SPENNYMOOR Thorns maintained their impressive start to the season with a nail-biting 4-3 victory over Brandon - their fifth win of the campaign.

Thorns, promoted last season and contenders for a top three finish, wobbled slightly against mid-table Brandon. But they clinched the three points in the final ten minutes of the game to preserve their second-spot in the First Division.

Mark Russell put Thorns into the lead, then Lee Atkinson doubled it before half-time. Lee Nylan pulled one back for Brandon and Nylan grabbed another to make it 2-2.

Graham Stobbs gave Brandon the lead, but Russell scored his second and third for Thorns to snatch the points.

Newton Aycliffe stay at the top after their 3-0 win at Salvins - Mark Armstrong, Dave Muir and Mark Addy scoring the goals.

Old Shildon recorded an impressive 7-1 win at Beehive. Philip Appleby scored a hat-trick, while James Hedley (2), Paul Whensley and Kevin Russell also scored. Adam Henderson grabbed Beegive's consolation.

In Division Two, Two Blues won their third game of the season with a thrilling 4-3 win over North Briton.

Goals by Lee Nixon, Timmy Hutchinson, Andrew Short and Adrian Brown lifted Blues to victory - with Gary Donald, David Teddar and a Timmy Hutchinson OG netting for Brit.

Elsewhere in Division Two, top-of-the-table Postchaise and fourth-placed Horndale battled out a 2-2 draw. Phil Dowd scored two for Postchaise, with Tony Stebbings grabbing two for Horndale.

Eldon Arms beat Boot & Shoe 8-2, Green Tree narrowly beat Binchester Hotel 3-2 and Cumby Arms, who started the season brightly but have faltered of late, won 2-0 at Victoria.