Ray Simpson`s Northern League Review...

Spennymoor Town kept their 100 per cent record intact and are still to concede a goal in the Ebac Northern League....

0 Comments

Published 16th September 2012

.....First Division after they beat title rivals West Auckland Town 2-0 in their top three clash at the Brewery Field on Saturday.

And when FA Cup ties and the pre-season Cleator Cup are taken into account, Moors haven’t conceded in ten games this season, impressive form that makes them favourites to lift their fourth successive title.

Moors assistant-manager Gavin Fell said: “We said before the game that we shouldn’t get too wrapped up in the occasion, and instead of worrying about West, to worry more about ourselves, and not give away any sloppy goals. The lads did very well to score two good goals, and keep another clean sheet.”

The chances were split fairly even in the first half. West’s Adam Rundle had a left foot shot cleared off the line, while West keeper Mark Bell made two good saves from Gavin Cogdon.

John Campbell was denied by the outstretched arm of Deane at the start of the second half when he broke through, but Moors took the lead when Lewis Dodds chipped the ball over the West defence for little Anthony Peacock to chest down and steer past Bell.

And with a few minutes left, Gavin Cogdon made it 2-0 when he cut in from the right and drove the ball into the bottom corner for his sixth league goal of the season.

West manager Peter Dixon said: “I thought it was a fairly even game for the first 70 minutes, and possibly we even shaded it. But after they scored, I thought our big name players faded.”

Darlington 1883 beat Billingham Town 3-2 at Heritage Park to keep them on top.

Darlington manager Martin Gray said: “Our change in formation in the second half won us the game. We didn’t play fantastically well, but we’re pleased with the points. We’ve got twenty-one points from eight games, I would have settled for that before the start of the season.”

Billingham Town manager Carl Jarrett said: “I thought we made a very good account of ourselves. We weren’t outclassed at any point in the game and I thought we deserved at least a point. I asked my players to give me a reaction from Tuesday night when we lost to Hebburn and they gave me one. If we keep playing like that, it won’t be long before we start picking up the points.”

Dunston UTS won their first league game of the season when they beat Whitley Bay 2-1 at the UTS Stadium.

They took the lead after 18 minutes when Danny Craggs was brought down and Andy Bulford scored from the spot, then new signing Lewis Teasdale sent him racing through and scored the second. Liam Connell made two good saves for Dunston in the second half, before Paul Chow got away and pulled a goal back with seconds left.

Dunston manager Billy Irwin said: “Hopefully, we can kick on from here. Lewis Teasdale made a big difference to us.”

Whitley Bay manager Ian Chandler said: “It was a pretty even game overall. Dunston got themselves two ahead but never really troubled us. Apart from the first 20 minutes in which we again missed several chances, we never really created anything. I thought we maybe a deserved a draw.”

Durham City lost 6-2 for the second time this season, when they were thumped at Ashington.

Andrew Johnson gave Ashington the lead early on, but Durham equalised through Gary Shaw on 10 minutes. Mark O’Dea put Ashington 2-1 up, with Marc Walton adding another soon after from the penalty spot.

Walton scored from a Johnson pass soon after half-time, and he completed his hat-trick from the edge of the box. Johnson got the sixth, before Jack Pounder scored a late consolation.

Durham manager Dickie Ord said: “We need to stabilise and improve defensively.”

Billingham Synthonia gained revenge for their defeat against Newcastle Benfield earlier in the season by winning 2-0 at Sam Smiths - their first clean sheet of the season.

Summer signing Andy Jennings got the first when he headed in a left wing cross by Chay Liddle after 23 minutes, and 5 minutes later he scored the second from a Glenn Donaldson pass. Craig Gott also hit the post for Synners, while Jennings hit the bar in the second half.

Newcastle Benfield manager Perry Briggs said: “I wasn’t very happy with the performance. We’re really lacking in the final third of the field, and we’re putting square pegs in round holes. Hopefully I can get things sorted by this Saturday.”

Sunderland RCA won their second game of the season when they won 3-1 at Marske United.

The RCA took the lead through Aristote Guerin-Lokonga from a rebound off the post, but Marske levelled through David Onions’ third goal in two games.

But Guerin-Lokonga supplied the pass for Jamie Davis to put RCA back in the lead, and Dale Jardine pounced for the third when he chipped the keeper.

Sunderland RCA manager Neil Hixon said: “We played well, and it was a comfortable win.”

[Source: Ray Simpson]