Matches played – Friday 5th September

West Auckland Town  4  –  1  Easington Colliery (Att: 266)

West Auckland produced their first home three points of the season when they beat Easington by four goals to one.  Craig Moody opened the scoring for the hosts after only five minutes and Matthew Willshaw doubled the lead eight minutes before the break.  James Fairley halved the lead when he slotted into an open net just two minutes before half time to give Easington hope of getting back into the game.  With twenty minutes to go Alex White restored the home side’s two goal cushion when he scored following a corner and in the dying minutes Leo Robinson made it 4-1.  West moved up to 8th and Easington 16th in the table.

Carlisle City  2  –  3  Whitley Bay (Att: 255)

Whitley’s winning run continued to nine league games without defeat as they scored a late winner to clinch the three points in Cumbria.  It was the home side who broke the deadlock when Jordan Irving put them in front on fourteen minutes.  It didn’t take long for Bay to level the game but it took a bit of good fortune when Kyle May conceded an own goal to make it 1-1.  With twenty minutes to go Bay hit the front when Layton Campbell scored from close range but Carlisle were soon back on level terms with ten minutes to go when Sam Smith headed home to draw them level.  The deciding moment came in stoppage time when Bay got a free kick on the edge of the box and Callum Larmouth hit a great curling free kick to take the points back to Tyneside.  Bay still top the table and are four points ahead of second place Horden CW.  Carlisle sit in mid-table with eleven points from ten games.

West Allotment Celtic  1  –  0  Newcastle Blue Star (Att: 208)

Allotment made it three home wins on the bounce when they defeated Blue Star with a late goal at Craik Park.  Blue Star had the misfortune to hit the woodwork three times in the opening fifteen minutes but Allotment gradually got a foothold in the game and produced chances of their own in a game that was goalless at the break.  In the second half the game was end to end and seemingly heading for a stalemate when five minutes into added on time Ryan Ndiweni got on the end of a ball over the top and he turned the defender a couple of times before firing a superb strike into the bottom corner from just inside the box for a debut goal only twelve hours after signing for the club.  The referee signaled the end of the game as soon as Blue Star restarted the game.  A great three points for Allotment but more disappointment in the league for Blue Star.  Allotment rose to eighth in the table before Saturday’s fixtures and Blue Star 18th.

Matches played – Saturday 6th September

Guisborough Town 3–1 Kendal Town (Attendance: 415)

Guisborough broke the deadlock through James Frazer (15′) as Kendall looked to settle into the match. After the break, Thomas Birtles doubled their advantage (58′), putting Guisborough firmly in control. Kendal reduced the lead when Jason Walker pulled one back (77′), only for Kurtis Howes to seal the win with a late goal (89)  A well-executed display from the hosts sees them climb into 4th in the table, whilst Kendal now search for a way back into form and are 9th.

Birtley Town 2–2 Northallerton Town (Attendance: 192)

Northallerton struck first through Lee Hume (17′), asserting early dominance and the held that slender advantage until fifteen minutes from time when firstly Birtley levelled the game through a  James Proctor  penalty (74′), before Kyle Wharton (81′). put Birtley in front Yet, Northallerton weren’t done—Harry Croft popped up in stoppage time (90+2′) to earn a share of the spoils in a rollercoaster finish. An entertaining draw that keeps both sides in the mix.Birtley in 15th place in the table and 2 points above them Northallerton in 11th.

Crook Town 2–1 Whickham (Attendance: 256)

Crook picked up their second three points of the season when they beat fellow strugglers Wickham The hosts  opened the scoring on 25 minutes when  Nicholson (25′),scored to put them one up On the hour Whickham were level when Samuel Johnson equalised  but Crook swiftly regained the lead through Finlay Rose (68′). The hosts held their ground from there, earning a crucial three points ,Crook and Wickham swap positions in the league with Whickham at the bottom and Crook 2 points better off in second bottom.Whickham still looking for their first three points of the season after the opening ten games,

Horden CW 3–2 Penrith (Attendance: 189)

Horden struck early—Blackburn (8′), then Pounder added another (19′)—and looked comfortable. Penrith fought back to make it close, with Hunter (42′) and Shields (45+3′) both finding the net just before half-time. But David Doughty restored Horden’s advantage after 69 minutes to secure a narrow and hard-fought win. A nailbiting affair, and a valuable boost for the home side.that lifts the home side into second place in the table after a promising start in the higher division and Penrith in 13th

Marske United 0–2 Newcastle Benfield (Attendance: 309)

Newcastle Benfield took control with two first-half strikes—firstly a brilliant free kick up and over the wall by Bennett (32′) followed by Ames (42′) who headed home a long throw—and never looked back. A tidy and efficient performance on the road .Marske remain in 14th place and Benfield in 7th.

North Shields 3–4 Shildon (Attendance: 488)

Dramatic late mayhem but just not enough time to get a late leveller.for the home side.— Shildon had been relentless all afternoon, Ardelean bagging a four-goal haul (42′, 47′, 69′, 79′) to put them well in control and in front by four goals with three minutes to go Shields then pulled a goal back when Jordan Lashley’s effort evaded the keeper (88).and he fumbled into the goal.Within a minute Dean Holmes hit a 25 yarder into the goal (90) and very quickly a Euan Henderson (90+1) at the back post made it 3-4 Three goals in four minutes at the end but the visitors held on . A wild, high-scoring spectacle with lots to talk about .Shields into fifth in the table and Shildon still unbeaten in the league in 6th but with games in hand because of their cup exploits.

Thornaby 0–0 Boro Rangers (Attendance: 175)

Despite best efforts on both ends, neither Thornaby nor Boro Rangers could break the deadlock. A tame stalemate that keeps Boro Rangers in third but they will be disappointed not to get all three points and Thornaby in 17th but now 8 games without a win and only 7 goals from their ten league games.