North Shields, already promoted to the Albany Northern League, clinched the championship with 9-0 rout of bottom-of-the-table Washington Nissan UK.

When the meanest defence was up against the most prolifigate there was likely to be just one outcome but the Robins were surprised by Nissan's dogged defending in the first 40 minutes.

Then all of a sudden the floodgates opened. Skipper David Little celebrated his return to the side following a three-match absence when he converted a penalty and before the interval, Nissan trailed by three goals.

Andy Stokes and Stephen Hamil struck and there was no respite in the second period as further goals rained in from Hamil (2), Aaron Scott, Roy Gordon, Andy Hay and Paul Blakey. Hamil, the former Stanley United striker, has now chalked up 31 goals for the Robins.

Stokesley SC and Birtley Town are left to battle it out for the runners-up position. The Teessiders are favourties since they have a one point advantage over their rivals with two games in hand.

A first-half penalty by Jonathan Newton and a goal from substitute Craig Johnson with his first kick of the match earned Stokesley a 2-0 win at home to Harton and Westoe.

Birtley Town could only draw on their visit to Whitehaven. After trailing to a Jonathan Wright effort, Birtley went 3-1 up through Philip Makle, Anthony Lynch and Robert Houghton but the Cumbrians fought back with goals by Wright and Barry Fowler (penalty).

Cleadon SC, who aim to finish fourth top, crashed 6-0 at Wolviston after having a player sent off as early as the tenth minute.

Wolviston made their numerical advantage count and were two up by the 31st minute as David Dowd and Shaun Sproats netted. Cleadon though stemmed a potential flood and it was not until the 70th minute that the home side began to turn their supremacy into account.

Further goals followed from Andy Steele, Michael Diciccio, Chris Homer and Andy Clark to earn Wolviston their biggest win for some time.

After leading with headed goals from Jamie May and Ian Mudd, New Marske had to settle for a share of the points against Windscale who replied through Howard Kirkbride (penalty) and Simon Borrowdale while Gateshead Reserves defeated Annfield Plain with two goals from Paul Gibbs.

Jarrow ended with a flourish scoring seven against Barnard Castle Glaxo at Perth Green. Mark Rumbles and Stephen Dunn netted in the first half before three goals in 11 minutes by Dean Patton (2) and Rumbles ended Glaxo's hopes.

Patton went on to take his personal total to four in an emphatic 7-0 victory.