Seaham Red Star went top of the ENL second division with a convincing 5-2 home win over Washington.

Seaham took the lead after 38 minutes when recent signing Dennis Knight latched onto a through ball and beat Neal Atkinson, but Washington levelled just on half time when James Fairley cleverly finished off a four man move.

Seaham regained the lead on 53 minutes when Sonny Andrews scored from the spot after Knight was brought down. Lewis Wing made it 3-1 from a Knight pass, but Fairley pounced on a mistake and pulled a goal back.

Dean Nicholson made it 4-2 when he scored from a right wing cross on 72 minutes, and Tommy English chipped the fifth in the last minute.

Ryhope CW lost 2-1 at home to Thornaby.

Richie Walker scored twice for Thornaby in the second half then Ryhope had defender Darryl Evans red carded. Nathan O’Neill scored Ryhope’s consolation.

Whitley Bay came back from 3-1 down with 15 minutes left to beat Newcastle Benfield 5-3 at Hillheads.

Benfield took the lead with an effort by Dan Taylor, but Paul Chow levelled for Whitley when he beat a defender and low into the bottom corner.

Paul Brayson restored Benfield’s lead from the penalty spot, then Taylor made it 3-1. Peter Watling pulled a goal back, and Jonny Godsmark scored from a Leon Ryan pass. Watling scored in the last minute of normal time, and Robbie Bird got the fifth in stoppage time.

In the Northumberland Senior Cup, Blyth beat Ashington 3-0, with goals by Dan Parker, Damon Mullen and Chris Bell.