It is extremely tight at the top and two of the title aspirants, Darlington RA and Birtley Town drew when victory for either would have propelled them to the leadership.

RA, who had won their ten previous games, went ahead through Steven Johnson after only 15 minutes of a keenly-contested first-half.

But Birtley came on strong on in the second half and Karl Pennington levelled in the later stages to end the game 1-1.

Boldon CA have taken over at the top following their 4-1 demolition of rival championship contenders Windscale on Saturday.

After a rocky patch, Boldon have regained their early-season form and leapt six places in the table when Craig Rolfe and Lee Seff caused the visitors' defence all kinds of problems.

Victory for Windscale would have taken them into pole position but when Rolfe struck twice before the interval it was the South Tynesiders who were in control.

Seff made it three and although Stephen Rogers reduced the Cumbrians' deficit, Boldon celebrated when Rolfe completed a well-earned hat-trick.

Wolviston, too, are in the championship frame especially after seeing off the challenge from Barnard Castle Glaxo where Guy Whatmore bagged a brace of goals and Andrew Steel also found the net.

At the bottom, victory for Cleadon SC over fellow strugglers Ferryhill Athletic improved their rating. Brian Tully twice found the net inside 25 minutes before Andrew Quinn ended the hopes of Ferryhill when he too hit the target.

Ryhope CW went nap in their home fixture with Annfield Plain. They were five goals up through Andrew Place (2), Brian Smiles, Stephen Rochester and Shaun Godfrey before Chris Hewitt hit a couple of consolation goals for the visitors.

There was still time for Chris Stanton to make the final score 6-2.

Redcar Town staged a spectacular second-half rally to earn a point when all seemed lost against Stanley United who led by three goals at the interval.

Aaron Scott (2) and Alan Humble appeared to have put the visitors into an unassailable position but Tony Peacock netted twice and debutant Emmanuel Ibhadon hit the equaliser.

Stokesley SC just failed to take their league cup tie at North Shields into extra time. They looked down and out when losing 4-1 with just 11 minutes remaining. Jonathan Newton and Paul Aldridge made it 4-3 with three minutes left but the Robins held on.

Craig Johnson put Stokesley in front as early as the fourth minute.

Anthony Robson, Paul Blakey (2) and David Little turned the tables and an easy home win appeared on the cards until Stokesley's fight back had the Robins hanging on at the end.

New Marske went through on penalties at Jarrow. Adam Taylor gave them a first-half lead but when Brendan Mulholland levelled in injury time, it was all to play for. There were no further goals in extra time before the Seasiders won 4-3 after penalties.

Harton and Westoe had no such problems in their home tie with Whitehaven. David Hopper's first-half goal was built on when Scott Baxter rifled the ball into the corner of the net and in the last minute, Michael Meek made the result safe.