Sporting Club Sunderland found second-off-bottom Ebchester FC hard to beat when they overcame them by the odd goal in nine.

Sporting were in front after three minutes, Barry Cook the scorer. After 15 minutes Mark Turner equalised for Ebchester with a free kick from 20 yards, then put them in the lead five minutes later. Neil Swainston increased the lead to 3-1 when he beat two defenders to slip the ball past the keeper. Paul Mouat in 35 minutes and Barry Cook in 45 levelled the score for Sporting at 3-3. Barry Cook completed his hat-trick in 65 minutes to put Sporting ahead 4-3, five minutes on and Mark Lawton made it 5-3 with a crisp shot from the edge of the box. In the 75th minute Ebchester were back in the game when Mark Turner beat two defenders to score his hat-trick. But try as they might Ebchester were unable to get the equaliser

Shildon Railway beat Durham Victoria Bridge 3-0. Kevin Hamilton hit a 35 yard drive on 25 minutes for the only goal of the first half. In the 65th minute Damian Askew beat two players to slip the ball to Neil Robinson who made no mistake for he second goal. Five minutes later the third goal came via Neil Robinson who crossed for Kevin Hamilton to head home.

Simonside Social Club went down 3-1 to visitors Brandon Station who led after 21 minutes through Gavin Bell. Lloyd Coats equalised in the 29th minute but Paul Webster came back for Brandon to give them a 2-1 lead at the inteval. John Templeton made it 3-1 with the last kick of the match.

Cockfield FC had a comfortable win beating Seaham Mallard 4-0 at home. Spennymoor Black & Decker's aspirations for the League title were shattered when they went down 5-2 away to Hartlepool Town. They were ahead in the first half courtesy of goals by John Christon and Maurice Hilton with Stuart Cooper replying for Hartlepool. In the second period goals from Stuart Cooper with his second and a hat-trick from Dave smith sealed the result for Hartlepool.