"Sensational" Moors march on in Vase.

Moors went into the game with 11 wins from 11 league games to persuade the bookies to make them Vase favourites, and they strengthened their position as they outplayed the leaders of the Northern Counties East League.

“We were sensational in the first half,” said manager Jason Ainsley. “It was a great to follow up Wednesday’s win at Bedlington with another superb performance. To put five past a team like Bridlington, who are on top of their league, is some performance.”

Moors took the lead when Keith Graydon was tripped, and Gavin Cogdon despatched the penalty. Mark Davison set up Joe Walton to score from a few yards for the second, and before half time, Wayne Phillips beat four men and fired into the top corner. Lewis Dodds then did well to set up the fourth for Walton as Moors threatened to run riot. After the home side pulled a goal back, Stephen Richardson fired a fifth for Moors.

Esh Winning pulled off one of the surprises of the day, beating first division Newton Aycliffe 2-1 at Moore Lane.

Esh took the lead when Stuart Thompson latched on to a ball over the top from Lewis Wing, and slotted it under Aycliffe keeper Scott Pocklington.

Esh were gifted their second by Pocklington, who allowed a harmless shot from former Aycliffe player Wing to slip from his grasp into the net. Aycliffe pulled one back when Danny Mellanby turned the ball home from a few yards, and in the dying seconds Danny Earl missed from just a couple of yards.

Esh Winning manager Andrew Soppitt said: “I thought we were below par all game, as we were missing four big players. However, we weren’t put under any real pressure until the last ten minutes, and by then we should have put our chances away.”

Newton Aycliffe manager Allan Oliver said: “Esh started better than us, and that made a difference.”

Adam Furness’ first game in charge of Durham city saw them lose 4-1 at Pickering Town.

City got off to a good start when Scott Fenwick scored after just 7 minutes from a Craig Ellison pass, but Pickering hit back with two quick goals by Liam salt and Joe Danby. Salt scored from the spot early in the second half, with Tom Clarke adding a fourth.

Durham City manager Adam Furness said: “I was very disappointed overall. We started brightly and went in front, but never looked strong enough to see it through. We conceded a soft penalty early in the second half to go 3-1 down, and then conceded a soft fourth. I learned a lot about the lads from seeing them for the first time.”

Second Division Morpeth shocked Guisborough from the first division by a late extra time goal at Craik Park. Morpeth hit the woodwork in an even game, but with a replay looming, Steven Anderson fired the winner just a minute from the end of extra time.

Guisborough manager Chris Hardy said: “As this game came to its conclusion after 120 minutes of football there was little between the two sides. However I can't have any complaints about losing the game as this was a poor display by us.”

Bishop Auckland went out to a single goal at Sunderland RCA, but regretted some missed chances.

Bishops had the better of the first half, but missed some good chances through Dan Hawkins, and RCA made them pay after 56 minutes when Aristote Guerian-Lokonga scored when he was left unmarked to meet a right wing cross from a few yards out.

Bishops have signed former Boro junior keeper Jake Johnson as a replacement for the injured Peter Jeffries, and the newcomer managed to carry on after twisting is ankle in the opening minutes.

Bishop Auckland manager Colin Myers said: “We had enough chances to win three games. We had eight or nine good chances, but didn’t take any of them.”

Sunderland RCA manager Neil Hixon said "Both teams struggled to field a strong team. It was a very tight game, we scored and they didn’t!”

Northallerton almost pulled off a surprise, holding first division Consett to a 1-1 draw at Ainderby Road. Consett took a deserved first half lead when David Scorer found the back of the net with a 30 yarder. Michael Mackay nearly scored a second but was denied by the post.

But promotion chasing Northallerton levelled when Gavin Parkin crossed for Grant Hickman to head home with seven minutes left of normal time.

Northallerton manager Mark Fanning said: “It was a Much better performance and a draw a fair result. Do it all again Tuesday night.”

Consett manager Kenny Lindoe said: “It was a tale of missed chances at one end, and a goalkeeping error at the other cost us the game, but at least we have another crack at it on Tuesday.”

Previous finalists Bedlington won 2-1 at Penrith. Paul Brayson gave Bedlington the lead early on, and he added a second early in the second half. Andrew Murray-Jones pulled a goal back for Penrith.

The ties South Shields v Shildon and Jarrow Roofing v Norton were both postponed, and will be played tomorrow night.

The second round draw takes place this lunchtime, with Ashington, Dunston, Newcastle Benfield, West Auckland, Whitley Bay and Billingham Synthonia all now coming into the competition.

West Auckland manager Peter Dixon admitted that he warned his players about indiscipline before their 4-2 home defeat by Billingham Synthonia on Saturday – but despite his warnings, they finished the game with eight men.

West had defenders Andrew Green and Chris Carr, plus captain and striker Mattie Moffat dismissed, while Synners midfielder Nathan Wilson also saw red. There could have been a fifth if ref Danny Markham had shown Danny Newby a red card when the defender fouled Moffat for West’s equalising penalty.

Both sides had chances in the first half hour before the stream of red cards began, when West full back Andrew Green was sent off for deliberately elbowing Synners’ winger Dan Johnson as they chased a ball down the wing.

Synners took the lead when Matthew Crosson weaved his way down the right, and pulled the ball back for Johnson to beat Mark Bell from a few yards. John Campbell pulled a goal back from the rebound after Josh Moody blocked his penalty, but Johnson restored the lead with another left foot shot just before half time.

Nathan Jameson made it 3-1 when he buried a right foot short into the bottom corner on 55 minutes, but Moffat pulled a goal back with a header. Then there was a flurry of red cards from the referee that had everyone in a whirl. Moffat was dismissed for swearing at the referee – he could consider unlucky in a way because there was plenty of foul language during the game everywhere else on the field – and then Synners midfielder Nathan Wilson was shown his second yellow. When it was 9 v 10, West thought they had a chance, until Chris Carr blocked a shot by Aidan Cattermole with the use of his arm and was shown red, with Chay Liddle converting the spot kick.

West manager Peter Dixon said: “We warned the players before the game about what to expect but they didn’t heed the warnings. If there was any intent in Andrew Green’s challenge, then he’s been silly. Regarding the second, we warned the players about foul language before the game, and for the third, I must admit that I didn’t see it.

“Overall, there are no excuses for the performance. My assistant and I are wondering whether the players are as hurt as we are.”

Billingham Synthonia assistant manager Lee Tucker said: “The sendings off shouldn’t overshadow the quality of our football. We caused West problems with our passing and movement, and quality of play.”

Darlington are now nine points clear at the top after thumping Ashington 6-1 at Heritage Park.

A full match report is on the Darlington part of the Northern Echo website.

Darlington manager Martin Gray said: “That was an important yardstick for us. From start to finish, it was a very good performance. The poor midweek performance against South Shields was a reality check, and instead the players really made the ball work. It’s nice to pass the 50 goal mark.”

Ashington assistant manager Anthony Woodhouse said: “We were outplayed and outclassed. Darlington are a very good side.”

Whitley Bay were the day’s big hitters, putting six without reply past Team Northumbria and lift them to fourth in the table. Whitley took the lead with a good shot from outside the box by Paul Chow, then Lee Kerr added two more, both from the edge of the area before half time. Paul Robinson got the fourth from a corner, then Kerr completed his hat trick, scoring from the rebound after his penalty was blocked. Robinson completed the rout from a Chris Fawcett pass.

Team Northumbria manager Paul Johnson said: “I was really disappointed with today’s result. We made six mistakes and they punished us for them. Their keeper had a great game and made some good saves, so from a forward perspective the scoreline could have been a lot different. With a patched up team to still create as much is a positive but we will have to learn quickly not to make mistakes.”

Whitley Bay manager Ian Chandler said: “Another quality performance. Team north started well but we ground them down and once we got in front, the result was never in doubt, could have been four or five.”

Billingham Town stay second bottom of the table, going down 2-1 at Newcastle Benfield. Nicky Martin gave Town the lead when he scored from a Micky Dunwell assist, but Benfield levelled when Stephen Young scored from ten yards. Benfield then took the lead when David Coulson headed home. Town had Stephen Flockett dismissed for a foul midway through the second half, Town have suffered another blow with the departure of striker Jamie Owens to Shildon.

Newcastle Benfield manager Perry Briggs said: “It was a better result and a pleasing performance. We need to build on this, it’s a case of one step forward and two back at the moment.”

Billingham Town manager Carl Jarrett said: “I got the reaction I wanted from the Darlington game. We went 1-0 up and could have been more but second half we fell asleep and got punished. The players still gave their all.”

Dunston continued their climb up the table by winning 2-0 at Marske United. After Chris Swailes hit the crossbar, they took the lead after 28 minutes when Lee McAndrew crossed for Danny Craggs to head past Marske keeper Scott Allison, and Craggs was involved in the second when he crossed for Andy Bulford to score with a diving header on 74 minutes.

Dunston manager Billy Irwin said: “A win was the most important thing. We created a few chances, and kept a clean sheet.”

Marske manager Ted Watts said: “Our overall play wasn’t bad, but we have no real threat up front. There were two lapses of concentration for the goals.”

Hebburn suffered their first away league defeat of the season when they lost 3-0 at Celtic Nation. David Lynn, Jeff Smith and Michael Reed scored the goals.

CN have signed former Middlesbrough and Darlington winger Nathan Porritt.

Hebburn manager Paul Bennett said: “It was a game in which we have learned a few lessons about a few players. We hit the woodwork four times, but make no mistake we deserved to lose. It doesn’t hurt enough players and we have to address that situation and move on after a bad day at the office.”

Celtic Nation manager Steve Skinner said: “We played very well, but it has been coming over the last couple of weeks. The best team won over 90 minutes.”

In the second division, Crook Town climbed into fourth place in the table when they beat North Shields 3-1 at the Millfield.

Crook took the lead after 10 minutes when Richard Hodgson scored with a 20 yarder that went in off the bar , and he created the second after 54 minutes when he sent Kyle Davis through and score with a shot across the keeper,. Bobby Nolan pulled a goal back for Shields, but then Warren Byrne scored Crook’s third when he beat two defenders and fired into the bottom corner.

Crook manager Gary Pearson said: “We were superb from start to finish, and it was a great reaction to a bad day in midweek. It just annoys me when they can play with commitment and desire after a bad display. “ Two of Crook’s promotion rivals, Darlington RA and Seaham Red Star, drew 1-1 at Brinkburn Road, but the RA needed a late equaliser to sneak a point.

Seaham took the lead after 20 minutes when Channon North scored with a header, but the RA’s David Webster missed a penalty for the equaliser. However, in the dying minutes James Evison grabbed the equaliser from ten yards.

Seaham had seven players booked in the game.

Darlington RA manager Nick Harrison said: “Considering that we’ve lost three players in a week, then I think it was a good point.”

Seaham manager Mark Collingwood said: “To concede late on was a massive kick in the teeth, but I would have taken a point before kick off. I don’t normally complain about officials, but the referee was awful – they shouldn’t get told that they are getting assessed because it puts too much pressure on them. The referee looked as if he was under pressure from the start, and ruined a good game by stopping it constantly.”

Tow Law had an excellent away win, by 5-0 at Chester-le-Street. Scott Brassell put Lawyers 1-0 up, and then Chester had defender David Henderson dismissed for a professional foul, and Daniel Wilson scored from the spot. Lawyers took full advantage of the extra man, and Wilson went on to complete his hat trick – his second in three games -- with Scott Thompson also chipping in.

Chester-le-Street manager Colin Wake said: “I wish we could play midweeks, and not Saturdays. We didn’t get started, and David Henderson’s sending off killed us. We deserved nothing from the game, and to be fair it could have been more. We weren’t good enough and not consistent enough. It’s so hard to improve when you don’t know what is turning up.”

Tow Law manager Gary Anderson said: “It was a very pleasing response to last week’s defeat. It was a great commitment and attitudes from the players today, together with excellent football.”

Lowly Stokesley had a good 1-1 away draw at fifth placed Whitehaven. Matty Tymon put Whitehaven into the lead, but Stokesley, who only had 12 players, levelled through Michael Lee.

Stokesley assistant manager Chris Lax said: “We’re delighted considering that we only had 11 players plus me on the bench. Three of the starting line up played with injuries. We showed desire, grit, determination and an excellent attitude to not only equalise but to hold a strong Whitehaven team at bay.”

Horden drew 1-1 at bottom club Alnwick, thanks to a goal by Lee Burrell that cancelled out Daniel Thompson’s goal for Alnwick.

Horden manager Peter Mulcaster said: “It was a’ brilliant second half performance, considering that we had a man sent off, and one of our players virtually played on one leg for 30 minutes.”

Surprise packages Ryton won their third successive game when they defeated Washington 1-0 , with a goal by Phil Smith.

Whickham came from behind to beat Brandon 3-1 at the Glebe. Stephen Moody put Brandon into the lead . Whickham levelled through Sam McIntosh and then went in front through Scott Swanston. Brandon missed chances to level in the second half, before Tony Thirkell clinched it.

Whickham manager Robin Falcus said: “We dominated the first half and dominated most of the possession, and Brandon scored with their first shot of the game. We equalised and deservedly went ahead. Brandon should have equalised early in the second half, but Tony Thirkell settled it for us.”

Thornaby have now lost five league games in a row after losing 2-0 to West Allotment, for whom Sean Reid and Liam Hudson scored.

Thornaby manager Neil Radigan said: “The performance wasn’t acceptable and not what I’m looking for. I want to make us harder to beat and work harder. It was a poor performance all round, so players will be leaving.”

West Allotment manager Paul Stoneman said: “It was a really comfortable win. It should have been six or seven.”

The game between Birtley and Ryhope CW was postponed because of a waterlogged pitch.