UTS have Dun title hopes a power of good

DUNSTON UTS boosted their Division One title hopes with a 4-2 victory at third-placed Consett.

The hosts took a 2-1 lead into half-time as goals from Nick Allen and Matty Cornish sandwiched a penalty from Dunston striker Mark Fitzpatrick.

However, it was Chris Swailes’ side which claimed the points thanks to an own-goal from Arjun Purewal and long-distance efforts from Liam Marrs and Scott Heslop.

Bishop Auckland remain in second-place after they eased to a 5-1 home win against Whitley Bay.

Shaun Ryder put the Two-Blues ahead on five minutes but that was cancelled out by an equaliser from Olly Martin.

That goal was as good as it got for the visitors as an Andrew Johnson brace and counters from Darren Richardson and Kyle Fryatt gave Bishops’ manager Ian Chandler a comfortable result against his former club.

North Shields fell to a 2-1 home defeat against Seaham Red Star, despite taking the lead with a Jack Cooper strike just before the halfhour mark.

Red Star roared back in the second period thanks to Michael Chilton’s brace.

Stuart Elliott kicked off his managerial career with a victory as Mark Turnbull grabbed the only goal of the game in Newcastle Benfield’s trip to Ashington.

Hebburn Town Reserves and West Auckland Town drew 3-3.

Hornets’ duo Louis Storey and Luke Sullivan cancelled out earlier efforts from West strikers Amar Purewal and David Dowson.

An injury-time penalty from Adam Mitchell looked to have given the visitors a second success in a week against their hosts .

However, Hornets’ striker Graeme Armstrong snatched a point in the third minute of added-on time.

Andrew Bulford grabbed a lastminute winner in Whickham’s 2-1 home triumph against Penrith and a Mark Davison brace put Sunderland RCA on their way to a 3-2 result at Shildon. ■■THERE was a massive shock in Division Two as leaders Billingham Town were beaten at home by basement club Durham City.

Lee McPhillips put the Citizens ahead on 28 minutes but that was cancelled out by Lee McPhillip.

Town’s Craig Hutchinson missed a penalty early in the second half and that was punished by Anthony Chapman’s injury-time winner.