Bishop Auckland gained a morale boosting victory before their FA Cup tie this weekend when they beat Chester-le-Street 4-3 in the ENL at Heritage Park tonight.

Bishops took the lead after 19 minutes when Jeff Smith cut inside after his own corner was cleared back to him, and he curled a left foot shot from the edge of the area just inside the post. Stuart Thompson then nearly made it 2-0 from almost the same position, but he was just off target. However, Chester surprised Bishops by levelling with a low shot by Lee Mole on 35 minutes, but six minutes later Alex Francis whipped in a corner from the Bishops left that flew straight into the net.

Mole levelled for Chester with another left foot shot on 58 minutes, but seven minutes later Andy Johnson crossed low from the left for Chris Winn to slide home. The same combination and the same move worked again for the fourth three minutes from the end, but there was still time for David Surrey to pull a goal back from the spot.

In the third meeting between the two teams this season, Newton Aycliffe beat Washington 3-2.

Mark Davison put Washington into the lead, but Aycliffe hit back with two goals in as many minutes from Paul Garthwaite and John Campbell before half time.

Dennis Knight put Aycliffe 3-1 up, before Davison pulled another goal back.

South Shields are top of the table after beating Jarrow Roofing 5-0.

Shields took the lead when Danny Carson beat two men and fired into the bottom corner past the Roofing keeper, and just after half time Carl Finnigan scored from a through ball. He did the same again on 52 minutes for the third, then Luke Hannant cut in from the left and scored with a low shot. Gavin Cogdon got the fifth with a diving header Marske United had an excellent 5-0 away win at Dunston UTS.

New signing Peter Bulmer marked his debut for Marske by scoring after just three minutes, then Danny Earl made it 2-0 with a shot on the turn. Bulmer was involved in the third goal when his shot was blocked, and Reece Kelly scored from the rebound. Kelly then got another from a breakaway, and that was quickly followed by a fifth from Corey Nicholson Ryhope CW threw away a two goal lead against Penrith and had to settle for a 2-2 draw.

James Ellis put Ryhope into the lead from a corner on 14 minutes, then Kyle Davis made it 2-0 from the edge of the box on 32 minutes. Kevin Connelly pulled a goal back from a Martyn Coleman assist on 48 minutes. Coleman equalised from the spot for Penrith Newcastle Benfield also scored five in their game at Ashington.

Dylan McAvoy put Benfield into the lead after half an hour, but Ben Sampson quickly equalised. Paul Brayson restored Benfield’s lead before half time, with McAvoy making it 3-1. Brayson then made it 4-1 with a header , and Matty Cornish got another from a rebound. Ashington’s Kyle Downey then had a penalty saved.

Darlington RA won only their third game of the season by beating Blyth 2-1.

Danny Pigg gave the RA the lead, but that was cancelled out by Anthony Moran before half time. Pigg restored the RA’s lead on 70 minutes Durham City won 3-0 at home against Willington. David Luke gave Durham an early lead, then Daniel O’Reilly made it 2-0 from a Nathan Lawrence pass. Michael King fired the third.

Billingham Town beat Hebburn 2-0 at Bedford Terrace. Stephen Oakley put Town into the lead on 54 minutes, with Craig Hutchinson getting the second.

Fourth bottom Crook had a much-needed 4-1 away win at Thornaby, who took an early lead through new signing Nathan Evans.

Crook levelled with a Sonny Andrews header before half time, then Andrews sent Lewis Martin running through to put his side in the lead. Andrews set up Damon Reaks for 3-1, then Reaks in turn provided the pass for Andrews to get the fourth, Bottom club Esh Winning came back from two goals down to draw 2-2 at Ryton.

Leigh Shickle headed Ryton into the lead , with James Charteries adding the second after half time, but Esh hit back with goals by new signings Lee Best and Andrew Clarkson.

Alnwick lost 3-0 at home to the new leaders Whickham, for whom Mark Fitzpatrick scored all three.