Moors lose 100 per cent record but denied late penalty

Moors have swept all before them in the league this season, but Celtic Nation battled hard all the way through, although Moors claimed that they should have had a last minute penalty.

“I don’t think our performance warranted a win, but I felt that we should have had a penalty in stoppage time when Steve Richardson was brought down in the area, but the ref booked him for diving instead.

“After our great wins against Bridlington and Bedlington in the previous two matches, it was a bit after the lord mayor’s show, but we don’t have a diving right to win games. We didn’t start sharp enough, and didn’t get our basics right. But we’re still unbeaten in 12 matches – at least we didn’t lose.”

After an even first half, CN took the lead when Michael Reed ran through and slotted the ball past Moors keeper David Knight, but Moors levelled when Mark Davison headed in a cross by Craig Ruddy.

CN were reduced to nine men in the closing minutes. David Lynn was shown his second yellow, and then Chris Earl was shown a straight red for a foul on Richardson.

Darlington are now eleven points clear at the top after they beat Bedlington 3-1 at Heritage Park. Craig Stoddart’s match report is on the Darlington section of the Northern Echo website.

Whitley Bay are now fourth in the table thanks to a good 3-1 away win at Guisborough. They took the lead after 20 minutes when Paul Chow scored from a long ball, but Lee Bythway equalised from a long ball by Luke O’Sullivan. Whitley regained the lead when Paul Robinson was fouled, and Ashley Davis scored from the spot. Guisborough missed some good chances, and Whitley made it 3-1 when Robinson scored from a free kick. Whitley are a point behind third placed Bedlington.

Whitley Bay manager Ian Chandler said: “It was a very good three points and display against a determined Guisborough, we defended well when we needed too. The confidence is there now and we deserved the win.”

Guisborough manager Chris Hardy said : “We came up against a very good Whitley Bay side today, who at times were a pleasure to watch, having said that I don't believe there was much between the two sides . We conceded a couple of soft goals and when our chances came about we didn't take full advantage of them. This was a very good team effort that fell marginally short against a Bay side who may have just edged the game over 90 minutes.”

Bishop Auckland are joint fourth after they won 3-1 away at Marske United. Marske had more pressure, but Bishops took the lead when Dan Hawkins found Andy Johnson bursting into the box, and he slotted the ball past the Marske keeper. Bishops went 2-0 up when Arran Wearmouth crossed from the left for Kieran Megran to tap in at the far post.

Marske pulled a goal back though a David Onions effort, but in the dying minutes Johnson broke away and scored the third, his 7th league goal of the season.

Marske manager Ted Watts said: “We gave two early goals away. We gave them too much respect. We did better in the second half – we had a good penalty turned down and we missed a sitter.”

Bishop Auckland manager Colin Myers said; “Marske won the midfield battle, but when we broke away, our finishing was clinical for a change. We did a smash and grab on them West Auckland gained some more measure of revenge for their league cup final defeat at the hands of Team Northumbria when they won 1-0 at the university campus. The game looked as if it was going to be goalless, until former Darlington striker John Campbell dribbled in from the left and scored with a low shot from ten yards.

Team Northumbria manager Paul Johnson said; “It feels as if we were robbed at the death when we played well enough to win or draw at the worst. The positives are we have improved massively after the last two matches and with players to come back we look like getting stronger and judging ourselves against today’s opposition when we are understrength, then I’m looking forward to the future.”

West Auckland manager Peter Dixon said: “I’m delighted that we kept a clean sheet after all the goals we’ve given away lately.”

Shildon are in 8th place with games in hand on all the clubs above them after beating Durham City 3-1 at Dean Street.

New signing Ricky Fenwick put Durham into the lead after 6 minutes, but Shildon quickly levelled through Danny Richmond from a rebound off a shot by Ben Wood.

Sam Garvie ran through and scored the second from a Wood through ball after 17 minutes, and then Wood hit the post from a penalty.. But right at the end, Shildon managed to score their third, when Durham keeper Lewis Graham was red carded for handling outside the area, and Robbie Briggs scored from the free kick.

Shildon manager Gary Forrest said; “It wasn’t the best of performances. We didn’t pass the ball very well, but we’re still happy with three points”

Durham manager Adam Furness said: “I’m disappointed with the result. We played well in spells, but our ability to self destruct is costing us points. We must toughen up to move up this league.”

Billingham Town won their bottom three battle against South Shields by 3-1 at Bedford Terrace.

Town took the lead on 38 minutes when they had two shots charged down and Danny O’Brien fired home. However, Shields improved at the start of the second half, and Sean Sweeney equalised on 53 minutes, but Town scored the winner when O’Brien crossed for Nicky Martin to beat the Shields keeper with a shot on the turn. However, Town had Richie Gaston to thank for a late clearance off the line.

Billingham Town manager Carl Jarrett said: “Neither side could afford to lose. We should have been out of sight in the first half, but we came out for the second half sloppy and let them back in the game. But fair play to the lads they dug deep and got what they deserved. It was a much needed three points.”

Consett moved up four places after winning 1-0 at Newcastle Benfield, scoring the winner after just eight minutes, when Steven Aiston set up Andy Cuthbertson to fire home. They missed several chances to score a second.

Benfield have signed striker Alex Benjamin from Bedlington – Benfield are his third club of the season.

Consett manager Kenny Lindoe said: “I was really pleased to keep a clean sheet, but really should have scored more. Lund could have had a hat trick and other players had chances to score more.”

Norton came back from 3-1 down at Hebburn to pick up a much needed point.

Hebburn scored one of the club’s fastest ever goals after 38 seconds when Liam McBryde scored from a James Luccock cross, then Luccock crossed again for Tony Stephenson to score at the far post. Anthony Hume pulled a goal back from a Callum Martin cross, but Stephenson made it 3-1 from a couple of yards. Norton battled back in the second half, and Peter Bulmer pulled a goal back after a mistake by Hebburn keeper Dan Regan, then another mistake let in Callum Brown for the equaliser. There was a short delay in the game after the ref went off injured..

Hebburn manager Paul Bennett said: “At half time even though we were 3-1 up, we had enough chances to be 5 or 6 up. Then second half, despite the half time warnings, we sat back and let Norton pressure us and we gave away two horrific goals. We again have to learn to see games out at this level.”

Norton manager Andy Campbell said: “We were awful in the first half, and 3-1 down at half time. In the second half we showed how good we can be, and getting a draw could have been all three points. Quite happy with a point.”

Sunderland RCA manager Neil Hixon has changed his defence in the last week, and his work paid dividends as they won 1-0 at Dunston.

The home side had the edge in the first half with Andy Bulford and Lee McAndrew going close, but RCA clawed their way back into the game and scored the winner with eight minutes left, when Dave Southern scored from the penalty spot after a foul on Nick Gibson. Terry Galbraith hit the Dunston post late in the game.

Dunston manager Billy Irwin said: “A draw would have been a fair result, we didn’t do enough to win the game.”

Sunderland RCA manager Neil Hixon said: “Two evenly matched teams and one goal was always going to win the game. The new back four looked solid!”

Newton Aycliffe collected a morale boosting point in a 1-1 draw against Billingham Synthonia. The visitors came closer to scoring in the first half when Andy Jennings hit the post from a free kick just before half time, and at the start of the second half Aycliffe hit the woodwork through Stuart Owen from the corner of the box.

Synners took the lead after 61 minutes when Chay Liddle and Aidan Cattermole set up Nathan Jameson to fire into the bottom corner. Synners could have added further goals, but Aycliffe rolled their sleeves up in the last 20 minutes, and equalised when Tom Hinchley headed in a left wing cross.

Billingham Synthonia assistant manager Lee tucker said: “We should have had the game wrapped up or at least shown the intelligence to see the game out. Unfortunately our forward players let too many balls come into the box and eventually that cost us two points.”

Newton Aycliffe manager Allan Oliver said: “I’m pleased with a draw, because the players kept battling away.”

In the second division, leaders Ryhope CW were held to a 2-2 draw by West Allotment, who played for most of the game with an outfield player in goal after Adrian Ames went off injured.

Dean Lee gave Allotment the lead from the edge of the area, but Ryhope levelled with a Jonny Butler penalty, his 20th league goal of the season. Ames went off injured to be replaced by full back Mark Drummett, but he had no chance when Chris Winn fired Ryhope into the lead. But Allotment’s John Pendlebury fired an equaliser near the end.

Ryhope CW manager Martin Swales said: “Our tempo was slack in the first half and we didn’t compete , and to be fair to Allotment they pressed hard and a draw was a fair result.”

West Allotment manager Paul Stoneman said: “The lads were disappointed afterwards which is a good sign that we are upset getting a draw against the top of the league team. We also had to play for an hour with our left back Mark Dummitt in goal as Aiden Ames picked up a bad knee injury.”

Northallerton beat Chester-le-Street 2-0 at Ainderby Road. Grant Hickman opened the scoring with a header from a Craig Winter free kick, then Wayne Gredziak from a good left wing move.

Northallerton manager Mark Fanning said: “I’m starting to sound like a stuck record but another clean sheet and three points just keeps that gap between us and the chasing pack.”

Chester-le-Street manager Colin Wake said: “I’m very disappointed with the result but really pleased with the performance. We bossed the game but gave away two poor goals. Their keeper played really well and ours had nothing to do apart from pick the ball out of the back of the net twice.”

Darlington RA stay third after a good 3-0 away win at Stokesley. The RA took the lead when Gavin Swankie was fouled in the box after a good run, and Paul Freary scored from the spot. Aaron Ramsbottom headed the second from a Jimmy Muir cross, then Freary opened up the Stokesley defence for Ramsbottom to slip the ball past the keeper.

Darlington RA manager Nick Harrison said: “We got the job done. We should have had the game out of sight in the first half. We go an early goal in the second half, and never got out of second gear. We’re still not firing on all cylinders.”

Stokesley manager Chris Lax said: “It was a very disappointing game and the performance never really got started. We struggled to create chances and were off the pace throughout. We’re very inconsistent at the moment and need to start getting results especially at home.”

Morpeth will be the team the other promotion contenders will have to watch, as they defeated Washington 6-1 to extend their unbeaten start to 10 league matches.

Six different players were on the scoresheet for Morpeth, plus they also scored for Washington with an own goal.

Washington manager Richie Latimer said: “I thought it was the worst performance under my management at Washington, I’m not taking nothing away from Morpeth who played very well, but we need to have a good look at ourselves and put things right, or things will change at the club.”

Tow Law’s push faltered when they were beaten 1-0 at home by Whitehaven. Lawyers had more possession but couldn’t take their chances, and Whitehaven capitalised by scoring the winner through Kevin Connelly just after half time.

Tow Law manager Gary Anderson said; “It was a game which personally T thought we dominated for 90 minutes. One mistake cost us at least a point in a game we should have won.”

North Shields beat bottom club Alnwick by a single goal, scored by Andy Hay in the first half. Alnwick are now eight points adrift of third bottom.

Thornaby ended a run of five straight defeats when they drew 1-1 at Jarrow Roofing. The home side led with a goal by Darren Reay, but Thornaby equalised through new signing Kurtis Lean.

Thornaby manager Neil Radigan said: “It was a great point with a gritty performance. The work rate was quality and we stopped the rot with better things to come.”

Brandon ended Ryton’s recent good run when they won 1-0 at the Welfare ground. The winning goal was one of the best seen on the ground for several years, a 25 yarder into the top corner by Aaron Rumble.

Horden and Birtley drew 2-2 , but the match was held up for around 30 minutes because of a serious injury to Horden’s Luke Wilson. Horden took the lead through Paul Johnson, but Birtley hit back to lead through Gary Bailes and Phil Temple. Horden secured a late point with a goal by Martin O’Riordan.

Horden manager Peter Mulcaster said: “It was another below par performance but we’re still picking up points up. We need to improve all over the pitch.”

Birtley manager Scott Oliver said: “We created bags of chances, but you know what comes next in those circumstances – they scored a late equaliser. It was a good game to watch.”

The draw for the quarter finals of the Northumberland Senior Cup is: Bedlington v Newcastle United Reserves, Blyth v Whitley Bay, Morpeth v Ashington, West Allotment v North Shields In the Evostik League, Whitby lost 4-2 at Witton Albion, even though they managed to pull themselves back to 2-2 at one stage. Shane Henry and Craig James scored their goals.

Blyth drew 1-1 with Rushall Olympic, Craig Ferrell salvaging a point with a late penalty.