There were shocks for both Darlington RA and Stokesley SC on Saturday but Coxhoe Athletic made no mistake and gleefully closed in on the pair.

RA, who had lost only once in 26 games, were favourites to chalk up their 22nd win of the season but Boldon CA had other ideas and were well worth a 2-0 victory at Brinkburn Road.

John Taylor gave them a 20th-minute lead with a cracking header and he was again on target on 70 minutes scoring from close range.

RA, disappointed at their performance, nevertheless received an unexpected boost when Stokesley SC lost at Washington Nissan UK.

The Wearsiders had tasted success just twice but after Chris Johnson hit the woodwork for the visitors, Nissan celebrated with an 85th-minute effort from Tom Donkin. He latched onto a long ball out of defence before chipping the goalkeeper.

Coxhoe Athletic, who before the weekend were realistically looking to finish runners-up, now have the championship within their sights after inflicting a 4-2 defeat on Ryhope CW.

Gary Turton was an early scorer for the home team before Stephen Rochester bagged a brace to swing the initiative towards the Wearsiders.

Wayne Gredziak levelled and after Gavin Barton put Coxhoe 3-2 up, Gredziak sealed the result and Coxhoe, with three games in hand on the leading pair, could yet overtake them although RA remain favourites.

Cleadon SC are fourth following a tightly-fought game with neighbours Jarrow at Jack Clark Park.

Mark Johnson was the marksman in the first period and only two excellent saves by Gary Brand prevented Jarrow from gaining a deserved equaliser.

Birtley Town made it 11 wins out of 12 defeating Ferryhill Athletic 5-0 with strikes by Calvin Magnus (2), Tony Thirkell (2) and Danny Kind and Annfield Plain enhanced their prospects of finishing in the top six when goals from Carl Marshall and Matthew Gent were sufficient at home to New Marske.

Michael Bradley scored twice for Shotton Comrades but Wolviston, who played with ten men for an hour following the dismissal of Andrew Steele took a point courtesy of Scott Lawson and Simon Malloy.

Lee Dixon scored a late winner for Windscale at Sport Catterick who were unlucky as Martin Butterworth, Mark Stephenson and Robert Durrans all went close.

Gateshead Reserves went down 3-0 at Whitehaven for whom Craig Robson, Malcolm Holliday and Robert Fowler were marksmen while Cleator Moor Celtic clinched victory following a five-goal thriller with Harton and Westoe.

Gareth Evans, Zak Rudd and Gareth McCarron netted for the Cumbrians with Ronnie Thompson and Dale Evans replying.