Promotion-chasing Norton gave a defiant response to manager Andy Campbell's five-match stadium ban as they soundly thrashed Ryton 5-0 at home in Northern League Division Two.
Former Boro striker Campbell’s severe punishment has been handed down by the Durham FA following back to back sending-offs from the technical area against Team Northumbria and Ryhope.
The former £1m man and Norton are still hoping to win a Northern League-backed appeal against the ban which kicks in on March 16, and means he would only be back in the dugout for the Ancients’ final game of the season at Tow Law if it is upheld.
Norton’s players showed they are fully united behind their manager today however as Anthony Hume struck twice in a comprehensive win which saw them retain second place and preserve the league’s only unbeaten home record.
Hume opened the scoring with a back-heel as he got on the end of John Seaton’s free-kick, and Jack Proctor made it 2-0 with a far-post header from Harrison Davies’ inswinging corner.
Seaton got on the scoresheet himself after playing a one-two with Hume before substitute Gary Mitchell fired in the fourth after rolling a defender inside the box.
Hume wrapped up the rout when he headed home from a Lee Farrington cross.
Campbell said: “Maybe my passion has over-spilled in those two particular games, 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.
“Hopefully common sense prevails and I can stay with the group because I believe I have a big impact on it.
“I never rest on my laurels and I was disappointed that we were only 2-0 up at the end of the first half today.
“That showed with an excellent second half performance. The lads were superb and scored some quality goals.”
Elsewhere in the second division, Thornaby made up for last week’s surprising home defeat to Esh Winning at the first time of asking as they scored two second half goals in a 2-0 win at Willington.
Danny Lofts scored the first of them with a far post header after Jamie Clarke nodded a Curtis Edwards centre across the face of goal.
New signing Theo Furness wrapped up the points for Thornaby with his first goal for the club, curling the ball into the top corner after exchanging passes with midfield colleague Jason Honeyman.
Thornaby boss Paul Edwards was pleased to see his side get back on track.
He said: “We played really well from start to finish and could have scored four or five.
“Having said that, they forced four corners in a row just before half time and we could have gone into the break a goal down instead of it being goalless.
“But it was really good from us overall. I think having Jason Honeyman back in from the start and Jamie Clarke in there made a big difference.”
Billingham Town capped off a successful week at the Evolution Arena with a point in a goalless draw at South Shields. Town beat Shields 1-0 on Tuesday to reach the Ernest Armstrong Memorial Cup final and were awarded three points for last month’s abandoned match at Whickham on Thursday night.
Today’s league rematch against Shields was spoiled by a powerful wind which made attractive football almost impossible, but boss Darren Trotter will be satisfied after seeing his team keep a third consecutive clean sheet.
Winger Danny Ballantyne had the visitors’ best chances in the first half but was thwarted twice by home keeper Chris Davidson.
Stokesley boss Nicky Ward praised his threadbare side for a “fantastic” performance in their 4-2 defeat at second tier leaders Seaham Red Star.
The visitors were so depleted that they only had 11 players and manager Ward had to go in goal.
But they gave Seaham a scare and led 2-1 at half-time after conceding an early goal in a game that was played in a gale force wind.
Connor Campbell equalised for Stokesley direct from a wind-assisted corner and Gez Richardson put them in front right on half time following a weaving run by the visitors’ man of the match Jack Bradbury.
Seaham pulled back level with a goal from a scrappy corner and went on to win it, completing their scoring with a 93rd minute penalty.
Warren Byrne scored a hat-trick for Red Star, with Carl Thorp getting their other goal.
Ward said: “I’m proud of every one of the players.
“Everyone put a fantastic shift in and I won’t be changing the team at home to Ryton on Wednesday.
“Jack Bradbury was outstanding and tortured them, he was brought down so many times.
“You wouldn’t have though that they were eight points clear at the top of the table.
"We gave a really good account of ourselves in difficult conditions and circumstances.”
Guisborough are still top of Division One despite drawing 2-2 at Penrith, as other results went their way.
The Priorymen’s day started off badly as the match kicked off at 3.35pm following an accident on the A66.
And they travelled without nine unavailable players which led to assistant manager Stephen Dowling being named on the bench.
Penrith increased Guisborough’s woes when they took a seventh minute lead through Jamie Hope.
But visiting keeper Nick Liversedge provided the game’s turning point when he saved Martyn Coleman’s penalty.
Guisborough discovered in the second half that they would stay top no matter what as the rest of the results involving the top five went in their favour.
But they looked on course for victory when Danny Earl scored his 22nd goal of the season to put them ahead after James Risbrough had equalised.
There was still time for one more twist however as Penrith’s Grant Davidson scored a stoppage time header to ensure the spoils were shared.
The Priorymen now hold a two-point lead over West Auckland, who were beaten 3-1 at Jarrow Roofing.
Marske are now sixth after drawing 1-1 at Bedlington thanks to an injury time own goal.
Billingham Synthonia’s survival bid suffered a dent as they lost 3-1 at home to Newcastle Benfield.
Synners had injury problems and midfielder Dan Dillon started a four-match ban for his needless red-card against Bedlington.
Winger Kris Hughes scored the home side’s only goal.
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