Durham City warmed up for their FA Vase campaign with a four goal blast against struggling Consett.

City, who reached the semi finals of the Vase last term, start this season's competition at Ossett Albion on Saturday, and manager Billy Cruddas will be pleased if they reproduce the same form again.

"Some of our fans were saying that this was the best football they've ever seen Durham play in the first half hour," he said.

"But we have to keep it going, and try to play like that in every game."

They scored four times in the first twenty minutes as they overran the First Division strugglers. Consett keeper Stuart Kelly failed to hold a shot by Steve Halliday and Micky Dunwell scored from the rebound, then new signing Paul Rowntree headed the second from a free-kick. Keith Douglas made it three from a Michael Dawson cross, then Halliday finished off a flowing move for the fourth.

Consett however made a fight of it, with Darren Grimes and Colin McLeod replying for the visitors.

Newcastle Blue Star are looking for a new manager following the weekend resignation of Stuart Leeming.

Leeming, who has been involved in Northern League management for over two decades, decided to quit following his side's 1-0 home defeat by Amble in the Northumberland Senior Cup last week.

After quitting Tow Law, who he took to the league title in 1995, Leeming was appointed Blue Star boss three years ago, but this season they have struggled in the relegation zone.

Bedlington opened up a six point lead at the top of the First Division when they thrashed Guisborough 6-0.

They took the lead after 25 minutes when Christian Graham opened up the Guisborough defence for Alex Lawson to score, then Robbie Cockburn made it 2-0 from an acute angle.

They remained in control in the second half, and Dean Gibb headed the third from Tony Chapman's corner. Guisborough were then reduced to nine men when Paul Harrison was sent off for his second bookable offence, quickly followed by Micky Waller who was dismissed for dissent.

Martin Kirkby headed the fourth, with Lawson and John Mann scoring further goals.

Tow Law threw away a two goal lead and had to settle for a 2-2 draw at Jarrow Roofing.

New signing Andy Allen gave them the lead when he lobbed Gary Hoggeth from the edge of the area just before half-time. They went 2-0 up through Mark Eccles from a pass by Scott Thompson after 75 minutes.

But Jarrow hit back. Paul Chow pulled a goal back when he scored from the rebound after Craig Nelson's shot was parried, then Steve Lish levelled from John Rattle's free kick.

West Auckland scored five times for the second week running when they won 5-2 at bottom club Washington.

Rory Allen cleverly beat a defender to fire West into the lead after 12 minutes, then David Bainbridge headed the second from an Allen cross.

Chris Feasey pulled a goal back from close range, but West went 3-1 up just on half-time when John Robinson put through his own goal from a corner. Neil Johnson scored the goal of the game, a 30-yard volley for West's fourth after 80 minutes, then Allen scored his 15th league goal of the season with a diving header. Ben Chambers pulled a late goal back. Allen is now the league's leading scorer.

Esh Winning pulled off a good win at Marske United.

They took the lead when Allan Colledge pulled the ball back for Steve Burns to sidefoot in, then they went further ahead on the half hour when Jamie Howe's cross caused problems in the Marske defence, and Gary Messer claimed the final touch.

Marske launched a revival in the second half, and pulled a goal back through Greg Booth from a Shaun Howes pass, but the game turned when Esh keeper Lenny French stopped a Booth penalty. Esh got their winner when Micky Jameson put through his own goal from a Howe cross.

Peterlee almost snatched a surprise win over Billingham Synthonia at Eden Lane, but had to settle for a 1-1 draw.

Synners had the edge in the first half, but Peterlee took the lead after 51 minutes when player-manager Andy Toman supplied the pass for Paul Hinton to beat John Mohun. But Synners equalised through Dave O'Gorman direct from a corner.

FA Vase holders Whitley Bay, who start their defence next Saturday, suffered their second defeat in a week when they were beaten 4-2 at Billingham Town.

Town got off to a great start when Whitley keeper John Crulley dropped a free kick and George Woodhouse scored from the rebound. They went 2-0 up when Graeme Baverstock sent Carl Chillingsworth racing clear and he chipped Crulley. Chillingsworth made it three after 50 minutes after Crulley dropped another clanger and he tapped into an empty net, then Chillingsworth completed his hat-trick when he curled the ball home from the corner of the box.

Whitley launched a late revival, and scored through Lee O'Donovan and Gary Cooke.

Dunston moved out of the bottom six with a 3-1 home win over Prudhoe. Darren Sankey dribbled through and set up Ben Thompson for the opener, but Phil Thompson finished off a good move to score Prudhoe's equaliser on 18 minutes.

Steve Holmes put Dunston back into the lead from a free kick by new signing Keith Foster on 38 minutes, then Ben Thompson headed the third five minutes after half time.

The matches at Shildon and Morpeth were both postponed because of waterlogged pitches.

In the second division, leaders Washington Nissan were thumped 5-1 at Ashington.

Easington are second after beating Kennek Ryhope CA 3-1, with Tony Hanson, scoring his eighth goal of the season.

Crook Town beat Shotton 4-3, after the visitors came back to equalise three times. Former Hartlepool player Paul Dalton scored a hat trick for Crook, and Horden maintained their unbeaten league record when they won by a single goal at Thornaby. Whickham stayed in touch with the leaders after beating Eppleton 4-0.

New signing Paul Coleby scored one of the goals for Northallerton in their 2-1 win at Hebburn, David Onions scoring the winner in the last minute.

Another new signing, Colin Wright, scored twice for Seaham Red Star in their 4-1 away win at Evenwood, whose five game unbeaten run came to an end.

Willington lost 5-1 at home to bottom club Alnwick, who scored four times in the first half hour.

Norton led at half time at Murton, but ended up losing 3-2.

Second Division summary:

Washington 5 (Beharall, Smith, Nash 2, Sinclair) Washington Nissan 1 (Johnston), Crook Town 4 (Dalton 3, Burgess) Shotton 3 (Irving 2 Beeston) , Easington 3 (Dixon, Taylor, Hanson) Kennek Ryhope CA 1 (Christie), Evenwood 1 (Richardson)Seaham Red Star 4 (Wright 2, Harrison, Matthews), Hebburn 1 (Joyce) Northallerton 2 (Coleby, Onions), Murton 3 (Price, Diamond, Winder) Norton 2 (Bell, Dennison), Thornaby 0 Horden 1 (Allen), Whickham 4 (Elliott, Greenwood, Craddock, Scott) Eppleton 0, Willington 1 (Johnson) Alnwick 5 (Lang 2, Patterson 2, Swordy).