Spennymoor kept their 100 per cent record intact and are still to concede a league goal after they beat title rivals West Auckland 2-0 in their top three clash at the Brewery Field on Saturday.

And when FA Cup ties and the pre season Cleator Cup are taken into account, Moors haven’t conceded in ten games this season, impressive form that makes them favourites to lift their fourth successive title.

Moors assistant manager Gavin Fell said: “We said before the game that we shouldn’t get too wrapped up in the occasion, and instead of worrying about West, to worry more about ourselves, and not give away any sloppy goals. The lads did very well to score two good goals, and keep another clean sheet.”

The chances were split fairly even in the first half. West’s Adam Rundle had a left foot shot cleared off the line, while West keeper Mark Bell made two good saves from Gavin Cogdon.

John Campbell was denied by the outstretched arm of Deane at the start of the second half when he broke through, but Moors took the lead when Lewis Dodds chipped the ball over the West defence for little Anthony Peacock to chest down and steer past Bell.

And with a few minutes left, Gavin Cogdon made it 2-0 when he cut in from the right and drove the ball into the bottom corner for his sixth league goal of the season.

West manager Peter Dixon said: “I thought it was a fairly even game for the first 70 minutes, and possibly we even shaded it. But after they scored, I thought our big name players faded.”

Darlington beat Billingham Town 3-2 at Heritage Park to keep them on top.

Read the Northern Echo match report in the Darlington section.

Darlington manager Martin Gray said: “Our change in formation in the second half won us the game. We didn’t play fantastically well, but we’re pleased with the points. We’ve got 21 points from 8 games, I would have settled for that before the start of the season.”

Billingham Town manager Carl Jarrett said: “I thought we made a very good account of ourselves. We weren’t outclassed at any point in the game and I thought we deserved at least a point. I asked my players to give me a reaction from Tuesday night when we lost to Hebburn and they gave me one. If we keep playing like that, it won’t be long before we start picking up the points.”

Dunston won their first league game of the season when they beat Whitley Bay 2-1 at the UTS Stadium.

They took the lead after 18 minutes when Danny Craggs was brought down and Andy Bulford scored from the spot, then new signing Lewis Teasdale sent him racing through and scored the second. Liam Connell made two good saves for Dunston in the second half, before Paul Chow got away and pulled a goal back with seconds left.

Dunston manager Billy Irwin said: “Hopefully, we can kick on from here. Lewis Teasdale made a big difference to us.”

Whitley Bay manager Ian Chandler said: “It was a pretty even game overall. Dunston got themselves two ahead but never really troubled us. Apart from the first 20 minutes in which we again missed several chances, we never really created anything. I thought we maybe a deserved a draw.”

Durham lost 6-2 for the second time this season, when they were thumped at Ashington.

Andrew Johnson gave Ashington the lead early on, but Durham equalised through Gary Shaw on 10 minutes. Mark O’Dea put Ashington 2-1 up, with Marc Walton adding another soon after from the penalty spot.

Walton scored from a Johnson pass soon after half time, and he completed his hat trick from the edge of the box. Johnson got the sixth, before Jack Pounder scored a late consolation.

Durham city manager Dickie Ord said: “We need to stabilise and improve defensively.”

Billingham Synthonia gained revenge for their defeat against Newcastle Benfield earlier in the season by winning 2-0 at Sam Smiths, their first clean sheet of the season.

Summer signing Andy Jennings got the first when he headed in a left wing cross by Chay Liddle after 23 minutes, and five minutes later he scored the second from a Glenn Donaldson pass. Craig Gott also hit the post for Synners, while Jennings hit the bar in the second half.

Newcastle Benfield manager Perry Briggs said: “I wasn’t very happy with the performance. We’re really lacking in the final third of the field, and we’re putting square pegs in round holes. Hopefully I can get things sorted by this Saturday.”

Sunderland RCA won their second game of the season when they won 3-1 at Marske United.

The RCA took the lead through Aristote Guerin-Lokonga from a rebound off the post, but Marske levelled through David Onions’ third goal in two games.

But Guerin-Lokonga supplied the pass for Jamie Davis to put RCA back in the lead, and Dale Jardine pounced for the third when he chipped the keeper.

Sunderland RCA manager Neil Hixon said: “We played well, and it was a comfortable win.”

Second Division leaders Ryhope CW continued their early season march at the top when they thrashed West Allotment 7-1.

Allotment took an early lead through Dean Lee, but Chris Winn responded with two goals in five minutes. Johnny Butler scored twice more, and completed his hat trick early in the second half. Nathan Johnson scored the last two goals.

Ryhope are now five points clear at the top. Butler has now scored 18 league goals for the season, and Winn has 11.

West Allotment manager Paul Stoneman said: “There’s only one word to describe that performance – embarrassing.”

Tow Law are also on the up after a good 3-1 away win at Crook Town, to give them their second win in 48 hours after beating Brandon 4-0 on Thursday.

Crook took the lead after just three minutes through Craig Hughes, but Lawyers levelled after 19 minutes through Scott Thompson. Mattie Scott put Lawyers into the lead just after half time, and he made sure near the end.

Tow Law manager Gary Anderson said: “It was a good performance. We battled throughout the game and played good football.”

Crook Town manager Gary Pearson said: “Too many players had off days – we were lacklustre.”

Brandon bounced back from their Thursday night defeat to beat Birtley 3-1. They scored three times in the first half through Owen Lancaster, Mark Bell and Marc Costello, with Dan Smart replying for Birtley in the second half.

Seaham Red Star beat North Shields 1-0, with a goal by Kevin Gordon, their first home league win since January.

Seaham Red star manager Mark Collingwood said: “It was our first home league win January. I’m delighted with the effort from the lads, coming on the back of a hard game in midweek against Whitehaven. The lads were fantastic from start to finish.”

Whickham won 1-0 at Alnwick, with a goal by Sam McIntosh.