Coxhoe Athletic moved three points clear at the top of the table when they beat Shildon Railway 3-0 at home.

Ralph Petitgean put them in front within ten minutes when an indirect free-kick for Coxhoe rebounded for him to slot home. Coxhoe were on the back foot for the rest of the first half defending stubbornly with Shildon having all the play and pressing for an equaliser. The second half was the same with Shildon having all the play except for a minute's play when Coxhoe managed to sneak in a couple of goals against the run of play. It happened in the 50th minute when Scott Richardson hit a vicious shot from 20 yards to make it 2-0. A minute later Lee Thistlewaite made it 3-0 with a close range shot.

Durham City Reserves won 5-1 convincingly at home to Durham Victoria Bridge. They were 1-0 up in five minutes, Dean Wardle heading home. Phil Cosford levelled it for the Vic ten minutes into the second half heading a goal from a free kick. John Wardle put the City 2-1 up tapping in from six yards. Scott Hembrough added two more on 70 and 75 minutes with Barry Cook making it 5-1 with a solo effort moving from his own half before chipping the ball over the keeper.

Hartlepool Town lost their first league game of the season going down 3-1 away to Gateshead A. A chip over the Hartlepool keeper by Paul Hargreaves gave Gateshead the lead in 47 minutes. Greg Scott got the second then a run by Joe McCaffrey finishing with a 30yard screamer made it 3-0 in 80 minutes. Dean Eglintine got Hartlepool's consolation goal.

Whitehill FC hit Ebchester FC with a 5-1 win, goals scored by Gary Robson, Gary Todd, Darren Burnham and two from Justin Robson. Neil Swainston replied for Ebchester.

A 1-1 draw was a fair result between Simonside Social Club and Seaham Mallard, both teams scoring from the penalty spot. The Mallard scored the first on 34 minutes, Darren Morton, Mallard's keeper, scoring against his opposite number then Ray Simpson replied for Simonside on 38 minutes.

Seaham Town Community beat Durham University at home 2-1. A 12 yard volley by Scott Burns put them in front on 20 minutes. Neil Goodman equalised for the University with a screamer. Then Dean Anderson made it 2-1 for Seaham.

Birtley Town Reserves went out of the Clem Smith Bowl losing 4-1 to an impressive Belford House. Michael Melmore put Belford in front heading home from a corner on 30 minutes then added another five minutes later. Chris Guy pulled a goal back for Birtley before Mark Green put Belford 3-1 up at half time chipping the ball over the Birtley's keeper from 15 yards. Mark Green made it 4-1 on 85 minutes heading in from a right wing cross.

Brandon Prince Bishop made progress into the next round of the Auckland Charity Cup beating Evenwood White Swan 7-4.

League Results: Coxhoe Athletic 3 Shildon Railway FC 0; Durham City Afc Res. 5 Durham Victoria Bridge 1; Gateshead A 3 Hartlepool Town 1; Seaham Town Community FC 2 Durham University FC 1; Simonside SC 1 Seaham Mallard 1; Whitehill FC 5 Ebchester FC 1.