West Auckland returned to the top of the STL First Division table with a 3-1 home win over Bishop Auckland last night.
West took the lead in the second minute when Dan Hindmarch scored from a Stephen Brown corner, and they went further ahead just on half time when Moffat picked up a diagonal pass from Brown, cleverly wrongfooted two Bishop defenders and sidefooted home.
Sub Martin Young scored a good third, with a diagonal shot across Peter Jeffries from the corner of the box. Bishops then had defender Lewis Brown red carded for a professional foul, but the ten men managed to pull a goal back through Andrew Johnson, his 20th of the season, after 79 minutes. West manager Peter Dixon said: "I was happy with three points in what was a scrappy game. Last season, we might not have won a game like that."
Whitley Bay are up to third after beating Billingham Town 5-2. Whitley started the game well. Damon Robson scored from the edge of the box, then Chris Fawcett curled the second into the top corner. Fawcett then scored the third before half time from a David Pounder pass.
Paul Chow lobbed the fourth after half time, and after Alan Cosavella and Nicky Martin pulled two goals back, Chow scored his 18th league goal of the season from close range. Whitley bay manager Ian Chandler said: "It was a much improved league performance, and it could have been four or five in the first half. Billingham were better in the second half while we just did enough and saw the game out. Robbie Dale and Chris Fawcett were both excellent." Billingham Town manager Carl Jarrett said: "We started the game well and had a chance in the first ten minutes, and if that had gone in, then the game might have been different. But we then got sloppy and gave three bad goals away. We made a few changes in teh second half and were better, We had about ten chances at goal, but I was still proud of the way we worked right up to the end."
In the second division, Birtley and Hebburn drew 2-2,after Birtley led 2-0 with goals by Julian Allsopp and Dan Smart, before Hebburn responded with goals by Paul Gardiner and Staurt Wright for a point. Birtley manager Scott Oliver said: "We were 2-0 up with 20 minutes left, so got to be disappointed, but a darw was about fair." H. But at 2-0 down you accept a point."ebburn manager Paul Bennett said: "We dominated the entire game only to fail to be ruthless, and end up making two errors and being 2-0 down. Credit to spirit and desire to get back to 2-2
In the other second division game, Thornaby and Crook drew 2-2 at Teesdale Park. Thornaby manager Ray Morton said: "We took the lead with a great 25 yarder by Marcus Laing, but then sloppy defending allowed them to score two quick goals. We were much more in control, scored a penalty and then Paul Thorns had two headed chances to win it. It was a decent point really, because Crook worked really hard." Crook joint manager Paul Adamson said: "It was two points dropped. We had more than enough chances to win the game, then had a goal ruled out at the end."
Gillford Park won 3-2 at Seaham Red Star in the Ernest Armstrong Cup. Seaham manager Steve Cook said: "We should have won, without sounding like a broken record. In the last 15 minutes their experience told and got them the win. A lot of lads put in good performances that we can take into the league."
Evostik League First Division North Farsley 1 Durham City 0 STL Northern League Division One.
West Auckland 3 (Hindmarch, Moffat, Young) Bishop Auckland 1 (Johnson), Whitley Bay 5 (Robson, Fawcett 2, Chow 2) Billingham Town 2 (Cosavella, Martin) Division Two.
Birtley 2 (Allsopp, Smart) Hebburn 2 (Gardiner, Wright) , Thornaby 2 (Laing, Skelton) Crook Town 2 (Liddle, Davies), Whitehaven v Chester-le-Street postponed Ernest Armstrong Memorial Cup.
Seaham Red Star 2 (Robinson, Gordon) Gillford Park 3 (Reed 2, Errington) .
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