Stokesley hit for six

Aycliffe will have much tougher games than this in the season ahead as they cruised into a five goal lead by the 40th minute, and the former Sunderland midfielder said: "The lads did everything asked of them, and it was one of those days in which everything came off.

"We played some excellent stuff, but we're not getting carried away after just one game. We have a tough game at Ashington on Tuesday."

Aycliffe took the lead after 12 minutes with a Ben Wood penalty after Danny Mellanby was brought down, and within two minutes Elliott Gardiner netted another.

Mellanby then set up former Hartlepool centre half Darren Craddock to score the third before Mellanby created the fourth for Wood. It was five on 38 minutes when the same combination worked again.

Stokesley pulled one back when former Middlesbrough winger Nathan Porritt set up Sangha Indy. Aycliffe finished off the visitors when Stuart Owen crossed for Glen Robson, to score.

The game between last season's top two, Spennymoor Town and Consett ended all square at the Brewery Field.

Consett keeper Peter Jameson saved a penalty from Keith Graydon and Moors opened the scoring when Craig Ruddy crossed for Cogdon to head home.

Cogdon was later dismissed for a late challenge on Jameson which let Consett back into the game.

Michael Mackay equalised on his return to the Northern League from the spot after former Darlington defender Steve Foster handled. In the last minute, Turns saved well from Dale Burrell.

West Auckland thumped Penrith 5-1 at Darlington Road. West led by one at half-time, Mark Stephenson heading in a Nathan Wilson free kick, but they opened up in the second half. Adam Nicholls lobbed the keeper, then Stuart Banks scored after his first effort was blocked. Wilson provided the pass for Banks to score the fourth, and after Jake Routledge pulled a goal back for Penrith, Wilson had a penalty saved before Mattie Moffat scored the fifth.

Sunderland RCA nearly clinched a remarkable victory against Shildon with nine men, but they were denied by two late goals.

Defender Carl Beasley was dismissed for an over-zealous tackle after six minutes, then striker Gavin Barton followed him after 25 minutes for violent conduct. The disadvantage didn't stop the RCA taking the lead with a Joe Walton header and went 2-0 up when Jamie Owens headed another.

Richie Paxton pulled one back, then Chris Hughes scrambled in the equaliser.

Two of the fancied teams, Whitley Bay and Dunston, drew 2-2 at Hillheads in front of a 512 crowd.

Whitley took the lead with an effort by Paul Robinson on 13 minutes, and they went further ahead when David Pounder headed home.

But Dunston showed their character in the second half. Andy Bulford pulled one back with a low drive, and then he headed the equaliser nine minutes from the end.

Bishop Auckland were beaten by a last-gasp goal against Billingham Synthonia, who fielded a team with an average age of under 20.

Andy Johnson gave Bishops the lead after a shot by Dan Hawkins was blocked, but Synners levelled when Glen Donaldson netted.

Synners then took the lead with the goal of the game on 53 minutes, a 25 yarder by Kieran Edwards, but Bishops levelled thanks to Chris Lawson's unmarked header from Steven Turnbull's cross. In the fifth minute of stoppage time, Bishops wasted two attempts to clear a corner, and Danny Earl fired in.

Former Darlington, Hartlepool and Newcastle striker Paul Robinson scored a hat trick for Jarrow Roofing in their 5-4 win at Billingham Town, for whom Craig Norman also scored a hat-trick, but finished on the losing side.

The home side led with two goals by Norman with a strike by Ashley Myers sandwiched in between, but Roofing moved up a gear to lead 4-2 with Robinson scoring three inside 25 minutes.

Norman then completed his own haul and Jamie Owens pulled it back to 4-4. But Kris Hughes, on his return to the club, broke away and scored the winner.

Bedlington beat South Shields 4-2 at Welfare Park.

The Terriers took the lead with a free kick into the top corner by new signing Tommy English, but Alex Benjamin levelled with a header.

Terriers regained the lead through Steve Richardson. Shields equalised again in the second half through Yaras Galas but Bedlington immediately replied through Anthony Shandran, and then Steve Bowey scored the fourth with a 25 yarder from a corner.

Newcastle Benfield had a comfortable 4-1 win at Guisborough. Johnny Mann fired them into the lead after 15 minutes, then Micky Chilton and Phil Lumsden scored in quick succession. Luke Bythway pulled a goal back for Guisborough after the break, but Shaun Bell scored a fourth for Benfield.

Promoted Marske United won 1-0 at Tow Law, but the game turned on a second half penalty.

Lawyers were awarded a penalty with five minutes left for handball by veteran defender Micky Waller, but John McDonald saved from Thompson.

Marske got the winner in the dying minutes when Craig Skelton broke clear and slipped the ball under keeper Stephen Robinson.

Norton drew 1-1 with Ashington at Station Road. Ashington took the lead when Chris Scott scored direct from a corner after 23 minutes, but Callum Brown levelled for Norton after 75 minutes. However, Norton had former Hartlepool keeper James Provett to thank for two excellent saves late in the game.

In Division Two, Brandon and Northallerton shared ten goals in a topsy-turvy game at Welfare Park.

After being 3-1 down, Northallerton led 4-3 by half time. But Mark Brischuk scored twice to put Brandon 5-4 up, and after Northallerton's Gary Mitchell missed a penalty, Peter Bulmer levelled with three minutes left. Ryan Readman scored the goal of the game for Brandon with a 30 yarder for their second.

Esh Winning defeated newcomers Easington 5-3 at Waterhouses, the first win under manager Andrew Soppitt, who was appointed in March.

However, Esh eased off after building up a 4-0 lead. Chris Smith, Simon Ord, Craig Mickle and John Jury, put them in control by the 50th minute, but they allowed Easington back into the game with two goals by John Harrison. Mickle scored from the edge of the box, before Harrison completed his hat-trick.

Hebburn won 4-1 at Horden. They took the lead through Chris Tate, but Horden levelled through Stephen Jackson. However, Liam McBryde restored Hebburn's lead, with Tony Stephenson and Tate adding further goals.

Alnwick did well to hold North Shields to a 1-1 draw. Shields took a second half lead through Andy Hay, but Alnwick levelled late on through Adam Shanks.

Darlington RA beat relegated Ryton and Crawcrook 1-0 at Brinkburn Road. The visitors made the RA work hard after having Dan Olusoga sent off after half an hour, but Steve Allison scored midway through the second half.

Crook Town picked up a point in a 2-2 draw at Team Northumbria. Peter Watling and Mark Bertram put TN 2-0 up, but Crook fought back in the second half with goals by Kevin Devine and new signing Alex Marshall.

Thornaby won 4-3 at Birtley. Steve Barker scored with a 25 yarder, with Paul Thorns (2) and Steve Hodgson scoring the others. Stephen Telford (2) and Andy McIntosh netted for Birtley.

Washington started with a 1-0 home win over Morpeth, Michael Latimer, the younger brother of manager Richard and the club captain, scoring after 55 minutes.

Whitehaven and Whickham drew 4-4 in Cumbria. Whickham led 3-1 and then 4-2, but Whitehaven scored with two minutes left and then four minutes into stoppage time to earn a draw. Tony Thirkell scored twice for Whickham, while Kevin Connelly, who got 34 last season for Whitehaven, also scored twice.

West Allotment won 1-0 at Gillford Park, Mark Minto scoring, while Seaham Red Star and Chester-le-Street drew 0-0.