Dunston manager Billy Irwin says that he is trying to keep his players focused on the league as they thumped bottom club Stokesley 5-0 on Saturday.

The Vase finalists are having to deal with the same mental distractions as West Auckland regarding the May 13th final, and Irwin said: “I’m trying to keep the players focused on winning the league, instead of thinking about Wembley.

“It’s very tight at the top, and we feel that we’ve got a good chance of winning the league, but West Auckland and Spennymoor will be saying the same thing.

“We’ve got ten games to play. We had a similar situation last year, and this time round we’ve got a bigger squad.”

Dunston took the lead in the very first minute when dead ball specialist Lee McAndrew scored from a free kick, then Steve Preen quickly made it 2-0 with a header from a corner.

Kane Young ran through and scored the third midway through the half, and just on the break Stephen Shaw set up McAndrew to score the fourth. Micky Chilton added the fifth in the second half. Stokesley have now conceded a century of goals away from home.

Meanwhile, Dunston will be putting their Wembley tickets on sale later this week, and have lined up a variety of outlets to sell them.

Leaders Sunderland RCA lost for the third time inside a week when they were beaten 3-2 at home by Jarrow Roofing, who have now climbed out of the bottom three. Former Newcastle striker Paul Robinson superbly chipped RCA keeper Craig Shields to put Roofing into the lead, with Richie Paxton soon heading the RCA level.

Robinson scored another good goal when he turned quickly in the box and fired home, then Kris Hughes made it 3-1 after 72 minutes. Stephen Jones pulled a goal back for RCA late in the game.

Meanwhile, RCA manager Neil Hixon has revealed that the club has sacked assistant manager Glen McCartney for gross misconduct involving incidents concerning Sunday football.

Sunderland RCA manager Neil Hixon said: “When I went into the dressing room at 1.45, there was nothing there. The defeat at West Auckland on Wednesday night killed us. Saturday’s performance was our worst of the season, and at the wrong time.”

Jarrow Roofing manager Richie McLoughlin said; “It was a good win. The lads were well up for it, and got the three points.”

West Auckland are now four points off the lead with six games in hand after a last minute winner gave them a 2-1 victory over Billingham Town at Darlington Road.

West striker Mattie Moffat scored his 23rd league goal of the season when he won possession and beat Town keeper James Briggs after 20 minutes, but Town levelled three minutes before half time when Nicky Martin fired in off the post.

West threw everything at Town in the second half, and their pressure finally paid off late in the game when Adam Nicholls scored with a deflected shot from a Stuart Banks pass. West are at home to Shildon in a local derby this afternoon.

West Auckland manager Peter Dixon said: “It should have been finished in the first half, but we only had one goal to show for it. The players got a little anxious, and in the end, we had four strikers on the field trying to get a winner.”

Billingham Town manager Carl Jarrett said: “I was gutted that we conceded so late in the game. We grew into the game after a flat first half and made it hard for them. The lads can be really proud of the performance.”

Bishop Auckland striker Andrew Johnson is now six ahead at the top of the first division scoring charts after a hat trick in the 5-1 win at Penrith to give him 36 goals for the season, ahead of nearest rival Anthony Shandran of Bedlington.

Bishops took an early lead when Darren Richardson slotted in a cross from Arran Wearmouth, but Penrith levelled with an effort by Andrew Murray-Jones.

Bishops regained the lead when Adam McLane scored with a scissor kick from a Gareth Ayers free kick then Johnson took over in the second half.

He converted a spot kick on 50 minutes after he was brought down by the keeper, then a minute later he made it 4-1 from a Nicky Lyons through ball. And in the 67th minute he completed his hat trick from a Wearmouth cross.

Penrith have now dropped to third bottom, because of Roofing’s win at Sunderland RCA, and if Tow Law lose or draw at Dunston today, then they will be relegated.

Bishop Auckland manager Colin Myers said: “I don’t think we played as well as we have done recently. We dropped our standards in the first half, but we put them right in the second half.”

Shildon have now four win in a row, after they completely dominated the second half at Consett to win 5-1. Billy Greulich-Smith scored the perfect hat trick, with his right foot, left foot and head.

Ryan King gave Consett the lead, but Greulich-Smith equalised with a header on 38 minutes. Sam Garvie fired Shildon in front straight from the restart, and Greulich-Smith scored the third from close range. Nick Kane charged through and scored the fourth, and in stoppage time Greulich-Smith completed his hat trick from the spot.

Shildon manager Gary Forrest said: “We weren’t that good in the first half, and looked lethargic and complacent, but we were excellent after half time. Billy’s hat trick will bring him on a ton.”

Consett manager Ken Lindoe said: “I thought we were the better side in the first half and deserved to be in front but conceded just before half time to go in level. Second half was a no contest after we gave away a comic book goal in the first minute and defended poorly for the rest of the half, which allowed them to win convincingly without having to be too creative.”

Newton Aycliffe came from two goals down at home to Guisborough to win 4-2.

Guisborough went two goals up inside the first 20 minutes, Adam Gell scored from close range, and then Liam O’Sullivan scored from the rebound after Liam McPhillips hit the post.

Aycliffe pulled a goal back when Warren Byrne found the bottom corner from the edge of the box, and on 55 minutes Byrne scored the equaliser from the rebound after Guisborough keeper Danny Dixon blocked his spot kick.

Byrne completed his hat trick when he robbed a defender and ran through to beat Dixon, then he set up sub Danny Mellanby, who picked his spot for the fourth.

Newton Aycliffe manager Allan Oliver said: “The players showed a lot more character in the second half, and they did well to come back from 2-0 down to win. I asked them to show some leadership.”

Guisborough manager Chris Hardy said: “The second half saw the home side take advantage of three defensive mistakes and that was enough to take all three points.”

Marske United had a poor day, losing 5-2 at home to South Shields.

Marske gifted Shields the lead after three minutes when a back pass was pounced upon by Stephen Ramsey, who ran through to score, then Ramsey fired the second from a Lee Bell pass. Marske fought back, and Danny Brunskill and Chris McGill both scored to pull them level by the 52nd minute. However, Lee Bell scored with two penalties, one for handball and one for a foul, to put Shields 4-2 up, and Peter Kane added the fifth with a few minutes left.

Marske manager Paul Burton said: “We were poor, and never really got going. We only played for a 20 minute spell, 10 minutes either side of half time. It was all South Shields. I’m disappointed, but we go again on Monday against Guisborough.”

South Shields manager Jon King said: “It was a very good result. I was very upset with my team because at 2-0 up and coasting, we should have been five or six up. We didn’t take numerous good chances and we took our foot off the gas. I had a right go at the players and made three subs and in the end we won comfortably, but from 30 minutes to 60 I was unhappy with our players.”