A THREE-GOAL burst in ten minutes ensured Consett stay eight points clear at the top of the STL First Division after a 3-2 win at West Allotment.

Marc Walton put Allotment ahead, but Consett moved up a gear at the start of the second half. Jamie Poole scored from the edge of the box on the hour, then Danny Craggs made it 2-1, scoring from the rebound after Anthony Lund’s shot was blocked.

Recent signing Dale Burrell scored the third in a goalmouth scramble, before Walton scored his second of the game with a cracking drive from the edge of the box.

“For 20 minutes we played really well, but we were struggling with injuries near the end. We’d already used three subs, and two players were having problems,” said manager Kenny Lindoe.

Spennymoor climbed above Shildon into second by beating Penrith 2-0, but they were less than convincing.

They took the lead after 29 minutes when Gavin Cogdon was fouled, and Steve Capper scored from the penalty spot.

Moors went on to miss a couple of good chances, and in the second half Penrith caused some nervous moments before Anthony Peacock crossed for Craig Ruddy to sidefoot in at the far post with three minutes left.

Newcastle Benfield also went above Shildon on goal difference by defeating Billingham Town 3-0.

Benfield striker John Campbell scored twice to make him the joint top scorer in the league, with 23.

Chris Feasey fired Benfield ahead after six minutes, with Campbell adding the second with a deflected effort. He got the third after Town keeper James Briggs parried a Scott Fenwick shot.

South Shields enjoyed a 2-1 win at Sunderland RCA in their local derby.

They took the lead after 20 minutes when Chris Winn beat four defenders and fired in off the post, and soon after Lee-Paul Scroggins fired an angled drive into the top corner.

The RCA came more into the game in the second half, and there were plenty of chances at both ends before Joe Walton headed RCA’s consolation late in the game.

In the second division, leaders Newton Aycliffe were held to a 1-1 draw by fourth placed North Shields at Moore Lane.

Shields had the better of the first half, and took the lead when Dan Patterson’s left-foot shot was turned into his own net by David Mitton, but Aycliffe, who haven’t lost in 13, improved and Danny Mellanby levelled, turning his man and firing into the bottom corner.

Aycliffe nearly won it, but Ben Wood and Mark Peck were both denied by the Shields keeper.

Guisborough reduced the deficit on the leaders to five points with a 3-1 win at Horden.

Guisborough gave a debut to former Hartlepool midfielder Willie Boland and they took the lead when Luke Bythway scored with a shot through a crowd of players, and his brother Lee then scored from a free kick. David Onions broke away to score the third, his eighth league goal of the season.

Horden came more into the game in the second half, and pulled a goal back through Adam Croft.

Crook drew 2-2 at Washington after being two-up midway through the first half.

Darren Kokes broke clear and put Crook into the lead after 13 minutes, and within two minutes Andy Appleby added a second. Washington threw everything at Crook after that.

Nicky Martin pulled one back with a header on 72 minutes, and Ian Davidson earned a point from the spot with ten minutes left.

Darlington RA lost 3-1 at home to Thornaby, who are now in the top half.

After a goalless first half, Thornaby took the lead when a cross by Jon Lake avoided everybody apart from Chris Hobbs, who tapped in.

Alex Marshall weaved his way through and fired the second, before Dale Elgie scored from the edge of the box in the last minute for the RA.

All the other games in the STL leagues were postponed.