WEST AUCKLAND pair Phil McGuire and Michael Carter both scored hat-tricks as West thrashed Prudhoe 7-2 on Saturday, writes Ray Simpson.

West finished seventh last season and have had a mixed start so far this season, but they turned on the style to beat the visitors.

Manager Alan Oliver said: "We played badly at Colwyn Bay in the Cup last month, but we have picked up since then."

West took the lead after 12 minutes when McGuire scored from a cross by Roy Allen, and after Prudhoe 'keeper Andy Clark pulled off several good saves, McGuire scored another from an Allen pass.

West moved up a gear in the second half. Former Darlington striker Carter scored early in the second half from a cross by Ray Stanger, then McGuire completed his hat-trick from close range. Carter grabbed the fifth with a 30-yarder, then Prudhoe's Gary McDonald pulled two goals back.

However, Carter got the sixth from a quick free-kick, and Allen completed the rout from the spot after he had been fouled.

Tow Law continued their climb up the table thanks to a 2-0 win at Durham City.

They never looked back after taking an 11th-minute lead, when Scott Nicholson headed home from a corner by Mark Eccles. Eccles was involved in the second goal, when Kraig Wilkinson collected his long ball, outpaced the defence and fired home. Lee Innes missed a good chance for the third, but Lawyers were content to keep their first clean sheet since August.

Durham have been hit by the news that midfielder Stuart Irvine has decided to join his old boss Brian Honour at Bishop Auckland.

Consett are still in the bottom two after they lost 1-0 at home to Chester-le-Street.

In a poor game, the only goal arrived after 57 minutes, when Jamie Elrington headed in a corner from David Turner.

Jarrow Roofing had a good home win over high-flying Billingham Town.

There weren't many chances in the game, but the winner came from Roofing's Paul Chow who scored from a pass by recent signing Andy Barclay, his tenth goal of the season.

But Town missed out on a point in the dying minutes when Carl Chillingsworth won a penalty, and sub Paul Rowntree hit the post.

Champions Bedlington are back in the groove, and they went top of the table following a 5-1 home win over Marske United with goal machine John Milner scoring a hat-trick.

Tony Chapman opened the scoring from close range, then Milner made it two with a header from a Chapman free-kick after 39 minutes.

Milner fired a third at the start of the second half, then he completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot. Andy Fletcher increased Marske's misery with his tenth goal of the season near the end. Greg Booth pulled a late goal back for Marske.

Newcastle Blue Star scored a remarkable goal at Whitley Bay, but that wasn't enough as they went down 2-1.

Just seconds into the second half, Blue Star's Andy Cunningham scored from the halfway line in Beckham-fashion.

But Whitley hit back to take the points. Lee Ludlow equalised from a cross by sub' Andy Hay, then the same combination worked again for the winner after 76 minutes.

Kennek Ryhope CA are still top of the Second Division after they beat Crook 5-1, Anthony Holmes scoring a hat-trick.

Washington Nissan are in second place after a 5-2 home win over Whickham, who now drop to fourth. Adam Johnston scored a hat-trick, with Jon Wightman scoring the other two.

Easington are now in third after they beat South Shields 3-1. South Shields striker David Hague was on target for the sixth successive game.

Stan Cummins' first game in charge of Norton ended in defeat at home to Evenwood, for whom a goal by Steve Houlahan gave them their fourth successive win.

Seaham Red Star's new manager, Neil Hixon, had better luck at home to Hebburn, his side winning 2-1 with goals from Ian Matthews and John Harrison

Willington won their first game since August when they beat Alnwick 4-2, after they were 2-1 down at half time.

Eppleton are now firmly in the bottom three after they lost 3-2 at Shotton.

Division Two summary: Alnwick 2 (Swordy 2) Willington 4 (Rooney, Billham, Taylor, Gibbs), Easington 3 (Rogers, Salvin, Coates) South Shields 1 (Hague), Kennek Ryhope CA 5 (Holmes 3, Davidson, Arkley) Crook Town 1 (Taylor), Norton 0 Evenwood 1 (S Houlahan), Seaham Red Star 2 (Matthews, Harrison) Hebburn 1 (O'Brien), Shotton 3 (Angel, Baxter, Irvine) Eppleton 2 (Keegans, Goodwin), Washington Nissan 5 (Wightman 2, Johnston 3) Whickham 2 (Craddock, Henderson).