Newton Aycliffe got back into the swing with a comfortable home win over Lakeside last week.

Aycliffe's season appeared to be on the rocks after they dropped points recently - including a 5-3 defeat against rivals Old Shildon five weeks ago.

But they made it look easy with a good win over fourth-placed Lakeside, who dropped another place in the league following the defeat.

Striker Paul Stevens put them 1-0 up before Andy Clay equalised. However, Stevens grabbed another before half-time to make it 2-1, and goals by Russell Mercer, Johnny Craig and Richard Di Mambro Walters killed the game off, despite a late consolation penalty by Steve Woodward.

"We seem to be getting things right now after a shaky period," admitted Aycliffe boss Brian Scaife. "We lost a couple of players and we went through a bad phase where we just couldn't perform. It's been hard work and we seem to have turned the corner - although I think winning the league is out of our reach."

Lakeside manager Stuart Hodgson said: "I thought we battled hard but overall it was a poor performance and it was disappointing to lie down so easily."

Elsewhere, Beehive bounced back after trailing by two goals to eventually grab a draw.

Browney took a two-goal advantage with strikes from Jason Murphy and Gavin Bell, but two goals in the last 10 minutes from Mark Pattinson and Kenny Melvin shared the spoils.

"On the whole it was probably a fair result as neither side deserved to lose," said Beehive manager Mike Hill. "Both goalkeepers, Chris Burnip for Browney and Terry Hird for Beehive, were named man of the match for some outstanding saves."

Meanwhile, the league's top three sides all won while keeping clean sheets. Thorns won 5-0 at Horndale, Old Shildon won 4-0 at Postchaise and Loves won 8-0 at Tudhoe United. Salvins also won, 4-1 at Binchester Social Club.

In Division Two, North Briton went back to the top of the table with a 7-4 win at Shildon Athletic.

The Brit are enjoying a healthy season so far, losing just once, and five goals by striker Adrian Gough sent them on to another maximum points. Dave Patrick and an own goal were the other scorers.

Meanwhile, Hunwick progressed to the second round of the Division Two Cup with a 5-1 win at Belvedere, Steven Howe, Ian Wise and Lee Genner scoring the goals.

Outstanding quarter-final ties are: Hunwick Joiners v Masons United and Boot & Shoe v Middlestone Moor. Voltigeur and Masons Arms are already in the semi-finals.

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Results round-up, Sunday November 9: Division One: Horndale 0, Thorns 5; Postchaise 0, Old Shildon 4; Binchester SC 1, Salvins 4; Newton Aycliffe 5, Lakeside 2; Tudhoe Utd 0, Loves 8; Beehive 2, Browney 2.

Division Two: Boot & Shoe 1, Eldon Arms 7; Cumby Arms 2, Masons Arms 6; Shildon Athletic 4, North Briton 7.

Division Two Cup R1: Hunwick 5, Belvedere 1.

Sunday's fixtures: Division One: Thorns v Green Tree, Old Shildon v Horndale, Postchaise v Salvins, Lakeside v Binchester S.C., Loves v Newton Aycliffe, Beehive v Tudhoe Utd.

Division Two: Grand v Voltigeur, Shildon Ath v Middlestone Moor, Eldon Arms v Hunwick, Belvedere v Boot & Shoe, Victoria v North Briton, Masons Arms v Masons Utd.