Arngrove Northern League: Shildon manager Gary Forrest has banned talk of a title chase after they hammered Northallerton 8-3 on Saturday.

After a dismal run of one win in seven league games Shildon are now back into third place, but Forrest said: "The only difference between Saturday's performance and those in recent weeks was that we took our chances.

"But talk of going for the title is now banned. Nissan will take some pegging back, and when we were top of the table earlier in the season we buckled. So now we'll just take each game as it comes."

Adam Emson signalled his return to form after eight minutes when he scored with a right foot shot. Six minutes later recent signing Andy Jennings fired the second and Simon Ord finished off a good move for the third just on half time.

Emson sparked a goal avalanche on 50 minutes from a rebound, because Northallerton suddenly hit back with a goal by Karl Charlton. Jason Newell made it 5-1 to Shildon with a header from a corner, but Northallerton hit back with two goals in four minutes from Charlton and Craig Skelton. But Shildon woke up again when Emson set up Jennings to make it 6-3, then the unstoppable Emson lobbed Sam Dobbs to complete his hat-trick and he fired another in the dying minutes for his 15th league goal of the season.

Sunderland Nissan however, look strong favourites to win the league after their nearest rivals slipped up. Nissan won 2-0 at Chester-le-Street to put go eight points clear. Stephen Stewart put them in front in a goalmouth scramble following a Gavin Cogdon cross, and in the second half Chester looked as if they might equalise as they had a shot cleared off the line, and new keeper Gary Riches pulled off two good saves. But Nissan grabbed a vital second with ten minutes left when Cogdon set up Ben Ryan to sidefoot in.

Second-placed Billingham Town, who have ditched plans to merge with their neighbours Billingham Synthonia, suffered the shock of the day when they lost 2-0 at home to Ashington, their first defeat in 13 games.

Ashington scored after just 30 seconds through Andrew Spratt and went further ahead just on half-time through Andrew Johnson after Ian Herron's shot was blocked.

It was one-way traffic in the second half, but Paul Simpson in the Ashington goal pulled off several good saves, while Town also hit the bar.

Consett striker Michael Mackay, who is being watched by Stockport, scored all four for his side as they beat West Auckland, who were previously in third, at Belle Vue.

He gave them the lead after ten minutes when he finished off a four man move from the edge of the box, then he got his second from a rebound after Andy Appleby's shot was blocked. He dribbled through and rounded West keeper Neil Bell to complete his hat-trick before half-time. Kevin Bromley pulled one back from close range, but then Mackay ran through again and scored the fourth. Jamie Middleton pulled a late goal back for West.

Durham City drew 0-0 with Billingham Synthonia, even though Synners finished the game with ten men following the dismissal of Simon Shaw. Colin Iley put a good chance wide for Synners early in the game, but then Durham hit the woodwork through Steve Richardson and Keith Graydon. Synners' Craig Perry had a header cleared off the line before Shaw's second yellow.

Darlington RA scored a last minute goal to earn a 2-2 draw at Horden.

The RA took the lead just before half-time when Michael Carter showed good control to score from close range, but Horden levelled when Gus Di Lella crossed for Peter Crawford to score from a few yards. Horden thought they had picked up three vital points when Darren Atkinson converted a penalty for a foul by Chris Trotter on Nicky Martin, but in the last minute Nick Harrison rescued a point for the RA with a diving header.

West Allotment created daylight between themselves and the bottom three when they beat Jarrow Roofing 2-1 thanks to a late winner from Scott MacDonald from an Andy Watson cross. Roofing's Martin Thompson had earlier cancelled out a 52nd minute opener from Paul Mills..

It was Allotment's first home win since they beat Ashington in December last year.

Bottom club Bedlington drew 1-1 with Dunston. They took the lead after 53 minutes when Scott Marshall made a good run down the left and set up Michael Dickinson to score from ten yards, but Dunston levelled when Graeme Armstrong netted with a diving header from an Adam Scope cross for his 11th league goal of the season.

In the second division, Prudhoe have announced they are to resign at the end of the season, although they could withdraw it before the AGM.

Their game against Alnwick started late as the referee did not appear, but they managed to find a last minute replacement. The game finished 2-2, Richard Kent twice put Prudhoe ahead, but Joe Moscrop and James Swordy in turn equalised.

Spennymoor were knocked off the top when they were held to a 1-1 draw at Washington.

They scored early on when David Morgan's free-kick hit the post and Carl Beasley scored from the loose ball, but Washington levelled when Gareth McKenna's effort fell for Roy Allen to turn in. Anthony Woodhouse hit the bar for Spennymoor later on.

South Shields are now top thanks to a 4-2 win at Seaham Red Star. Simon Fitzpatrick volleyed them into the lead, then Simon Dolman beat two men and fired the second. Seaham pulled a goal back from the spot through a John Toft penalty, then new signing Michael Canavan headed the equaliser from a corner. Shields sub David Graham scored a cracker from 25 yards to put his team back into the lead, then James Oates got the fourth from an acute angle.

Guisborough are back into fifth after they scored four times in the second half to beat North Shields. After a goalless first half, Michael Wilson put Guisborough into the lead from the edge of the box then James Poole scored from the spot after a foul on Mark Wood. Michael Dowse charged down a clearance by the Shields keeper for the third, and Wilson cracked in the fourth.

Stokesley produced one of their best performances of the season to win 5-3 at Hebburn. They went an early goal behind to Gary McCartney, but Stuart Wise levelled from close range, Hebburn defender Danny Grey put through his own goal, and then Nathan Liddell scored from the spot following a foul on Craig Johnson to put them 3-1 up. McCartney pulled another back before half-time, but Johnson beat two defenders to make it 4-2, and Paul Callan finished off a right wing move for the fifth. Joe Donaghie scored a late consolation for Hebburn.

Crook Town had a 4-1 win at Team Northumbria to lift go eight points clear of the danger zone. They took an early lead when Paul Wardle headed in from a corner. Gary Mitchell got the second in a goalmouth scramble. Mitchell then beat two men inside the box and slotted the third just before half-time. TN pulled a goal back, but Paul Bailes made sure with a header from a cross by Stuart Owen.

Esh Winning won for the first time in six matches to climb two places to fifth bottom. Kevin Dixon put them in front, with Chris Smith, who had played in goal in the previous two matches, adding a second. John Ryan pulled a goal back for Thornaby, but Smith made sure near the end.

Brandon led three times at Marske but had to settle for a 3-3 draw. Andy Johnson put Brandon in front three times, but they were pegged back in turn by Mark James, Darren Sankey and Jonathan Stott, the third equaliser coming just two minutes from the end.

Sunderland RCA lost 4-2 at home to Ryton who hammered them 8-0 on the opening day of the season. The RCA led with a goal by John Butler, but Ryton hit back with goals from Ross Atkinson, Lee Ludlow and Andy Bulford. Paul Moss pulled a goal back, but Bulford made sure near the end.

The games at Penrith and Tow Law were postponed because of waterlogged pitches.