After topping the table in August, the Railwaymen have slipped with four defeats in the last six, and even though they are one of five clubs tied on points at the top of the table, they have played at least two games more.

“The goals we conceded in the first 20 minutes were embarrassing,” said Moore. “We gave ourselves far too much to do, even though we got the score back to 3-2 at one point. Individual errors, not team errors, cost us, things that should have been avoided.

“As far as I’m concerned, it’s back to basics and we must put together a couple of wins now to make up lost ground.”

Ashington took a 4th minute lead through Zak Atkinson from a few yards, and by midway through the first half were 3-0 up with further goals by Jack Butler and Channon North Shildon mounted a fight back and pulled two back before half-time through Mattie Waters and Ben Trotter.

But Ashington held on in the second half, and after Shildon had midfielder Keith Graydon red carded, Butler made sure.

The eagerly awaited derby between West Auckland Town and Bishop Auckland was a 1-1 draw.

West took the lead when Liam Hegarty crossed for Amar Purewal to head over, but Bishops’ Chris Winn quickly equalised with a low shot.

There were plenty of chances after that, with both sides missing good chances, while keepers Shane Bland and Nick Liversedge both made good saves.

Bishop Auckland manager Ian Chandler said; “It was probably a fair result. We started very well creating numerous chances in the first 10 minutes only to find ourselves 1-0 down. In the second half we defended well restricting West to the odd half chance and we had a few. Overall it was a decent performance against a strong West team.”

West Auckland manager Gary Forrest said; “They were another two points dropped with the missed chances.”

West are now joint top, with Bishops in sixth only a point behind.

Newton Aycliffe gained a morale-boosting win, beating second-bottom Penrith 4-1 at Moore Lane.

Shaun Hudson put Aycliffe into a 5th minute lead, but Penrith equalised with an own goal. However, the Cumbrians repaid the compliment to Aycliffe by putting one in their own net at the other end.

Aycliffe went 3-1 up through Ian Ward from close range just on half-time, and soon after the break Tom Gavin fired the fourth.

Newton Aycliffe manager Deano Browne said: “We played some of the best football we have played all season, apart from a lapse in concentration. I thought we dominated the game and Penrith didn't have many chances. We need to learn how to kill games off and sicken teams but a good day at the office and a really good team performance.”

In the other First Division games, Sunderland RCA went joint top with a good 4-0 home win over Hebburn, while Stockton Town are now seventh, thanks to a 4-1 home win over North Shields.

Guisborough Town beat Seaham Red Star 3-1 after being a goal down at half time.

Sunderland Ryhope CW striker James Ellis scored all four of their goals in the 4-2 away win at bottom club Whickham.

In the Second Division, leaders Chester-le-Street came from behind to win 3-2 at Tow Law Town.

Jack Oliver put them into the lead, but Dan Kirkup and Dale Milburn hit back for Tow Law before half-time. However, Michael Hepplewhite and a Kirkup own goal gave Chester the points in the second half.

Chester-le-Street manager Colin Wake said; “It was a good solid performance in which we dominated the first 30 minutes and let them back into the game just before half-time. We then pushed the game again and deservedly won. We could and should have been by more. The game was quite open and Tow Law had a few chances late on but we hung on well.”

Tow Law manager Steve Murray said; “It was a close game decided by an own goal, but that’s just how our luck is rolling at the moment.”

Northallerton Town lost to joint leaders Thornaby by 3-2 at Teesdale Park.

Thornaby led with goals by Josh Simpson and Joe Scaife-Wheatley before half-time, but Northallerton hit back through Kerry Hedley and Nicky Martin, even though they had Dale Elgie sent-off in between.

However, Kyran Clark scored the winner for Thornaby with just 2 minutes left.

Northallerton manager Darren Trotter said; “Individual errors cost us. It's happened too often, and we need to sort it fast. We are not getting overrun or outplayed but at crucial moments we are not taking responsibility.

“We showed a lot of character to come back from 2-0 down and with a man down, but we have to do the basics.”

Northallerton are now six points behind the top three.

Willington were held to a 2-2 draw at home by Ryton & Crawcrook Albion, and they had a late goal to thank for a point with ten men.

Ryton led twice with goals by Martyn Hepple and Callum Turnbull, but Willington levelled through Dean Thexton – his 5th in five league games – and an own goal, even though they were down to ten-men because of an injury to Graham Lazonby after all three subs had been used.

Willington manager Rob Lee said; “We were under par, we let ourselves down. We had to work hard to win a point. To be fair Ryton gave us a hard game, they played well and were a very strong side. In the last ten minutes we could have won the game hitting the post and a header just over the bar.”

Wayne Gredziak, in his first game in permanent charge of Durham City, saw his team lose 3-0 at fourth-placed Jarrow to leave them second bottom of the table with just two goals scored all season.

Gredziak said; “The game was a game of chances we missed ours and Jarrow took theirs. It was a disappointing result and, in all honesty, a 3-0 score flattered Jarrow, but this was our best performance to date. It will take time for the new players to settle in, but we will keep putting in the hard work in training and work hard to get us out of the position we are in.”

Bottom club Brandon United collected a good point at Easington Colliery, Ben Joyeux striking to give them only their second point of the season.

Billingham Town are still unbeaten after they beat West Allotment Celtic 2-1 at Bedford Terrace, while Birtley Town came back from 2-0 down with 15 minutes left to draw 2-2 at Billingham Synthonia.

Redcar Athletic drew 1-1 at Washington, while Heaton Stannington comfortably beat Bedlington Terriers 4-1.

Ray Simpson