Stokesley SC are still out in front following eight games after hitting Annfield Plain with a 7-0 defeat on Wednesday.

The result was effectively settled by the half-way stage when Stokesley led by four goals and there was no respite for the Plain in the second half. Jonathan Newton completed a hat-trick, Tony Sivills scored twice and others on target were Craig Johnson and Nathan Haslam.

Cleadon have the same number of points as Stokesley but an inferior goals difference despite putting nine past newcomers Washington Nissan UK who are finding the going difficult.

Nissan though led first through Martin Stewart but they were blitzed by Paul Nixon (3), Mark Johnson (2), Andrew Potts, Peter Barnes, Andrew Quinn and David Wheeler. Lee Frobisher, with a penalty, was Nissan's other marksman.

New Marske are third, just a point off the leaders, and they gave a good performance at Wolviston where they edged a 2-1 result. James Kesterston headed them in front and after Paul Kreczak levelled, David Brown hit the winner with a tremendous volley from the 18 yard line.

North Shields, with aspirations of joining the Albany Northern League, are still unbeaten but have drawn four of their eight games. They again shared the spoils, this time with Jarrow who led in the 70th minute through Dean Patton.

The Robins equaliser came from the penalty spot from Stephen Hamil. Shields played the last 25 minutes with ten men after goalkeeper David Lanning was sent off for a foul outside the box.

Darlington RA suffered a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Barnard Castle Glaxo at Brinkburn Road. Stephen Roberts gave RA the advantage on the hour before Ross Murray twice struck, once with a penalty, to earn Glaxo only their second win in eight attempts.

Birtley Town were three goals ahead through Craig McManus, Carl Pennington and Michael Ford before Ryhope CW claimed an 86th minute consolation from Stephen Rochester and an only goal by Whitehaven's Jonathan Wright was sufficient in the local-derby with Windscale.

Ian Watson, with a brace, Daniel Olusoga and Simon Reay struck for Gateshead Reserves in their 4-3 win at Harton and Westoe who replied through Mullen (2) and Kent.

Ferryhill Athletic went down 4-0 visiting Boldon CA whose marksmen were Paul Jary, Stephen Williams, Christopher Barratt and Lee Seff.

P W D L F A Pts

Stokesley 8 6 1 1 27 6 19

Cleadon 8 6 1 1 23 15 19

New Marske 8 5 3 0 18 10 18

North Shields 8 4 4 0 24 8 16

Gateshead Res 8 5 0 3 27 12 15

Birtley Town 8 4 3 1 26 18 15

Boldon 8 4 2 2 21 14 14

Wolviston 8 4 1 3 21 13 13

Whitehaven 8 3 2 3 11 16 11

Ryhope 8 3 2 3 10 18 11

Harton and Westoe 8 2 2 4 12 13 8

Barnard Castle 8 2 2 4 16 28 8

Jarrow 8 1 4 3 9 16 7

Windscale 8 2 1 5 5 13 7

Darlington RA 8 1 3 4 14 11 6

Annfield Plain 8 2 0 6 15 25 6

Ferryhill Athletic 8 0 3 5 13 25 3

Nissan UK 8 0 2 6 9 40 2

Tomorrow's fixtures

Annfield Plain v Windscale

Barnard Castle Glaxo v Jarrow

Boldon CA v Cleadon SC

Darlington RA v Gateshead Reserves

Harton and Westoe v Ferryhill Athletic

North Shields v Ryhope CW

Stokesley SC v Birtley Town

Washington Niss. UK v New Marske

Whitehaven v Wolviston