Spennymoor maintained their 100 per cent record in the league with a 3-0 home win over Billingham Town at the Brewery Field last night.
Moors took the lead after 36 minutes when Richie Gaston turned a cross from Wayne Phillips into his own net, and four minutes after half time it was 2-0 when Gavin Cogdon set up Steve Richardson for a simple tap in, Cogdon scored the third from the spot after Andrew Stephenson was brought down. Moors still haven't conceded a goal in the league.
Spennymoor manager Jason Ainsley said: "We were excellent first half and could of been out of sight but went in at half time 1-0 up. Although we scored 2 in the second I felt we let the tempo drop, but credit to the lads that we bounced back from the defeat on Saturday with a comfortable 3 points."
Billingham Town manager Carl Jarrett said: "My lads did themselves proud. They ran and battled for every ball, and we were beaten by a quality team with pace all over. Whoever finishes above Spennymoor will win the league, in my opinion."
Darlington are still top after they beat Durham City 3-1, fo a match report see Craig Stoddart’s in the Darlington section.
Shildon lost 3-2 at home to Sunderland RCA. Aristote Geurin-Lokonga gave RCA the lead on 26 minutes with a header, but Shildon levelled just after half time with a header by Richard Flynn. Carl Beasley restored RCA’s lead, but Robbie Briggs levelled again for Shildon with a powerful shot from outside the box. But Richie Paxton got the winner for RCA ten minutes from the end.
Shildon manager Gary Forrest said: "In the last three games we have played sides that compete, very physical and quite direct and when we need to roll our sleves up we go missing. Happy to play football but at some point we need to do the dirty work and at moment we not doing that."
Sunderland RCA manager Neil Hixon said: "It was a comfortable win with a scratch side. 3-2 flattered Shildon, Aris Lokonga was unplayable!"
Bishop Auckland had the better of the first half against Billingham Synthonia with Jamie Harwood hitting the bar, but Jordan Marshall scored from a long clearance to put Synners into the lead on 40 minutes. Andy Jennings scored the second with a low shot on 75 minutes, with Andrew Johnson pulling a goal back five minutes later with a 20 yarder into the top corner. Chay Liddle wrapped it up for Synners four minutes from the end, although Sonny Andrews scored a late consolation.
Billingham Synthonia assistant manager Lee Tucker said: "Considering the problems that we have with players out, it is really pleasing that we have managed to dig deep and get the win."
In the second division, leaders Ryhope CW easily won 5-0 at Horden, with Nathan O’Neill (2), Greg Swansbury, Martin Metcalfe and Michael Charlton scoring the goals. Manager Martin Swales said: "I thought we bossed the game from start to finish and created chance afetr chance. To give credit to Horden they came out for the second half with a lot more fire in their bellies, but we got a great compliment off the Horden chairman who said that we reminded him of Team Northumbria by the way we pass the ball."
Northallerton stay second after they beat Brandon 4-2. Brandon stunned Northallerton by taking the lead after 13 minutes when Ryan Readman scored with a shot on the turn, but Northallerton levelled when Marcus Laing headed in a corner from Gavin Parkin. They went 2-1 up when Carl Chillingsworth headed in another Parkin corner, then Adam Emson fired the third. Stephen Moody pulled a goal back for Brandon, but Chillingsworth made the game safe. Northallerton manager Mark Fanning said: "We played better last week and lost, so we will take the three points after a sloppy performance. I expect a vast improvement on Saturday."
Tow Law had a good 2-0 away win at Esh Winning, Matty Scott and Steven Turnbull scoring the goals. Tow Law manager Gary Anderson said: "It was a great performance, and a good three points to bounce back from last Saturday's defeat."
Crook were held to a 1-1 draw at home by Jarrow Roofing, Kyle Davis of Crook cancelling out Darren Reay’s goal for Roofing. Crook manager Gary Pearson said: "Again, not good enough. e're very inconsistent, we didn't deserve a point."
Whitehaven's Craig Robson scored in the last minute to give them a 3-2 away win at Stokesley , who assistant manager Chris Lax said: "We're gutted with the scoreline, but it was a good performance. We didn't deserve to lose, and showed great character to come back to 2-2. To lose with 20 seconds left was a killer."
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Four matches were postponed because of waterlogged pitches, while the North Shields v Thornaby game was postponed because Thornaby were unable to reach North Tyneside because of adverse weather conditions on the A1 and A19.
EBAC Northern League Division One Bedlington v Marske United postponed, Billingham Synthonia 3 (Marshall, Jennings, Liddle) Bishop Auckland 2 (Johnson, Andrews), Darlington 3 (Scott, Amar Purewal, Johnson) Durham City 1 (Fenwick), Guisborough v South Shields postponed, Newton Aycliffe v Penrith postponed, Shildon 2 (Flynn, Briggs) Sunderland RCA 3 (Guerin-Lokonga, Beasley, Paxton) , Spennymoor 3 (Gaston og, Richardson, Cogdon) Billingham Town 0 Division Two Crook 1 (Davis) Jarrow Roofing 1 (Reay), Darlington RA v Morpeth postponed, Esh Winning 0 Tow Law 2 (Scott, Turnbull), Horden 0 Ryhope CW 5 (Swansbury, Charlton, Metcalfe, O’Neill 2), North Shields v Thornaby postponed, Northallerton 4 (Laing, Chillingsworth 2, Emson) Brandon 2 (Readman, Moody), Stokesley 2 ((Bonner, Bivens) Whitehaven 3 (Connelly, Shaw, Robson)
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