Ray Simpson`s Northern League Review...

Bishop Auckland manager Colin Myers admitted that his team’s 1-0 win in the Ebac Northern League First Division.....

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Published 2nd September 2012

.....on Saturday at South Shields was “scrappy and dirty”.

Bishops are in the thick of the title race in fifth place with this win, but Myers said: “It was a scrappy win, and we didn’t play anywhere near our best. We should have been 4-0 up after 20 minutes, and we struggled after that. We were terrible in the second half, and Shields got better.”

Victory was also at a cost for Bishops, because defender Adam McLane had to be stretchered off to hospital with a cruciate ligament injury, that will keep him out for several weeks.

Bishops missed several good chances early in the game, and should have scored more than just the one after 4 minutes, when Chris Lawson scored with a header. Shields hit the bar through Peter Kane in the second half.

Spennymoor Town made hard work of beating bottom club Newton Aycliffe 2-0 at the Brewery Field, but they still keep their 100 per cent record.

Aycliffe defended well and stifled Moors for the first hour or so, but the game opened up when Aycliffe defender Darren Craddock could only head a free-kick from Keith Graydon into his own net after 78 minutes.

Aycliffe nearly levelled with a volley by Paul Robinson, but sub Glen Taylor turned the ball home for the second two minutes from time.

Newton Ayliffe manager Allan Oliver said: “It was a lot better than we’ve been playing recently. I was a happy with our endeavour, but we need some extra quality.”

Spennymoor manager Jason Ainsley said: “We made hard work of it. In the first half, we were lethargic, but in the second half we were a lot better. Aycliffe were always going to frustrate us.”

Shildon are still unbeaten this season, but they dropped a point in a 2-2 draw at Norton & Stockton Ancients.

Anthony Hume headed Norton into an early lead, and Dale Mulligan fired the second on 15 minutes. Billy Greulich-Smith headed Shildon back into the game on 20 minutes and shortly after Chris Hughes scored the equaliser. Both sides missed opportunities to win it in the second half.

Shildon assistant-manager Stuart Niven said: “We struggled with their long balls forward. We didn’t play well, but at least we didn’t lose.”

Norton manager Andy Campbell said: “It was a good result. We played well and scored two good goals, and created some good chances.”

Billingham Synthonia won their first game of the season by 2-1 at Durham City to lift them into mid-table.

Scott Fenwick put City into the lead from a right wing cross on 17 minutes, but Synners levelled just before half-time when Nathan Jameson set up Andy Jennings to score from a few yards. They also had to replace their keeper Josh Moody with Jason Hamilton because of injury City midfielder Steve Thompson was dismissed for his second yellow early in the second half, and Synners eventually won the points when City keeper James Winter couldn’t hold an in-swinging corner by Craig Gott when under pressure, and the ball went straight in.

Durham manager Dickie Ord said: “They were the worst officials ever seen.”

Billingham Synthonia assistant-manager Lee Tucker said: “We did really well, considering the number of players we had missing. It is great to get our firs twin, and hopefully we can kick on now.”

Whitley Bay gained revenge for their FA Cup defeat last week at the hands of Bedlington Terriers by ending their 100 per cent record with a 1-0 win.

Whitley missed some good chances at the start of the match, and Paul Robinson hit the crossbar, plus Kevin Morton pulled off some good saves in the Bedlington goal.

The winner came on 62 minutes when Paul Chow’s header was blocked, and Lee Paul Scroggins scored from the rebound.

Whitley Bay manager Ian Chandler said; “It was a fantastic performance, We dominated and should have had another goal or two. We restricted Bedlington to very little, which was extra pleasing.”

West Auckland Town came from two goals down to earn a 3-3 draw at Ashington.

The home side took the lead with a deflected shot by Marc Walton, and then Callum Little made it 2-0 from close range. Mattie Moffat and John Campbell combined well for Campbell to run through and pull a goal back on 35 minutes.

Campbell levelled for a much-improved West on 55 minutes, and shortly after Moffat fired his side into the lead. But Walton cracked in an equaliser to earn a point for Ashington.

Moffat has now scored in each of his six games for West this season.

West Auckland manager Peter Dixon said: “I think the first half was one of the worst we’ve played since I became manager, and a few words had to be said at half-time.”

[Source: Ray Simpson]