Dunston kept their ninth successive clean sheet when they beat Newcastle Benfield 2-0 in the ENL First Division last night.

On an increasingly tricky pitch, Benfield had the edge in the first half, but Dunston took the lead after half time when Dale Burrell volleyed home a left wing cross from Lee McAndrew, and Micky Dixon made the points safe with seven minutes left when he headed home a Lewis Teasdale cross. Dunston manager Billy Irwin said: "They were two great goals on a difficult surface."

Marske United climbed to ten points above the relegation zone when they won 4-0 at bottom club South Shields.

Marske got off to a great start, scoring twice in the first 15 minutes through Jordan Hugill and David Onions, then Hugill and John Alexander scored after half time. Manager Ted Watts said: "We put Saturday's poor result behind us. We started and finished the game well, but I'm still looking at different players in different areas."

Bedlington are now fourth after they won 1-0 at Sunderland RCA, Anthony Shandran scoring from the loose ball after Paul Brayson headed against the bar in the first half. Sunderland RCA manager Neil Hixon said: "It was a disappointing result with the amount of possession and the goalscoring opportunities we had."

In the league cup, first division Hebburn beat second division Whitehaven thanks to a late goal.

The Cumbrians took an early lead through Matty Tymon from a free kick, but Tony Stephenson levelled from 25 yards. Paul Gardiner set up Stuart Nicholson to put Hebburn into the lead after 20 minutes. But Kevin Connelly levelled for Whitehaven before half time, and after the break Tymon scored from the edge of the box. But Stephenson equalised on 69 minutes from a Jonny Davis pass, and four minutes from the end he completed his hat trick and put Hebburn through with a header.

Whitley Bay beat Consett 3-1 at Hillheads. Ash Davis put Whitley into the lead five minutes before half time , with Lee Paul Scroggins making it two on the hour. Michael Mackay pulled a goal back for Consett, but Brian Smith made sure.

In the Ernest Armstrong Cup, Thornaby came from behind to beat Birtley 2-1. Dan Smith gave Birtley a half time lead, but Gary Mitchell scored twice on 72 and 86 minutes. Birtley manager Scott Oliver said: "It was a socking penalty decision for their equaliser that changed the game."

The Spennymoor v Billingham Synthonia Vase tie was postponed 20 minutes before kick off because of a frozen pitch, and has been re-arranged for Saturday.