Shildon went top of the EBAC Northern League thanks to a second half goal against Guisborough.

Shildon went close twice in the first half. Bobby Moore curled a left foot shot against the angle of post and crossbar and Guisborough keeper Nick Liversedge saved the follow up from Paul Connor, then Connor broke through and Liversedge pushed his shot against the crossbar. Curtis Round went close at the other end.

In the second half, Guisborough nearly scored through Danny Earl, but Gary Brown cleared off the line. However, Shildon took the lead on the hour when the ball came in from the left, and Connor fired left footed into the bottom right hand corner.

Round nearly levelled for Guisborough, but Lewis Graham got down well to save his deflected shot. Graham pulled off two more good saves as Guisborough piled on the pressure late in the game.

Bishop Auckland lost 2-0 at home to Marske United.

The closest either side came to scoring in an open first half was a shot by Marske’s Craig Gott that struck the post, but the midfielder had better luck on 52 minutes when Dan Riley made a good run and set up Gott to score from the edge of the area.

Marske went further ahead when Adam Wheatley scored from a free kick with twelve minutes remaining.

Newton Aycliffe drew 1-1 at North Shields. Both sides had a man sent off in the first half. Stuart Banks was shown a straight red for Aycliffe, and Kevin Hughes two yellows for Shields.

New signing Dan Wilson put Shields into the lead, but Paul Garthwaite equalised for Aycliffe with 15 minutes left.

Bedlington had a good 2-1 home win over Whitley Bay.

Mason Stephenson scored twice for Bedlington in the first 8 minutes to put his side in control and they held on to their two goal advantage until late in the game, when Adam Shanks pulled a goal back from the penalty spot.

Sunderland RCA had an excellent 5-3 away win at West Allotment. Clayton Davis scored a hat trick for them, with Paul Callen and Callum Hope scoring the others. Dale Pearson (2) and Ian Lee scored for Allotment, who were level 3-3 at one stage.

Morpeth drew 2-2 at Newcastle Benfield. Morpeth took the lead when Chris Carr set up Ben Sayer, then Keith Graydon fired the second. But Benfield hit back with two goals by Paul Brayson in the second half.

In the second division, Birtley ran riot against bottom club Stokesley, winning 9-0, Daniel Maddison scoring four of them. Stokesley have conceded 36 goals in their six league games so far.

Heaton Stannington beat Easington 3-2, even though they had their keeper Shaun Backhouse sent off.

Heaton took the lead when Jonny Wright chipped the keeper, and after Wright missed a penalty, Brian Dodsworth added the second. Easington pulled a goal back through Luke Page but then Ben Telford made it 3-1. Backhouse was sent off for a foul, but Easington could only add one more goal through Page.

Billingham Synthonia and Thornaby fought out a goalless draw at Central Avenue, while Ryton and Crawcrook won at Northallerton thanks to a goal by Scott Gunn.

Chester-le-Street drew 1-1 at Willington. Scott Heslop gave them the lead, but Lewis Milner equalised for Willington.