Leaders Nissan and second-top North Shields show no signs of weakening in their challenge for the championship.

Following the midweek programme, Nissan still enjoy a four-points lead over their rivals who have a game in hand and a superior goals difference. The sides have yet to play each other in what could turn out to be the crucial, deciding match.

Nissan visited Stanley United and had to work for a narrow 2-1 victory which was secured when leading marksman Adam Johnson and former Darlington player Gary Coatsworth struck before Thomas Bushby hit a last-minute goal for the Hill Top side.

North Shields found the going much easier against Jarrow at Ralph Gardner Park. They went nap before Barry Roberts hit a consolation goal for Jarrow. Russell Wilson (2), Ian McElvoy, Ian Dugdale, Owen Peterson and Anthony Robson all found the net in a 6-1 win for the Robins.

A hat-trick by Stephen Edmonds, who scored twice in the last 10 minutes, earned Harton and Westoe a 3-1 success over Birtley Town whose only goal was credited to Stephen Campbell.

Annfield Plain rifled four second-half goals to see off Cleadon SC by a 5-1 margin. Alan Purvis, with a brace, Brian Cater, Chris Nevin and Andrew Taylor were all on the mark with Simon McKay replying.

After winning 2-1 at Jarrow on Monday, courtesy of Matt Pickover and an 88th-minute strike from Shane Hudson, after David Kilford had given the home side the lead, Wolviston slumped to a 4-0 defeat at home to Stokesley SC.

Steve Tait opened the scoring on 22 minutes and made it two, converting a penalty seven minutes into the second half. Full-back Mike Wilson scored the goal of the match in the 65th minute and within a minute Neil Southall headed in at the far post to inflict Wolviston's heaviest defeat for some time.

David Hopper, Paul Hart and Mark Watson scored in Boldon CA's 3-1 victory against Simonside SC and New Marske won by a similar margin at Ferryhill Athletic.

Four games were played on Monday night and in addition to Wolviston's victory at Jarrow, there were wins for Birtley Town, New Marske and Cleadon SC. Brian Cater put the Plain one up but when they had to play much of the match with ten men they succumbed to defeat with Birtley scoring through Stephen Campbell and an Anthony Davis penalty.

Although Durham County youth player William Crew levelled an early goal by Darren Mitchell, Ryhope went down 3-1 at New Marske who sealed victory with two goals in as many minutes from Glen Shepherd and Mitchell.

Andrew Quinn, 16, scored his second goal since making his debut for Cleadon SC in his side's 4-2 defeat of Simonside SC. Keith Wealands, Ian Kinelato and Brian Mulvain powered Cleadon into a 4-1 lead before Simonside made the score more respectable with strikes from Mark Bonner and Alan Shaw.

Wearside League

P W D L F A Pts

Nissan 32 26 2 4 104 26 80

North Shields 31 24 4 3 118 20 76

Wolviston 33 21 4 8 93 53 67

*Boldon 35 22 3 10 97 59 66

Harton and Westoe 31 20 3 8 101 48 63

Windscale 28 17 5 6 72 34 56

Whitehaven 31 17 5 9 70 53 56

*Redcar Town 32 17 7 8 82 50 55

Stokesley 32 16 5 11 85 59 53

New Marske 30 15 6 9 65 42 51

Ferryhill Athletic 32 13 4 15 68 75 43

Stanley United 31 10 10 11 67 62 40

Thornaby-on-Tees 29 10 6 13 68 81 36

*Annfield Plain 31 11 2 18 63 81 32

**Birtley Town 31 11 4 16 64 74 31

Ryhope 35 6 5 24 44 97 23

Cleadon 32 5 4 23 39 100 19

Simonside 30 6 1 23 27 134 19

Jarrow 30 3 5 22 36 91 14

Whitburn 34 2 1 31 35 159 7

**Denotes six points deducted

*Denotes three points deducted