Sunderland RCA beat Bishop Auckland for the third time this season, when they defeated them 4-3 after extra time in the league cup last night.

The RCA took the lead after just 7 minutes from a corner through James Oates, and they scored a second from another setpiece through Brian Close on 12 minutes.

But Bishops improved in the second half, and Andy Johnson pulled a goal back with a 15 yarder after 70 minutes, and then sub Steven Turnbull forced the equaliser with just a minute left of normal time.

Close made it 3-2 to RCA with a header in extra time, and on 105 minutes Andy Jennings fired the fourth. However, Johnson pulled a goal back to set up an exciting finish. RCA manager Neil Hixon said: "We were good in spells, and we were bad in spells, but overall I thought we were the better side throughout the game."

West Auckland easily won 5-0 at Horden, bottom of the second division. Micky Rae scored twice in the first half, with Paul Garthwaite also adding another before half time. Rae set up Stephen Brown for the fourth, and then completed his hat trick. Horden manager Brian Honour said: "It was men against boys. West are a top quality team, and there was no shame in losing to them tonight. They're genuine league and vase contenders."

Norton’s new signing, James Magowan scored two of his side’s goals in their 4-1 away win at neighbours Billingham Town, with Nathan Mulligan also scoring twice. Mulligan also missed a penalty for his hat trick, while Jamie Owens scored for Town to make the score 2-1 at one point. Billingham Town manager Carl Jarrett said: "We played some great stuff in the first half. We kept the ball well, but we need to be more clinical at the right times. In the second half we gave the ball away too much which led to Norton's goals. Norton were more clinical, and that was the difference." Norton manager Conrad Hillerby said: "Bimbo (James Magowan) and Nathan Mulligan linked up well, and we were comfortable."

Dunston striker Andy Bulford became the club’s highest goal scorer in all competitions when he scored one of the goals in their 6-1 away win at Whitehaven, beating the previous record set by Andy Fletcher. He needs four more to become the club’s highest all time league scorer. Dunston scored five times in the second half, with six different players in total on target. "It was a comfortable win, and we scored some good goals."

Billingham Synthonia just managed to squeeze past Whickham at the Glebe, with Michael Jameson scoring the only goal of the game just ten minutes from the end.

Second Division Gillford Park won 2-1 at Marske United. Gillford took a half time lead through David Wallace, but Benn Thompson levelled for Marske at the start of the second half. However, Craig Wilson scored the winner for Gillford from the spot. Marske manager Paul Burton said: "I'm disappointed to say the least. We had a poor first half and did ok for the first 15 minutes of the second half, equalised and then gave away a stupied penalty. Overall, I'm sick of telling players what we want them to do, and then going out and doing whatever they want. They always have an excuse."

Chester-le-Street lost 3-2 at Alnwick, after twice being a goal down. Brett Gillatt and Michael Coghlan in turn cancelled out goals by Tom Vickers, but Ross McKinlay scored Alnwick’s winner after 73 minutes. Chester manager Anth Smith said: "It was a close game, and there wasn't between the two sides. The game lacked quality at times."

In the league, third placed Whitley Bay were beaten 3-2 at South Shields.

Shields took the lead after 45 minutes through Andy Barclay, but Brian Smith levelled for Whitley in stoppage time. However, Shields went into a 3-1 lead with strikes by Shaun Sweeney and Jonny Wightman, before sub Paul Chow pulled a goal back. "We were utter rubbish," said Whitley boss Ian Chandler. "We were beaten by a team who worked harder and took their chances. Hopefully, it was a bad day at the office."

Brooks Mileson Northern League Cup second round.

Alnwick 3 (Vickers 2, McKinlay) Chester-le-Street 2 (Gillatt, Coghlan), Billingham Town 1 (Owens) Norton 4 (N Mulligan 2, Magowan 2), Horden 0 West Auckland 5 (Reay 3, Garthwaite, Brown) , Marske United 1 (Thompson) Gillford Park 2 (Wallace, Wilson pen), Sunderland RCA 4 (Oates, Close 2, Jennings) Bishop Auckland 3 (Johnson 2, Turnbull), (aet), Whickham 0 Billingham Synthonia 1 (M Jameson), Whitehaven 1 (Pears) Dunston 6 (Bulford, Shaw, Hume, Dixon, Craggs, McAndrew).

STL Northern League Division One.

South Shields 3 (Barclay, Sweeney, Wightman) Whitley Bay 2 (Smith, Chow).