Shildon edged three points clear at the top of the league after their 2-1 win at Marske on Tuesday night.

Shildon, who are now unbeaten in ten league and cup games, took the lead after 42 minutes with a shot on the turn from Gary Barnes, then he got the second from a through ball just after the interval for his 10th league goal of the season.

Tom Jones replied for Marske, who had a penalty claim turned down near the end.

Brandon are now second after they won 3-1 at Horden. Tony Healer put Brandon into the lead, only for Gus DiLella to equalise with a free kick before half time.

But Brandon moved up a gear in the second half. Healer dribbled round a defender and beat Steve Tierney with a low shot, then Mark Patterson raced through for the third to give Brandon their second win over Horden this season.

After a slow start, Thornaby are now in the top eight after they won 2-0 at Chester-le-Street, Jamie Clark scored a goal in each half for them. Durham City dropped points in their 1-1 draw with Morpeth at Archibalds Stadium.

Durham took the lead after 48 minutes when new signing Willie Moat crossed for Robbie Herbert to score, but Morpeth equalised when Mark Taylor nodded the ball down for Colin Lawton to fire home. The point lifted Morpeth to sixth bottom.

Whitley Bay scored twice in the last couple of minutes to snatch a 3-3 draw with Peterlee.

All the goals came in the second half. Peterle took the lead after 50 minutes with a goal by recent signing Chris Emms, but Wayne Edgcumbe quickly cancelled it out.

Emms restored Peterlee's lead with a header, and they looked good for the points when Stephen Cochrane fired home from 25 yards after 85 minutes.

But Andy Martin pulled one back after 89 minutes, and in the dying seconds of stoppage time Andy Hay scored the equaliser. Whitley stay in fourth place, while Peterlee go ninth.

West Auckland drew 1-1 with Tow Law at Darlington Road. They took a 10th minute lead with a header by Jonathan Milroy from a Dion Raitt corner, but Lawyers equalised with another header, from centre half Andy Armstrong, his first goal for the club. West Auckland are now sixth in the table, while Tow Law, thanks to four points from their last two matches, are now in midtable.

Dunston are through to the second qualifying round of the FA Cup after they won 1-0 at Billingham Town on Tuesday.

In a rip roaring cup tie, Dunston scored the winner after 22 minutes with a header from Mark Taylor, but Dunston keeper Stuart Dawson pulled off two good saves, while George Woodhouse missed a good chance for Billingham.

Dunston are now at home to Fleetwood from the North West Counties League in the next round.

Fleetwood hit the national headlines in pre-season when Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier agreed to send a team to play Fleetwood following a conversation on a holiday flight with a young supporter.