Esh Winning and Crook had a remarkable 5-5 draw at Waterhouses, with two goals coming in the dying minutes. Crook seemed to take control of the game by taking a three goal lead in the first 35 minutes through Brian Fairhurst, Dan Corbett and Richard Hodgson, but Stuart Thompson pulled a goal back before half time. Alex Marshall made it 4-1 soon after the restart, but Esh launched a fightback that pulled them level at 4-4 with goals by Thompson (2) and a 35 yarder by Ian Ward. Crook thought they’d won it when Robbie Bird scored on 87 minutes, but former Crook player Darren Kokes levelled with almost the last kick of the game. Esh Winning manager Andrew Soppitt said: “I’m glad to get away with a point. The wind meant that we couldn’t play our usual game, and for us it became a game of percentages and long balls.”

Leaders Team Northumbria surprisingly lost 2-0 at home to Ryton, for whom Ryan Arnott and Mark Eccles scored.

TN’s defeat opened the door for North Shields to go five points behind them following their 2-1 home win over West Allotment. Andy Hay gave them the lead after 51 minutes, and after Allotment’s Stephen Little was dismissed on 62 minutes, Scott Blandford made it 2-0. Allotment, who are still fourth on goal difference, pulled a goal back through Gary Day. North Shields manager Anthony Woodhouse said: “I thought we defended superbly against the wind in the first half, and in the second half, a great Andy Hay goal sent us on our way.”

Darlington RA are level on points with Allotment after they beat Thornaby 4-2 at Brinkburn Road.

They took a two goal lead through Fred Huscroft and Steve Allison in the first 30 minutes, and just after half time, Allison added a third. Marcus Laing pulled a goal back for Thornaby, but Dale Elgie made it safe for the RA before Craig Skelton scored a consolation. Darlington RA manager Nick Harrison said: “We were strong in the first half, the second half was more even and we didn’t kill the game off, but in awful conditions I’m very happy with the performance and the result.”

Morpeth are also level with the RA and West Allotment after a good 3-0 away win at Alnwick.

Northallerton moved up two places and only three points away from the top three with a 2-0 away win at Seaham Red Star, Carl Chillingsworth scored twice inside the first 12 minutes. Seaham had Michael Turnbull dismissed after 70 minutes.

Seaham Red Star manager Steve Cook said: “It was a Christmas hangover of a game. We huffed and puffed without creating much despite various opportunities to do so. We let two archetypal division two goals in and then we didn’t have enough guile or craft to turn the game in our favour. When we were harshly reduced to ten men, the task was too much for us.”

In the bottom of the table clash, bottom club Easington beat second bottom Horden with a goal by Simon Todd. Easington manager Andy Colledge said: “It was a massive win for us in awful conditions. At last we’re moving in the right direction.” It was Easington's first win in 12 matches.