New Marske are second after five games - equal on points with leaders North Shields who have a superior goals difference.

Both drew 1-1 on Saturday, with New Marske held at Jarrow where they equalised with only two minutes remaining through Gary Bickerstaff. Jarrow took the lead on 50 minutes with a goal from Tim Moffatt.

The visitors played the second-half with 10 men and Jarrow had a player red-carded in the last minute.

Darlington RA led North Shields at Ralph Gardner Park with a goal on 17 minutes by Stephen Roberts. Eddie Miller struck his sixth of the season when he rounded RA goalkeeper Rob Homan following a good through ball by Michael Kelly.

Ferryhill Athletic were unlucky not to gain a point from their game with Cleadon SC who grabbed a late winner. Andrew Quinn put the visitors in front with an eighth-minute penalty but Robbie Elliott levelled the scores when he hit his first goal for Ferryhill two minutes before the interval.

Just when it appeared the game was heading for a draw, Quinn clinched the winner for Cleadon.

Barnard Castle Glaxo and Ryhope CW were involved in a seven-goal thriller which the Wearsiders won 4-3. Their marskmen were Stephen Rochester (2), Liam Stokoe and Andrew Place, while Ross Murray (2) and Richard Hutton replied for Glaxo.

Barnard Castle bombarded the Ryhope goal in the final 10 minutes but the visitors held on.

Stokesley moved into third place after defeating Windscale 5-1. Both John Newton and Dean Talukder bagged a brace and Tony Sivills also netted for Stokesley.

Champions Birtley Town found their scoring form at the expense of newcomers Washington Nissan UK. Michael Ford (2), Keith Forster (2), Carl Pennington, Scott Baxter and Anthony Lynch all found the net in a 7-0 victory.

In contrast, it took just one goal to earn Whitehaven the points when they hosted Harton and Westoe, Jonathan Wright converting a 26th-minute penalty.

Wolviston edged Boldon CA 3-2 in a game where all the scoring came in the opening 45 minutes. Guy Whatmore, David Dowd and Andrew Steele (pen) struck for the Teessiders with Gordon Williams and Lee Seff, with a penalty replying for Boldon.

Gateshead Reserves finished the stronger and won 4-2 at Annfield Plain who twice led in the first half through Kevin Armstrong and Craig Daglish (pen). Stephen Brown (pen) and Stephen Featherstone twice levelled and two second-half goals earned Gateshead the points.