Crook Town joint manager Paul Adamson admitted that his side “isn’t clicking” after a stirring last ten minutes earned them a much-needed 4-2 victory over Seaham Red Star in the first qualifying round of the FA Vase on Saturday.

Crook thought they’d rebuilt their squad well during the summer and they were reckoned to be amongst the promotion front runners, but a stuttering start has seen them in the bottom half of the table, and almost an early exit from the Vase.

Adamson said: “We’re grateful for a win, because we never really got going until the last ten minutes. We put in a great performance against North Shields in midweek, but on Saturday we went three gears back. At 2-1 down I would have been happy with a draw. We’re not quite clicking, and I can’t put my finger on why.”

Alex Marshall gave Crook the lead, but Seaham hit back with a lob by Tim Bowman and a close range effort by sub Jonny Monaghan.

But Crook stormed back in the last ten. Richard Hodgson fired them level, and then Kevin Devine kept his cool to score twice.

Bedlington striker Anthony Shandran scored six in Bedlington’s record 15-0 win over Stokesley three weeks ago, and he scored a double hat trick again when they beat them 9-1. He opened the scoring after just 2 minutes, and added another three before half time. He took his tally to six in the second half, one of them a penalty, and also had a hand in the goals for Tommy English, Paul Swithenbank and Ian Graham. Former Middlesbrough player Nathan Porritt scored for Stokesley when the score was 2-0.

The game of the day in the area, between Newton Aycliffe and Shildon didn’t produce any goals, so the sides must replay at Dean Street on Wednesday night.

Shildon missed the best chance of the first half when Chris McCabe broke through but lobbed the ball over the bar and in the second half former Aycliffe striker Warren Byrne was denied by a good save from Scott Pocklington. Aycliffe thought that they should have had a penalty for a foul on Andy Appleby, while right at the end of extra time Glenn Robson broke through, but fired over.

Newton Aycliffe manager Allan Oliver said: “I thought both teams defended well, and a draw was a fair result.”

Shildon manager Gary Forrest said: “I thought it was a good competitive game and we had enough good opportunities to win the game but we not firing in final third at minute. Both defences were solid and they only had one chance in over two hours of football.”

Bishop Auckland won 5-3 at Chester-le-Street, who took the lead after 32 minutes through Glenn Reay, but Chris Lawson headed the equaliser from Andy Johnson’s cross. Steven Turnbull cleverly dummied the ball for Johnson to turn home, then Johnson scored from the spot after he was fouled, although Chester were unhappy with the award..

Jonny Evans pulled a goal back with the goal of the game, a dipping shot from 30 yards, before Johnson converted another penalty, this time for handball, again contested by Chester. Adam Strong made it 5-2 from a Turnbull pass, before Gary Draper scored a late goal.

Bishop Auckland manager Colin Myers said: “Andy Johnson is flying at the moment, and as a team we’ve done well considering all the injuries we’ve got.”

Bishops now play Sunderland RCA in the next round – after the two sides have played each other twice in the league.

Chester have appointed Anthony Smith as their new manager, with Colin Wake remaining as the club’s number two. Smith is currently one of the coaches at the successful academy at Gateshead College.

Esh Winning gained revenge for their home defeat by Morpeth last week when they beat them 5-2 at Waterhouses.

After a goalless first half hour, they took a 2-0 half time lead through Kieron Megran and Ian Ward, and stayed in control after that. Ward, Craig Mickle and John Jury scored further goals for Esh, with an own goal by Esh defender Dan Mitton and Steve Anderson replying.

Esh Winning manager Andrew Soppitt said: “I was disappointed we didn’t score a few more.”

Tow Law had an excellent 5-1 away win at Washington, thanks to a great start to the game. They took the lead when player-manager Ian Davison set up Lee Hamilton to score, then Marc Nixon opened up the defence for Derek Waters to grab the second. Daniel Robinson turned a Michael Hall cross into his own goal for the third.

Hamilton completed his hat trick in the second half from two Davison assists, with John Wears replying for Washington.

Tow Law manager Ian Davison said: “It was a good performance, but we haven’t turned the corner yet. We played well for 70 minutes of the game.”

West Auckland must now travel to Marske after beating Wearside League club Cleator Moor Celtic 3-1.

It took West 43 minute to break through when Stuart Banks scored from a few yards, and then Alex Francis slotted in the second midway through the second half. Cleator Moor pulled a goal back on 72 minutes, but Banks made it 3-1 when the keeper couldn’t hold a shot from Francis.

West Auckland manager Peter Dixon said: “We were always in control without playing well. Cleator Moor stopped us from playing.”

Northallerton scored three times in the first half to set up a 3-1 away win at North Shields. Peter Bulmer put his side in the lead after 6 minutes, then Carl Chillingsworth headed the second from a Bulmer free kick. Gary Mitchell rounded the keeper for the third just before the break, Keith Douglas scored a late consolation for Shields.

Northallerton manager Mark Fanning said; “The first half won it for us, and we defended really well in the second half.”

Hebburn came back from a goal down at half time at home to Thornaby and beat them 5-1. Jamie Blythe cut in from the right and fired home to put Thornaby into the lead after 8 minutes, but Hebburn levelled when Tony Stephenson beat two men and fired into the top corner. Dean Nicholson slotted into the bottom corner to put Hebburn into the lead, and in the last six minutes Nicholson, Liam McBryde and Chris Tate added further goals.

Hebburn manager Paul Bennett said: “We didn’t exactly fire on all cylinders. We came out of the blocks flying in the second half, and we got an early goal to get back into the game. Credit goes to the players for their second half performance.”

Easington are through after beating Prudhoe 2-1. They went behind to an early goal, but John Harrison and James Huntley hit back.

Easington manager Andy Colledge said: “I wasn’t happy with the performance because there were too many sloppy passes in midfield. We must improve going forward.”

Guisborough beat West Allotment 2-1 at the King George, thanks to a late winner. Guisborough took the lead after 10 minutes when Austin Johnson fired home, but Allotment levelled after 25 minutes when Mark Minto scored in off the post. In the 90th minute, Luke Bythway scored at the second attempt, but there was more drama to come when Guisborough defender Lee Bythway was penalised for a foul inside his own area, and keeper Jack Norton saved Paul Haxon’s spot kick.

Horden went down 2-0 at Whitehaven, for whom Leigh Dunn and David Dustin scored.

The draw for the second qualifying round of the FA Carlsberg Vase on September 24th is: Ryton & Crawcrook Albion v Crook Town, Penrith v Guisborough Town, Billingham Town v Whitehaven, Sunderland RCA v Bishop Auckland, Jarrow Roofing v Easington Colliery, Hebburn Town v Brandon United, Tow Law Town v Newton Aycliffe or Shildon, Marske United v West Auckland Town, Esh Winning v Darlington Railway Athletic, Northallerton Town v Bedlington Terriers, Gillford Park v Willington, South Shields v Birtley Town.