Darlington RA took another step towards the championship and promotion into the Albany Northern League but they left it desperately late before gaining three crucial points at the expense of New Marske.

The game appeared to be heading for a goal-less draw but with just two minutes left on the clock James Chapman became the hero of the hour when he converted a pass from Warren Byrne.

Coxhoe Athletic went nap at home to Boldon CA but trail RA by ten points with just a game in hand. They have not given up the fight though and quickly wrapped up the points with a four-goals first-half blitz.

Wayne Gredziak gave them the best possible start, scoring in the first minute and by the half hour Boldon trailed 3-0 as Gredziak and Gavin Baston put Coxhoe into a strong position.

Man-of-the-match Gredziak completed his hat-trick on the stroke of half time and ten minutes from the end took his tally to four as Coxhoe romped to a 5-0 victory. Boldon played the last 30 minutes with just ten men.

Although Stokesley SC are still mathematically in with a chance of finishing at the top, realistically their hopes ended with a shock 1-0 home defeat by Cleator Moor Celtic.

Jarrow remain fourth and they could not have left it any later, defeating Windscale by an only goal scored by Philip Dolphin with an overhead kick in the last minute

Fifth-top Birtley Town, who still have nine fixtures to fulfil, comfortably defeated Gateshead Reserves when all four goals were scored during the first half.

Philip Sowerby headed in from close range on 15 minutes before Birtley struck three times in a frenetic six-minute spell.

Chris Truman converted a corner at the near post, Neil Blue drove the ball low into the net when on a one-on-one with the goalkeeper and Tony Thirkell was left with a simple tap-in after good work by Danny Kind.

Wolviston celebrated their first win since November and did so in style defeating Shotton Comrades 4-1. Simon Valally, Shaun Braithwaite, Dean Moore and Hal Graham (og) were on target for Wolviston with Steve Ferguson claiming a consolation goal for Shotton.

Gareth Salvin headed in a long free kick to earn the points for Annfield Plain against Harton and Westoe and Cleadon SC won at Washington Nissan UK with strikes from Mark Johnson on 31 minutes and Derek Newton, who netted in the last minute as Nissan pushed forward in search of an equaliser.

* The first of the League's three domestic cup finals will be played this morning when Jarrow meet Stokesley SC at Perth Green in the Monkwearmouth Charity Cup kick-off 11am.