Tow Law are up to seventh in the First Division after beating managerless bottom club Ashington 5-3, but manager Micky Vasey isn't getting carried away.

Lawyers have had a good start to the season under new boss Vasey, who said: "I know we scored five, but we didn't play very well. I thought we played better when we won at Billingham Synthonia in midweek. We can't grumble, we've had a good start to the season but we're not getting carried away by any means."

Lawyers cruised into a 4-0 lead by the hour mark. Chris Renshaw put them in front, then Mark Eccles got the second from the spot and fired into the bottom corner for the third. Hollingsworth made it 4-0 from the edge of the box before Ashington pulled two goals back though Paul Dixon and Marc Richardson. Sub Michael Ford soon made it 5-2 and Ross Atkinson scored a late consolation.

Billingham Synthonia boss Bobby Scaife returned to his old club Dunston and came away with all three points in a 3-2 win. Synners took the lead with an own goal, and then Joel Guy scored a second. In the second half Stephen Pickering and Michael Laws pulled Dunston back into the game, before Brian Close cracked the winner.

Bishop Auckland are now in the top half of the table after a good 1-1 draw at Bedlington. The home side took the lead with a shot by Michael Latimer after 10 minutes, and Lee Hamilton missed a couple of opportunities to make the game safe. But Bishops equalised when Paul Harvey fired home from 30 yards.

Northallerton pulled off one of the surprises of the day by beating Seaham Red Star 2-1. Seaham, under new boss Stu Gooden, took the lead five minutes after half-time with a shot by Warren Byrne, but Northallerton equalised after 80 minutes when Luke Bythway headed in, before striker Paul Hinton finished off a good move for the winner.

Sunderland Nissan rediscovered their form in a 2-0 away win at champions Whitley Bay. After a goalless first half, Nissan took the lead when Gary Pearson tucked a penalty. Cogdon then scored his ninth league goal of the season when he beat two defenders to score.

Morpeth climbed out of the bottom two thanks to a comfortable 5-0 away win at West Allotment. Stephen Young, Chris Rue, Radek Rakocinski, Adam Scope and an own goal were the scorers.

In the second division, Darlington RA's unbeaten start to the league season ended when they were beaten 2-0 at home by ten man Marske United.

The RA fell behind on 80 minutes to a David Onions penalty before Andrew Bell scored another with five minutes left.

Leaders Birtley still haven't lost, although they had to come from behind to draw 1-1 at Esh Winning. Paul Bailes gave Esh an early lead, but debutant James Kesterton levelled.

Crook Town, under caretaker boss Chris Beckett, came from behind to draw 3-3 at Team Northumbria. Crook trailed 3-1 at half-time, but hit back in the second half with an own goal and one by Darren Kokes, who also scored in the first half. Mark Young, Mark Tye and Chris Mann scored for TN.

Stokesley gained revenge for their midweek EA Trophy defeat by North Shields by beating them 2-1. Leon Poole put them in front after 13 minutes, then David Johnson chipped a second. North Shields, who missed a penalty, pulled a late goal back through Chris Heppell.

Guisborough are second on goal difference following their 2-0 home win over Norton. Shaun Howes put them in the lead after nine minutes, then got a second just after half-time.

Whickham joined Guisborough and Stokesley on 13 points with a comfortable 5-0 win over bottom club Brandon. The visitors had a man sent off after 30 minutes for a professional foul, and then Paul Cavanagh (penalty), Darren Tindall (2), Alan Pegram and Chris Douglas scored for Whickham.

Sunderland RCA picked up their first point of the season at Thornaby in a 2-2 draw. Willie Crew (48) and Simon Andrews (60) put them 2-0 up, but then Thornaby levelled through Chris Crellin and Mark Osmond.

South Shields' 100 per cent record was broken when they lost 2-1 at Ryton, for whom Andy Bulford scored a last minute winner. Ben Pollock put Ryton into the lead, with Lee-Paul Scroggins equalising.