South Shields are now eleven points behind ENL leaders North Shields with four games in hand after they beat Newton Aycliffe 4-0 at Mariners Park tonight.

Shields went in front after just 3 minutes when Aycliffe defender Dan Mitton put a cross from Michael Richardson into his own goal, and they went 2-0 up on 24 minutes when Jordan Blinco scored from a Craig Baxter cross.

Shields got the third on 34 minutes when Julian Petrarche headed in a Julio Arca cross. In the second half, Aycliffe had full back Scott Howes dismissed for two yellows, and Richardson scored a fourth in stoppage time.

Morpeth kept in touch with the top two and are now third by coming from 2-0 down to win 4-2 at Consett.

Luke Sullivan put Consett into the lead when he turned and scored his 27th league goal of the season with a 25 yarder, and they went 2-0 up with a header by Jordan Nellis from a Danny Craggs left wing cross.

Morpeth pulled a goal back on the half hour when Mark Davison headed in a Ben Sayer corner, and they equalised on the hour when Chris Reid headed in another Sayer corner. Davison headed in yet another Sayers corner to put Morpeth into the lead, then Joe Walton broke away and scored the fourth. Consett had striker Michael Sweet sent off near the end.

West Auckland were beaten 2-0 at Dunston UTS. West had some good defending to thank for keeping Dunston out in the first half, but they went behind on 33 minutes when Dan Halliday crossed for Dale Burrell to score.

West keeper Lewis Graham kept his side in the game when he stopped a Scott Heslop penalty awarded for a foul by Lewis Galpin, but he had no chance with two minutes left when Warren Byrne scored from close range off a corner.

Fourth bottom Washington are still in trouble after they lost 2-1 at Penrith.

Martyn Coleman put Penrith in front, but Micky Laws equalised before half time. However, Jamie Street scored the winner in the second half.

In the second division, Stockton Town edged closer to promotion with a point from a 2-2 draw at Whickham, but they could have had all three.

Youngster Arthur Connelly put Stockton into the lead midway through the first half, then Chris Dunwell made it 2-0 early in the second. But Whickham hit back with two goals by Mark Fitzpatrick Billingham Town thumped Willington at Bedford Terrace by 6-0 to keep their slender promotion hopes alive.

Jamie Davis put Town ahead after three minutes, and after Town keeper Alex Leeds saved a penalty, Craig Hutchinson scored a hat trick in five minutes before half time, giving him 47 league goals for the season.

The goals flowed after half time, with Conor Dunleavy and Hutchinson making it six.

Tow Law came from a goal down at Alnwick to win 4-2, and Northallerton had a good 3-0 away win at Bedlington. Thornaby picked up a good point in their relegation fight from a 2-2 draw with Brandon.