Stokesley SC made further inroads into Birtley Town's lead when they defeated Jarrow while their chief rivals for the championship were held to a draw.

Craig Johnson gave Stokesley a half-time lead during which Jarrow just about held their own but in the second half the goals flowed from Dean Talukder with a brace and Jonathan Newton. Talukder failed with a penalty which would have earned him his hat-trick.

Birtley Town's winning sequence came to an end at Ryhope CW where they finished 3-3 despite leading by two goals with just 15 minutes remaining.

Keith Foster gave them an early advantage before James Smith equalised for the Wearsiders whose task grew immensely as Michael McKay and Craig McManus took Birtley into a 3-1 lead by the 55th minute.

Stephen Rochester threw Ryhope a lifeline and with ten minutes remaining, George Marley levelled. In the last minute, goalkeeper Joe Thompson made a magnificent save to deny Birtley a winning goal.

North Shields have the same points as Stokesley SC and have played the same number of games but with an inferior goals difference. They finished 3-1 ahead of Cleadon SC at Jack Clark Park but not before the home side had given them one or two worries.

Steve Hamil slotted home following a pass by Andy Stokes and Roy Gordon made it two when he went past two defenders in the 50th minute.

Within five minutes, Cleadon were back in the game with a volley from Andrew Potts and at that stage believed they had a chance of finishing in front. They pushed forward in search of an equaliser and left the way open for Hamil to score the decisive third goal five minutes from time.

Darlington RA claimed a point in a goal-less draw at Whitehaven where both sides had chances. Home goalkeeper Craig Routledge saved well from Mark Radmore and Andrew Roberts and at the other end, Craig Robson, Jonathan Wright and Ryan Woods all missed chances.

Washington Nissan UK remain second from bottom, after they went down to Harton and Westoe whose hero was Anthony Kent. He gave his side the lead with a 15th-minute penalty and after Ian Dodds squared the scores, Kent again put Harton in the ascendancy.

Martin Patterson struck a second equaliser for Nissan but with just eight minutes remaining Kent completed his hat-trick.

Boldon CA remain sixth from top following their 3-1 defeat of Annfield Plain.

Craig Rolfe and Paul Jary scored for Boldon in the first half when Chris Soulsby replied for the Plain but a third goal by Scott Baxter proved decisive.

The games at New Marske, Ferryhill Athletic and Gateshead Reserves were all postponed.