The Albany Northern League

Tony Healer and Andy Elliott put them 2-0 up before the break, with an own goal giving Jarrow late hope.

However, Andrew Fletcher made it 3-1 with ten minutes left, while Paul Chow pulled a late goal back for Jarrow.

Easington were thrashed 6-1 at home by Billingham Town. Paul Rowntree continued his excellent form, scoring a hat trick to take his tally to five in the last two matches.

He scored twice in the first 15 minutes, with Jamie Clarke adding another before half time. Jon Constantine pulled a goal back for Easington, but Rowntree, Clark and debut-making Eddie Hebron added further goals in the second half.

West Auckland beat Morpeth 3-2 at Darlington Road, with new signing Paul Nozedar involved in all three goals. Morpeth took the lead after 8 minutes through Andy Dugdale, with Nozedar levelling after 14 minutes. Nozedar had a hand in the move which led to Carl Beesley putting West ahead after 22 minutes, but Morpeth's Colin Carr-Lawton levelled from the spot with seven minutes remaining. However, Beesley cracked in the winner within a minute.

Tow Law and Durham City drew 3-3 at Ironworks Road. Lawyers went a goal ahead through Scott Nicholson after 20 minutes, then Francis Jones curled in the second after 38 minutes.

Durham hit back when John Outhwaite lobbed the keeper, then after the break, Gary Pearson headed in a corner.

Stuart Irvine put them 3-2 up eight minutes from time, with Nigel Bolton levelling from 25 yards late in the game. This was Durham's fifth draw in eight league matches.

The game between Marske and Seaham Red Star was postponed because of a waterlogged pitch.

Marske manager Charlie Bell is hoping that his side doesn't have another injury and unavailability crisis to overcome in the near future.

Bell, along with assistant manager Steve Dowling, had to go on the bench for the league cup win at Hebburn.

Bell said: "It was a situation which couldn't be helped. We had so many players missing for one reason or another."

But despite those problems, Marske stretched their unbeaten record to eight league and cup games, then added another on Saturday with the 1-0 FA Cup win at Thornaby.

"We've got a good blend of experience and youth in the team. Once we get everybody back, then we could be up there at the end of the season."

Bedlington stayed top on Wednesday with a 1-1 draw against Whitley Bay, who are shaping into genuine title contenders. Whitley took the lead with a penalty from Steve Cuggy after 54 minutes, but John Milner got his 13th of the season so far from a pass by Dean Gibb.

Bedlington boss Tony Lowery has warned that the champions are starting to improve. That will come as no consolation to the rest of the league, as Bedlington are currently top and favourites to win thetitle for the fourth year running.

Lowery, who has just added to the squad, signing highly rated midfielder Brian Rowe from Blyth, said: "We lost five players during the close season to UniBond clubs, but we're steadily strengthening the squad again.

"We will be as strong as ever when everybody is fit again, and we look as if we'll be able to challenge for anything. Brian is the sort of player we've been looking for in midfield - a tenacious player who can also pass the ball well.

"But the player who has done really well for us is Anthony Chapman fromEasington. He's been like a breath of fresh air since he arrived."Bedlington are at Crook tomorrow in a rearranged league game.

Crook Town were within a whisker of their first win of the season but were held 2-2 by Newcastle Blue Star.

The visitors took the lead after eight minutes through Lee Suddes, but Crook levelled through Andrew Lowe, then Michael Dutton put them in the lead after 78 minutes. But Dean Fuller grabbed a point for Blue Star from 35 yards in the second minute of stoppage time.

Peterlee are now fourth after beating Hebburn 1-0, thanks to a goal from Vic Holt.

In the Second Division, Norton had three men sent off, but still drew 1-1 at Esh Winning. Dave Young put Esh ahead after 11 minutes, but then Norton had Gary Alford and Micky Pugh for two bookable offences around the half hour mark.

Recent signing Dave Lawson levelled for Norton after 66 minutes, but then they had Paul Harrison dismissed for a foul.

Willington went into second place with a 4-1 win at Prudhoe, taking the lead with a Dave Edwards penalty after 11 minutes, but Carl Pennington levelled for Prudhoe.

Jeff Young made it 2-1 with a low shot after 48 minutes, then Trevor Ball headed them further ahead on the hour. Young wrapped up the points with a free kick near the end.

Shildon lost 3-0 at home to Alnwick. The visitors took the lead when Drew Inglis tripped Peter Embleton, and James Lang scored from the spot after 28 minutes. Lee Mason turned a cross from Robert Cockburn into his own goal for the second after 65 minutes, then Lang broke away for the third with three minutes left.

The match between Northallerton and Kennek Ryhope was abandoned after 78 minutes because of a floodlight failure, Ryhope were leading 3-1 at the time.

In the Second Division, Ashington's unbeaten record ended in a 2-1 defeat at Penrith who took the lead after eight minutes through Andy Douglas, with Alex Lawson levelling for Ashington before half time. Anthony Rayson got the winner on the hour.

A goal from Steve Harrison gave Horden the points over Murton.

Thornaby are still alive in the FA Carlsberg Vase after they won a qualifying round replay at Blackpool Mechanics 3-2, to give them an away tie at Oldham Town on Saturday. Phil Richardson headed them in front from a corner, then Gary Graham scored direct from a 25 yard free kick.

George Woodhouse volleyed in from 35 yards to make it 3-0 midway through the second half, but then Blackpool hit back and scored twice to set up a nervous end to the game.

Division One

P W D L F A Pts

Bedlington 7 5 2 0 15 3 17

Dunston 5 5 0 0 10 4 15

Marske 6 4 2 0 12 1 14

Peterlee 6 4 1 1 9 5 13

Billingham Town 6 4 0 2 16 7 12

Durham City 8 2 5 1 11 9 11

Tow Law 5 3 1 1 17 6 10

Whitley Bay 6 3 1 2 14 7 10

Billingham Syn 4 3 0 1 11 4 9

Seaham 5 3 0 2 11 9 9

Brandon 6 2 2 2 9 9 8

Chester-le-Street 6 2 1 3 14 9 7

Jarrow Roofing 7 2 1 4 8 16 7

Hebburn 5 2 0 3 7 10 6

Consett 6 2 0 4 7 11 6

West Auckland 6 2 0 4 9 14 6

Newcastle BS 6 1 2 3 7 13 5

Easington 5 1 0 4 6 20 3

Morpeth 6 1 0 5 5 17 3

Guisborough 4 0 1 3 5 11 1

Crook Town 6 0 1 5 3 19 1

Division Two

Ashington 7 5 1 1 28 13 16

Willington 6 4 0 2 12 6 12

Penrith 6 3 3 0 10 4 12

Whickham 8 3 3 2 12 7 12

Norton 8 3 3 2 6 8 12

Esh Winning 7 3 2 2 13 9 11

Thornaby 5 3 1 1 12 4 10

Horden 8 3 2 3 6 5 10

Northallerton 5 2 3 0 13 7 9

Alnwick 7 2 3 2 12 10 9

Washington 5 3 0 2 7 5 9

Murton 7 3 0 4 13 19 9

South Shields 6 2 2 2 12 9 8

Kennek Ryhope CA 6 2 2 2 8 9 8

Shotton 7 1 3 3 11 14 6

Evenwood 6 2 0 4 5 17 6

Shildon 7 1 2 4 6 13 5

Prudhoe 7 1 0 6 5 24 3

Eppleton 6 0 2 4 7 13 2