New Marske are the leading scorers in the Wearside League following their 8-2 defeat of Annfield Plain. They have now scored 21 goals in six games and also have the best goals difference, writes Malcolm Pratt.

The Plain, ravaged by injuries, were no match for the Seasiders who got their noses in front as early as the 13th minute. Gregg Booth put them ahead and within 10 minutes it was 2-0 when Craig Mendum struck. Although the visitors reduced their deficit through Martin Egglestone, it was mainly one-way traffic and Mendum went on to complete a hattrick.

Ben Walker bagged a brace, Kevin Conn also struck and New Marske were helped by an own goal before Stephen Scott scored a second consolation goal for Annfield Plain.

Simonside maintained their early-season challenge and are equal on points with Windscale at the top. Their latest victory came at the expense of Ryhope CW who crashed to a 5-0 defeat after conceding four first-half goals.

Paul Jary (2), Lee Metcalfe, John Cullen and John Taylor were the marksmen.

North Shields are third following their 2-0 win at Thornaby-on-Tees. Two goals in the first 22 minutes settled the result and after Neil McCulloch shot into the roof of the net, recent signing Jason Mumford fired home after good work by Ian Dugdale and McCulloch. Just before the end, Thornaby goalkeeper Lee Lucas saved a penalty from Tom McAlindon.

Stokesley pulled off a 4-2 victory at Birtley Town after going a goal behind to Joe Brunskill. Paul Walton, with a brace, Martin Pugh and Craig Johnstone swung the result Stokesley's way before Craig Marron converted a penalty in the late stages.

Harton and Westoe also won by a 4-2 margin at home to Jarrow. Michael Meek and Jim Riley gave the home side the cushion of a two-goals lead but a couple of strikes by David Kilford levelled the scores before Johnny Wightman and Meek earned Harton the points.

Despite being without several players, Ferryhill Athletic were full value for their 4-0 win at home to Whitburn. Alan Robson was again in scoring form, adding another two to his growing total and Whitburn's woes were compounded by Ian Wlodarczak and Billy Grey.

A triple by Ryan Woods meant that Redcar Town made the long journey back from Whitehaven pointless and Stanley United conceded their unbeaten record when they lost 3-2 at Boldon CA.

Mark Robinson opened for the home team but Richard Johnson quickly levelled and although David Hopper regained the initiative for Boldon, it looked as if Ivan Moxon's late strike would earn Stanley a point. With just 10 minutes remaining, however, Stephen Garthwaite grabbed the winner.

Portuguese Campeonato Nacional: Amadora 0 Braga 1.

Belgian Jupiler League: Anderlecht 4 Beveren 0, KV Mechelen 1 Excelsior Mouscron 5, St.-Truidense 2 Genk 2, Germinal 1 Standard Liege 0.

Finnish Veikkausliga: FC Jazz 1 VPS Vaasa 1.

German DfB Pokal: Dassendf 0 Unterhaching 5, Karlsruhe 0 Alemania Aachen 2, Reutlingen 2 Hertha Berlin 3, Union Berlin 2 Oberhausen 0, Babelsburg 1 Bochum 6, Teiningen 0 MSV Duisburg 3, Bremen 0 Wolfsburg 1, Wehen 2 Stuttgart Kickers 1, Wuppertal 1 VfB Stuttgart 3, Saarbrucken 0 Greuther Furth 1, Schonberg 0 Bayern Munich 4, TeBe Berlin II 0 Werder Bremen 2, Stuttgart 6 Eintracht Frankfurt 1, Ahlen 1 Borussia M'gladbach 2, Ismaning 0 Borussia Dortmund 4.

Swedish Allsvenskanliga: IFK Gothenburg 1 Sundsvall 0.

Turkish Telsim 1. Liga: Denizlispor 3 Erzurumspor 1, Genclerbirligi 3 Fenerbache 1, Siirt Jet-PA 2 Adanaspor 2.

Swiss Ligue Nationale: N Xamax 1 Aarau 5, Sion 3 FC Zurich 3, Yverdon 2 Servette 1.

Dutch KPN-Telecompetitie: AZ 3 RBC 0, De Graafschap 1 Roda JC 3, Fortuna 0 Heerenveen 2, NAC Breda 5 FC Groningen 1, Willem II 2 RKC 0.

Dutch Toto Divisie: Cambuur Leeuwarden 1 FC Zwolle 1, Dordrecht 90 2 Heracles 2, Emmen 4 Veendam 0, Excelsior 5 MVV 1, Go Ahead Eagles 2 VVV 1, HFC Haarlem 1 Eindhoven 1, TOP 4 Helmond Sport 2.

French Le Championnat: Bordeaux 1 Lens 1, Lille 2 Metz 1, Lyon 1 Troyes 0, Marseille 3 Guingamp 1, Rennes 1 Monaco 1, Strasbourg 3 Sedan 2, Toulouse 1 NanVtes 1.

Austrian Bundesliga: Bregenz 1 Austria Vienna 4, Graz AK 5 Admira Wacker 1, LASK Linz 1 SV Ried 1, SV Salzburg 1 SK Sturm Graz 0