Bishop Auckland are still looking for their first win at their new stadium as their defending let them down in a 4-0 home defeat by Norton.

Former Bishops striker Jamie Clarke fired Norton into the lead from the edge of the box after 14 minutes, and Craig Bishop tapped in the second on the half time whistle.

Norton sub Nathan Mulligan took advantage of some poor defending to score the third on 75 minutes, and with a few minutes left Craig Gott tapped in the fourth. Bishops’ miserable afternoon was completed when former Hartlepool keeper Jim Provett saved a Steven Turnbull penalty.

Two of the teams near Bishops in the relegation fight picked up points.

Third bottom Stokesley held on with nine men to draw 1-1 at home with Sunderland RCA. They took the lead when Stephen Morrison scored from a through ball, but had to regroup when striker Glen Robson was dismissed after 68 minutes.

Richard Logan levelled for the RCA with a long range shot with six minutes left, and Stokesley had to survive without Morrison for the dying minutes after he was also dismissed.

Sixth bottom Billingham Synthonia maintained their recent improvement with a good 1-1 away draw at third placed Newcastle Benfield, although they left it late.

Benfield striker John Campbell, who is being chased by several Football League clubs, gave his side the lead with a 25 yarder after 14 minutes – his 24th goal of the season – but hard working Synners equalised with a couple of minutes left direct from a Nathan Jameson free kick.

League leaders Consett stayed five points ahead at the top with a 2-0 away win at a blustery Billingham Town.

Consett looked sluggish in the first half against a determined Town side who nearly took the lead with a Micky Dunwell effort, but they took the lead after 61 minutes with a 25 yarder from Scott Martindale. Sub Mark Patterson split the defence for Anthony Lund to score the second right at the end.

Second placed Spennymoor overcame the elements to win 2-0 at bottom of the table Ryton. Moors scored their first goal with a Steve Capper penalty after Lewis Dodds was brought down following a 70 yard run, and Gavin Cogdon scored the second from a Kallum Griffiths pass. The wind got stronger in the second half, but even so Moors still missed some good chances. Ryton have now lost their last 20 league games on the trot.

Shildon missed a chance to go third after drawing 1-1 with Bedlington at Dean Street. Darren Hollingsworth hit the crossbar for Shildon in an even first half, but Bedlington took the lead when Alex Benjamin headed in from a yard out.

But Shildon levelled when Chris Hughes burst through, and scored with a left foot shot.

Whitley Bay are fifth after beating Penrith at Hillheads, with Craig MacFarlane firing the only goal of the game against the wind just before half time. Penrith missed an easy chance for an equaliser late in the game.

West Auckland, who haven’t played since just before Christmas, won 4-1 at Jarrow Roofing. They took the lead after 25 minutes when Andrew Green scored from a Dan Hindmarch pass, and ten minutes later Mark Stephenson headed in a Martin Young corner.

Ian Maddison headed a free kick into his own net to let Roofing back into the game, but on the hour Jonathan Gibson set up Mattie Moffat for the third. Within three minutes, Hindmarch beat two men and lobbed the keeper for the fourth.

Tow Law’s return to action after the enforced break saw them lose 6-2 at Ashington, and they also had player-manager Ian Davison sent off. Andy Johnson put Ashington 1-0 up in a scramble, and Iain Nickalls was left unmarked to head in a corner for the second. Mark O’Dea hit a 25 yarder for the third, but then new signing Andy Thompson pulled one back for Lawyers before half time. Davison was dismissed for a professional foul just after half time, and Ashington took advantage with a Johnson header. Johnson completed his hat trick from the spot, and after Thompson pulled a goal back, Damon Mullen finished Lawyers off.

South Shields’ home game with Esh Winning had to be abandoned on the hour mark because of floodlight failure, with Shields leading 1-0.