It was a happy start to the New Year for Teesside’s Northern League teams with five of the six clubs who saw action today opening 2015 with wins.
Marske continue to stake their claim for the first division title after demolishing second-placed North Shields 4-0 away from home to stay third.
Billingham Synthonia made it back-to-back wins with a hard-fought 3-2 victory against Celtic Nation in Carlisle which takes them out of the relegation zone.
Lee Farrington’s late goal means Norton have the last remaining unbeaten home record in the whole of the Northern League after they beat Division Two table toppers Seaham Red Star 1-0 to join Washington in closing the gap on the leaders to two points.
Thornaby eased to a 3-0 home victory against South Shields with two Jamie Clarke goals sandwiching a Danny Lofts effort.
Skipper Drew Lambert scored a hat-trick as Billingham Town equalled their biggest league win of the season in battering Alnwick 4-1 at the Evolution Arena, but Stokesley lost 5-2 at promotion-chasing Team Northumbria.
Marske completed a seasonal double over North Shields and ended the hosts unbeaten home record with two goals in each half and a quality performance.
Skipper Craig Gott scored the Seasiders’ first two goals from the penalty spot following fouls on Reece Kelly, the first of which saw Shields defender Stuart Donnison receive a straight red card.
Norton winger Tom Bligh goes close against SeahamFit-again defender Adam Wheatley increased Marske’s lead shortly after the break and Glen Butterworth’s first goal of the season was worth waiting for as he made it 4-0 from 25 yards after Shields winger Denver Morris had missed a golden opportunity.
Billingham Synthonia’s survival fight received another shot in the arm as an own goal, Tommy Marron header and close range Jonathan Coleby finish gave them a hard-fought victory which takes them out of the bottom three and above this afternoon's hosts Celtic Nation.
Synners went ahead when Coleby’s cross went in off Darren Moynan, but Celtic Nation levelled with the last kick of the first half through Matthew Read after on-loan Boro keeper Joe Fryer had made a good save.
The visitors began to get a grip on midfield after the break however and new signing Marron nodded his first Synners goal from Michael Sweet’s inch-perfect cross before Coleby added his name to the scoresheet.
Celtic Nation got another goal back in the 89th minute, with Aaron Roberts scoring after the ball was knocked out of Fryer’s hands, but Synners held on.
Norton’s top of the second division game against Seaham had 0-0 written all over it until the Ancients got a fortunate 84th minute winner when left-back Lee Farrington’s cross from out on the touchline went in off the far post.
The sides had cancelled each other out in an otherwise even game. Rocky Andrews hit the base of a post from one of Norton’s best chances and Seaham midfielder David Palmer miscontrolled and scuffed wide with the goal at his mercy in the first half.
Norton keeper David Knight had an outstanding game, showing a safe pair of hands every time he was called upon.
Thornaby dominated against South Shields and should have had more than the three goals they scored without reply at Teesdale Park.
They needed just six minutes to open their account, Danny Lofts giving keeper Steven Hubery no chance from Craig Ruddy’s through-ball.
Savvy veteran Jamie Clarke produced a towering header to score Thornaby’s second from a Matthew Robinson cross, and Clarke added the third when his on-target free kick came off the defensive wall and went in.
A combination of wasteful finishing and smart Hubery saves after the break kept the score down, with Lofts being denied in a one-on-one and Ruddy firing over in the final minute.
Thornaby are now back up to eighth.
Billingham Town took the lead against Alnwick after 18 minutes when Daniel Ballantyne scored from an Alan Taylor cross.
Captain Drew Lambert promptly made it 2-0 when he was able to walk the ball into the net at the end of a four-man move.
And he added his second and Town’s third in the 26th minute with a shot from the edge of the box.
Jake Lowes headed a goal back for Alnwick just before the hour mark, but Lambert had the last word when he completed his hat-trick and the scoring two minutes from time to give relegated Town their second away win.
Greg Peel and Matty Dunford scored for Lambert’s former side Stokeley as they lost 5-2 at promotion-chasing Team Northumbria.
Division One high flyers Guisborough had a free Saturday and dropped a place to sixth following Jarrow Roofing’s 6-2 win at Crook.
The Priorymen’s next game is on January 10, at Bedlington.
Guisborough's Owen Edwards is tackled against Morpeth
Guisborough captain Michael McDougall claims a lineout during his side's victory over Morpeth
