There was a close call for leaders Birtley Town who appeared to be coasting to victory when they led by three goals at the halfway stage against Windscale.

In the end though, they were grateful for the final whistle after the Cumbrians had fought back to 3-2.

Birtley made the best possible start scoring twice in the first four minutes.

Carl Pennington struck after just 90 seconds converting a corner and before Windscale had time to settle, they were two down as Pennington headed his second following a deep cross.

When Keith Foster converted a penalty on 40 minutes, it looked all over for Windscale but two goals in 13 minutes from Ricky Parnaby and Gary Hodgson midway through the second period threw the game wide open.

Birtley held on and extended their lead to six points over Cleadon SC, who moved back into second position with a 4-1 victory at Barnard Castle Glaxo.

Danny Nixon, Peter Bradley and Andrew Potts swept them into a commanding lead before Brian Tully's back pass went into his own net. Derek Whelan, however, quickly restored Cleadon's supremacy.

North Shields slipped up in their challenge for the championship when they could only draw with Darlington RA at Brinkburn Road. Ian Dugdale gave the Robins a fifth-minute lead before Andrew Roberts and Stephen Sinclair put RA in front.

The visitors pressed in the second half but after equalising through Paul Hogg, they failed to find a winner as the Darlington defence stood firm.

Jarrow just had the edge over Boldon CA in the local derby at Perth Green. Wayne Brown scored first for Boldon but Jarrow then went into a 3-1 lead through Andrew Brown, Paul Scott and Andrew Lally. Graham Nesbitt reduced Boldon's deficit but Jarrow ended victorious.

Washington Nissan UK improved their position near the bottom with a 2-0 win at Ferryhill Athletic who failed to make the best use of their chances. Stephen Bryant and David King earned Nissan only their third win in 17 attempts.

Wolviston defeated Annfield Plain 4-2 in a game which saw three players sent off. Both sides were reduced to ten men after just 20 minutes and it was the visitors who coped better, building up a two-goal advantage through Andy Steele and Gareth Murphy.

Plain pulled a goal back through Kris Soulsby before having another player red-carded and the visitors went 3-1 up as Michael Dichiccio slotted home.

Undeterred by their numerical disadvantage, the home side fought back and were rewarded through John Moore but their hopes finally ended in stoppage time as Steele scored his second goal for Wolviston.

Gateshead Reserves scored first through Scott McDonald at Whitehaven who replied courtesy of Carl Grady. Whitehaven missed several chances and failed to convert a penalty.

Both Stokesley SC and New Marske progressed in the North Riding County Cup.

Richard Hore and an own goal enabled Stokesley to go through at Thornaby YC and Ben Walker's 60th-minute strike was sufficient for New Marske at home to Cayton Corinthians.