Norton boss Andy Campbell hopes that his impending five-match stadium ban will not have a terminal effect on his side’s promotion chances.
Former Boro striker Campbell has been hit with the heavy penalty by Durham FA following back to back sending-offs from his technical area against Team Northumbria and Ryhope.
Norton believe the punishment is excessive and have appealed against it, but spirits remain high at Station Road judging by Saturday’s performance at home to Ryton.
The Ancients ran out resounding 5-0 winners with Anthony Hume on target twice, and Campbell has faith in his players and staff to go and get their promotion job done if his ban stands.
Saturday’s win means the club are still second in Northern League Division Two with eight games to go.
Campbell has two more games in the dug-out before his ban kicks in, meaning he would only be back for Norton’s final fixture at Tow Law.
He said: “I hope the players can still seal promotion.
“I’m not important, it’s about the players who go out on the pitch.
“The tactics are always selected before the game that my assistant knows and we have got senior players and enough good people at this club to help us out.
“Maybe my passion has over-spilled in the two games in question, but I don’t think I was massively out of order to deserve this kind of punishment.
“There are people spitting at people at the minute and they are getting seven-game bans - they aren’t getting stadium bans.
“These are role models. Alright, I’m a role model to people, but at the same time I deserve the same punishment that someone else is going to get.
“I’m hoping that common sense will still prevail.”
He added: “We are all pushing in the same direction at our club and it showed again on Saturday. The lads were superb.”
Guisborough now enjoy a two-point lead at the top of Division One after drawing 2-2 at Penrith on a day when all of the top five failed to win.
The Priorymen conceded an early goal and keeper Nick Liversedge saved a penalty to prevent them from falling further behind.
Danny Earl looked to have won it however with a late goal for the visitors after James Risbrough equalised, but Penrith scored a stoppage time leveller.
The game kicked off 35 minutes late following an accident on the A66.
Sixth-placed Marske needed an injury-time own goal to get a 1-1 draw at Bedlington.
The Seasiders had most of the chances but fell behind to an isolated Ben Keenan effort deep in the second half before pinching a point.
Billingham Synthonia stayed fifth-bottom due to their 3-1 home defeat by Newcastle Benfield.
The visitors struck twice in the first 12 minutes to leave Synners with a mountain they were unable to climb.
Kris Hughes scored the home side’s consolation.
Former Synner Theo Furness scored his first Thornaby goal in their 2-0 second division win at Willington.
Furness struck after Danny Lofts had given Thornaby the lead with a header.
Billingham Town drew 0-0 at South Shields and Stokesley did well in a 4-2 defeat at leaders Seaham Red Star despite only having 11 players.
Stokesley were 2-1 up at half-time through Connor Campbell and Gez Richardson.
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