Birtley Town maintained their position at the top of the table but they were taken to the wire by lowly Gateshead Low Fell on Saturday, writes Malcolm Pratt.

The visitors, with just one win in seven attempts, looked to have done enough to earn a point but Birtley's pressure was rewarded with with ten minutes left.

Tony Thirkell headed in the only goal to secure Birtley's seventh win in ten games. They are also unbeaten.

Cleadon SC have won seven and drawn one of their eight matches and are two points off the top with two games in hand. They beat Wolviston 3-0, Mark Johnson scoring twice in the opening half hour. Danny Nixon made it 3-0 on 70 minutes .

Annfield Plain are up to third, having scored more goals than Cleator Moor Celtic who have an identical playing record and the same number of points.

Boldon CA made a wonderful start at Annfield Plain, scoring in the first minute through David Stephenson, and they held the advantage for 64 minutes before John Moore equalised.

There was a blow to Boldon on 70 minutes when Mark Brown was forced to leave the field with a suspected broken wrist and five minutes later Aaron Robertson clinched the winner for Annfield Plain.

Ryhope CW won 2-1 margin at home to Nissan SSC Sunderland. After Anthony Douthwaite opened for the home side, Kyle Sumner quickly levelled. Mark Davison then scored Ryhope's second before being sent off five minutes from the end.

Stokesley SC had to work hard for victory over Willington, the only goal coming from Stephen Pennock on 62 minutes.

Teesside Athletic came from behind to win 3-1 against Jarrow, for whom John Grant struck in the 70th minute. Within five minutes James Kesterton equalised and he was again on the mark before Gary Young hit Athletic's third goal.

New Marske suffered a 5-1 defeat at Windscale, for whom Darren Donald (2), Lee Dixon (2) and Martin Sanderson were the marksmen. Lee Smith claimed a consolation for New Marske.

Harton and Westoe took Darlington RA to extra time before losing 6-2 in the Durham Challenge Cup. Karl McMann and Dale Wells had the home side two goals up and RA appeared to be on their way out with just six minutes left.

Warren Byrne converted a penalty and in the last minute Paul Freary took the tie into additional time, during which Andrew Singlewood (2), Byrne and Freary all scored.