three points and now we’ll focus on the derby on Boxing Day.”

West Allotment manager Paul Stoneman said; “Unfortunately we never really got going, and we were 3-0 down in 13 minutes. It was pretty much game over, and when we missed a penalty to go 3-1 it really was all over. We huffed and puffed but that’s well done to Marske.”

Sunderland RCA beat Whitley Bay 2-0. Stephen Callen finished off a good move to put them in front on 8 minutes and he nearly scored a second but his shot was cleared off the line.

Peter Glen-Ravenhill hit the post twice at the other end, and RCA caught Whitley pushing up when Mark Robinson dribbled through and scored the second.

Sunderland RCA manager Marty Swales said; “A goal in each half settled it. A great individual goal by Steve Callen in the first half gave us a deserved half time lead. Second half Bay had a lot of ball and hit the post but RCA absorbed pressure and we kept patient and got the second on a quick break with Mark Robinson deciding the game by coolly slotting past the keeper in the last minute.”

Whitley Bay assistant manager Anthony Woodhouse said; “It was a disappointing result and performance. We conceded early and never recovered. We hit the post twice and had two off the line.”

Seaham Red Star beat Dunston UTS 2-1 to put them into the top half of the table.

Dunston took the lead with a Scott Heslop penalty after 6 minutes , but Luke Proctor levelled for Seaham on the half time whistle.

But Seaham won it near the end with a Craig Lynch penalty after Lee Hetherington was fouled.

Dunston UTS manager Chris Swailes said; “We should have won. We played well, we just didn’t take our chances and were made to pay.”

Penrith beat Ashington 2-0, with goals by Matthew Read and Martyn Coleman.

Ashington assistant manager Ian Skinner said; “It sounds strange but we played well despite the scoreline. We missed two really good chances one on one chances before we fell behind to a fortuitous goal. We were the better side overall but we didn’t take our chances and Penrith did.”

In the second division, Billingham Town striker Craig Hutchinson scored his third successive hat trick in their 6-1 stroll at Crook Town. He scored twice in the first 20 minutes and after Crook pulled a goal back through David Vincent, Town stepped up a gear and Chris Dickinson, Elliott Beddow, Hutchinson and Connor Dunleavy scored. Hutchinson has now scored 18 goals in his last six matches.

Town are now up to third in the table, but Crook have dropped to third bottom.

Billingham Town manager Barry Oliver said; “We asked the players for a performance to set us up for the big derby on Boxing Day and they duly obliged. I thought we were outstanding today on a very heavy pitch which stopped us at times but again our movement off the ball was great to see which caused Crook problems all afternoon.”

Billingham Synthonia came from two goals down against Blyth Town to win 3-2 at Central Avenue.

Blyth got off to a great start when Luke Gillhespey fired in after just 4 minutes, then Dean Walker headed the second.

But Synners pulled a goal back when Chay Liddle set up Conor Winter, then on 58 minutes Matthew Robinson crossed for Winter to head the equaliser. And Winter completed his hat trick from a Liam O’Sullivan pass midway through the half.

Billingham Synthonia manager Conrad Hillerby said; “We were poor in the first half and conceded two poor goals. The second half performance was a lot better and we went on to win comfortably.”

Team Northumbria are still second, three points behind leaders Stockton Town, after winning 1-0 at Alnwick, Joel Bradley scoring their goal.

Durham City, in sixth place, dropped points in a goalless draw at Ryton and Crawcrook.

Durham manager Olly Hotchkiss said; “It was a very tough pitch to play on but my players tried to play and we had some joy but couldn’t find the target. Both keepers made great saves, b but I’m disappointed not to have won all three points.”

Northallerton are nicely in touch with the leading group thanks to a 2-0 away win at Hebburn. Nicky Martin put them in front from a corner on 27 minutes, then Stephen Cheeseman scored the second with a shot on the turn before half time.

Hebburn manager Scott Oliver said; “Northallerton wanted it more than us first half which is unforgiveable. I have to question my players’ attitudes . They are obviously happy to play second division football.”

Willington moved a little further away from the bottom four by drawing 0-0 with Thornaby at Hall Lane.

Willington manager Rob Lee said; “It was a good point. I thought we deserved all three points. We applied a lot of pressure and in the second half the new signings Damon Ellis and Daniel Kent played well up front.”

Thornaby manager Paul Burton said; “It wasn’t the greatest game. There was plenty of effort from both teams, but on a heavy pitch, not a great amount of quality. First half we struggled to keep the ball, the second half was better and we created a few chances but overall a draw was a fair result. I thought defensively we were good with Stuart Browne outstanding. A clean sheet and a point away from home so not all bad.”

Whickham drew 3-3 with Bedlington, the visitors scoring a last minute equaliser through Nathan Graham. Jack Foalle and David Paul were Bedlington’s other scorers, with Mark Fitzpatrick (2) and Kallum Broadhead scoring for Whickham.

Darlington RA had a dreadful day, losing 8-0 at Heaton Stannington, The RA were 2-0 down inside 15 minutes to goals by Gary Yates and Dean Deagle, and the RA folded in the second half, with Shane Jones going on to score a hat trick, and Yates (2) and Lee Johnson scoring the others.

Darlington RA manager Peter Mulcaster said; “I was very disappointed with the final 15 minutes when too many players threw the towel in and they scored four.”

Bottom club Esh Winning lost 3-0 at home to Tow Law, for whom Kelvin Thear, Liam Dixon and Ben Collinson scored.

Esh Winning manager Tony Boakes said; “Once again we were outworked by a more experienced side. We missed two or three chances when 1-0 down and never recovered after Tow Law scored their second.”