West Auckland manager Anth Smith blasted the referee as last year’s beaten finalists were surprisingly beaten 3-0 at home by Shaw Lane Aquaforce at the Seagrave Stadium on Saturday.

Smith was furious about a decision midway through the first half that led to the visitors taking a shock lead that they never relinquished.

“It was a massive error by the officials,” he said. “Their midfielder was tackled by Brian Close, got up, and slapped him in the face. The incident was ten yards from the assistant and two yards from the referee. There was some pushing and shoving between players from both sides, and we expected their player to be sent off.

“Instead, he allowed them to take the free kick, and they scored from all of 40 yards with our keeper off his line.

“So there we were, expecting one of their players to be sent off, and instead we were a goal down. After that, they killed the game as much as they could, and we lowered ourselves to their level. We’d been in charge of the game before the incident, and if their man had been sent off, they would have had to change their gameplan.”

It was a nightmare first half for West, because not only did they go a goal down to Shane Kelsey’s free kick, defender Josh Rowbotham and striker Matty Moffat both limped off with injuries.

West took more risks as the second half went on, and they were caught on the break twice in the last few minutes to goals by Kelsey and Joe Thornton.

Shildon, beaten semi finalists two seasons ago, defeated Runcorn Town 2-0 at Dean Street, although they had to wait until the last 15 minutes before they broke through.

The Railwaymen had more possession in the first half with Mark Hudson and Bobby Moore both going close, but Runcorn denied them until the 76th minute when Jamie Harwood scored with a header from a corner, and then near the end Moore, who was at Wembley with Spennymoor in 2013, headed the second.

Shildon manager Gary Forrest said; “It was getting a bit frustrating until we scored, but there was no way that they could keep us out, although we were conscious of the sucker punch.”

Marske United advanced into the next round by beating Barton Town OB on Stokesley’s ground.

Jamie Owens fired Marske into the lead after 7 minutes, and he scored the second after half time when Darren Hollingsworth headed a corner across for him to head in.

Barton pulled a goal back, but Reece Kelly, playing on his old ground, headed a third. Barton had a man sent off for a foul, before Owens completed his hat trick from the penalty spot following a foul on Josh McDonald. Owens has now scored 22 goals in total this season.

Marske manager Carl Jarrett said; “Once we went in front, gaps started to open up in their defence. It wasn’t a good day for pretty football, and we scrapped hard.”

Consett ran riot against their neighbours Whickham by 8-0 at Belle View, with Luke Sullivan running riot, scoring four.

Luke Sullivan put Consett into the lead with a 25 yarder, and just on half time Chris Moore crossed for Adam Nicholls to head the second.

Moore opened up the defence again for Mackay to make it 3-0, and after that it was a matter of how many Consett would score.

Moore was the architect of the fourth goal for Sullivan, then Dan Madden headed the fifth. Sullivan then went on to score another two, with Aris Guerin-Lokonga scoring another.

Consett manager Ken Lindoe said; “We played well. We kept a clean sheet, scored a few goals, and are pleased to be in Monday’s draw.”

Whickham manager Robin Falcus said; “We got battered, the lads are rock bottom. It was the one team and pitch we never wanted when the draw was made. It was a mi of injured players, my team selection and formation, so we all had a bad day. We were never going to win the Vase, but Consett might, they’re a very good side especially on their pitch. It’s a big advantage for them.”

Dunston came from behind to beat Guisborough 2-1 at the UTS Stadium.

Guisborough took the lead with a left foot volley by Danny Earl from a right wing cross, and he missed a good chance for the second, but Dunston scored twice within a minute in the second half to go through. Andy Bulford pounced on a long ball and fired home left footed, and David Coulson score the second off a left wing cross. Keeper Liam Connell was then Dunston’s hero, saving a Nathan Mulligan penalty.

Dunston manager Billy Irwin said; “ We knew that it would be tough, and it was.”

Guisborough manager Chris Hardy said; “Little separated the two sides and I think unfortunately when our key moments came in the game we were unable to capitalise.”

Newcastle Benfield beat Ashington 2-1 in their all Northern League tie.

Benfield took the lead on 10 minutes when Paul Brayson from a Dan Taylor cross, but Glen Taylor levelled for Ashington with a deflected shot.

Benfield got the winner in the second half through Baptist from a Michael Riley pass.

Ashington assistant manager Perry Briggs said; “It wasn’t good enough today. Grant kept us in the game, there wasn’t enough workrate or thought.”

Newcastle Benfield manager Steve Bowey said; “It was a great all round team performance, Slaughter and Baptiste were brilliant. We bossed the game, and it should have been five or six.”

Four times winners Whitley Bay cast aside any doubts over their ability to have a run in the competition by winning 1-0 at Congleton. The only goal came midway through the first half when Johnny Godsmark set up Peter Watling to score from a few yards. Whitley defended well in the last ten minutes when Congleton threw everything at them.

Seaham Red Star pulled off a great victory, winning 2-1 at Atherton Collieries, who haven’t dropped a point in the North West Counties League this season.

Sonny Andrews , who scored eight in an earlier round, put Seaham into the lead from the penalty spot midway through the first half, and David Palmer fired the second on 64 minutes. Atherton pulled a goal back on 69 minutes, but Seaham defended well after that.

Seaham manager Mark Collingwood said; “We caught them on the counter attack and defended like heroes and dug deep. We showed that we’re not afraid of anybody.”

North Shields striker Gareth Bainbridge scored a hat trick as they won 3-0 at Sunderland RCA.

The home side possibly had the edge in the first half when Stephen Boagey hit the post, but Bainbridge scored twice within a few minutes of the start of the second half, and completed his hat trick from a Denver Morris pass.

Sunderland RCA manager Marty Swales said; “We panicked at 1-0 down, we never really pushed forward and made the wrong decisions.”

Alnwick pushed St Helens all the way before going down 5-4 after extra time. They were 3-1 down at one stage before pulling back to 4-4 right at the end of normal time.

Morpeth were unlucky to go out to a last minute penalty at Tadcaster Albion.

They trailed to a goal by Liam Ormsby, and Jordan Fry equalised with 20 minutes left. But Ormsby converted a 90th minute penalty to put the Yorkshire side through.

Morpeth manager Nick Gray said; “I’m devastated for the lads. We were the better team and got done by a last minute dubious penalty to say the least. It just goes to show how important a home draw is in the Vase.”

Ryhope CW lost 3-0 at Glossop NE, who lost to Whitley Bay in the 2009 final. They were in the game until midway through the second half, and the home side scored three times in the last twenty minutes.

Ryhope CW manager Gary Pearson said; “The best side definitely won, but I’m really proud at how we defended as a unit for 60 plus minutes, Now we are our of all cups, we can concentrate on our league positioning as it’s been a tough few weeks playing against teams from higher leagues.”