Darlington RA shocked Birtley Town by taking a two-goal lead inside 12 minutes but in the end the leaders won 4-2.

Paul Freary and Neil Radmore gave RA the best possible start but when Carl Pennington and Anthony Lynch struck within a minute of each other, the game was wide open.

Four goals came in the opening 24 minutes but there was then a respite and it was not until the 70th minute that Michael MacKay fired Birtley ahead.

Birtley's fourth came in the last minute from Michael Ford as RA threw everything into attack searching for an equaliser.

Stokesley SC were rewarded for a nine-goal blitz on Washington Nissan UK by moving into second position. Craig Johnson rifled four goals and others flowed from Adam Bramley (2), David Grainge, Jonathan Newton and Mattie Homan. Gary Little hit a consolation for Nissan, who could easily have conceded double figures.

North Shields are third after they defeated Wolviston but they were flattered by the final 4-0 scoreline.

It was not until the 50th minute that Anthony Robson broke the deadlock and the game was all over when the Robins scored three times in six minutes through Roy Gordon, Stephen Hamil and Martin Graham. Earlier, Wolviston had wasted chances.

Cleadon SC, who started the day in second position, dropped to fourth as the result of being held to a draw by Barnard Castle Glaxo who produced a much better performance than their fourth-from-bottom rating suggests they are capable of.

Glaxo deservedly went into a 55th-minute lead through Richard Hinton and for a time it looked as if they would take all three points but Mark Johnson came to the resue of the title contenders.

New Marske were hit by a seven-goal blitz from Gateshead Reserves who had Richard Kent sent off after just 12 minutes when they trailed to an Adam Taylor goal.

Despite their numerical disadvantage, the Tynesiders romped home with strikes by Michael Dibbie (2), Neil Shotton, Ben Odusi (pen), John Faucher, Paul Gibb and Anthony Clark.

New Marske, who had Ian Mudd red-carded with 12 minutes remaining, scored a second goal courtesy of Craig Mendum.

There were goals galore when Ryhope CW and Boldon CA shared eight. Alan Surtees, Shaun Petch and Stephen Leadbitter (2) were on target for the Wearsiders with Scott Baxter (2), Mark Williams and Paul Jary earning Boldon a point.

Despite Gary Stephenson hitting a brace, Harton and Westoe went down 3-2 at Windscale, who eased their plight near the basement, but Ferryhill Athletic remain bottom after losing 2-1 to Whitehaven for whom Brian Woods scored twice. Mark Stephenson was the Ferryhill marksman.