Shildon fell eight points behind the top two in the EBAC Northern League when they were beaten by the only goal of the game at home to second placed South Shields at Dean Street last night.

The game was fairly even until Shildon defender Jamie Harwood was dismissed early in the second half.

It was end to end at the start of the game. Shildon’s Billy Greulich-Smith had a volley saved on the line by Shields keeper Liam Connell, while Robbie Briggs poked a low cross from Luke Hannant just wide, and then Shildon keeper Nick Liversedge went full length to push away David Carson’s low 25 yarder. Lewis Wing replied with a free kick from 20 yards that shaved the post, and at the other end Liversedge blocked a Briggs header at the foot of his post and somehow stopped a Gavin Cogdon ten yarder from going in.

In the second half, Briggs hit the post with a 25 yard curling free kick, then Shildon defender Harwood was dismissed for two yellow cards, his second for pulling back Cogdon.

Shields then got the upper hand with the extra man, and their pressure paid off on 68 minutes when the ball was played through by Briggs for Cogdon, who calmly lifted the ball over the advancing Liversedge.

David Foley was inches away from a second, and Liversedge made a good save from Hannant as Shields looked for another. But Shildon almost shocked them when Paul Connor, on as sub for Amar Purewal, cut in from the right and struck a low left foot shot that went just past the right hand post.

North Shields hammered Guisborough 6-0 to stay five points clear of South Shields.

Shields took the lead after 6 minutes when Gareth Bainbridge scored from a Robert Taylor through ball, then three minutes later Adam Forster made it 2-0 with a 25 yarder. Lee Mason hit the Guisborough post, and then Jack Donnison set up Taylor to make it 3-0. Mason then fired the fourth from a Ryan Carr pass before half time.

Guisborough subbed their keeper at half time, Ben Escritt replacing Ryan Catterick, but they still conceded a fifth on the hour to Carr. Mason then blasted the sixth from 25 yards Morpeth thrashed Ryhope CW 7-1 at Craik Park. Ryhope took the lead with a goal by Chris Bell, but Sean Taylor equalised for Morpeth on 26 minutes from the spot after Chris Reid was brought down. Two minutes later Morpeth were in front thanks to a 25 yarder by Joe Walton.

Taylor set up Walton to slide in the third, and Walton returned the favour for Taylor to get the fourth. Walton completed his hat trick from a Reid cross, Matty Halambiec headed the sixth from a Keith Graydon cross and Taylor completed the rout.

Brooks Mileson Northern League Cup first round.

Billingham Synthonia 1 (Brunskill) Ashington 2 (Downey, Scott), Esh Winning 1 Sunderland RCA 5 (Callen, Forster 2, Martin, Butler), Hebburn 2 (Pegram, Smith) Thornaby 2 (Bennions, Rowe) Hebburn won 4-2 on penalties , Ryton and Crawcrook 1 (Anderson) Bedlington 2 (Scott, Foalle), Washington 1 (Costello) Brandon 0, West Allotment 1 (Pearson) Newcastle Benfield 5 (Cornish, Brayson 4), Willington 2 (Stephenson, Brazauskas) Penrith 4 (Connelly 2, Coleman, Davidson).