Billingham Town striker Carl Chillingsworth gave his side a perfect boost ahead of their FA Vase tie on Saturday in a resounding 6-2 win over Tow Law.

Chillingsworth scored a hat trick as Town hit top form ahead of their game at Gorleston this Saturday. Manager Allan Robinson said: "It was just what we wanted ahead of the Gorleston game. It's a perfect confidence boost because we played some good football, scored some good goals, and we got 90 minutes under our belts."

Town took the lead early on, when Craig Skelton crossed for Chillingsworth to score with a diving header, then he quickly added another from ten yards out. Skelton then pounced on a loose ball to coolly sidefoot the third from the edge of the area, but then Tow Law launched a comeback.

Marc Eccles dribbled through the Billingham defence and set up Paul Richardson to beat Darren Collier, then Carl Beasley pulled another back just after the interval.

But Town went 4-2 up when Skelton raced through as the visiting defence appealed for offside, and Lawyers' Scott Nicholson was shown his second yellow card for taking his protests too far. Chillingsworth scored his hat trick in a scramble, then sub George Woodhouse got the sixth from a pass by Graeme Baverstock. Lawyers' Jeff Hall was red-carded for swearing late in the game.

Durham City are also in good heart for their Vase tie after they won 3-2 against Morpeth at the Archibalds Stadium. City took the lead through Tony Healer from a Steve Walklate cross after 23 minutes, but Darryl Leach levelled from a right wing cross.

Tom Jones restored Durham's lead when he cut in from the left and beat the Morpeth keeper, but Morpeth again replied through Justin Asiaman.

But sub Keith Douglas got the winner for Durham after 68 minutes wit ha perfectly placed free kick from the edge of the box.

Billingham Synthonia narrowed the gap on the two leaders to three points after a good 3-0 home win over Guisborough.

They took the lead after 13 minutes when Michael Cater set up Tony Wood, who chipped advancing keeper Simon Corbett from the edge of the box.

Both sides had some good chances to increase the scoring before Synners added the second after 75 minutes when Lee Flanagan crossed for David Wells to score with a diving header, then Flanagan made it three from a Neil Radigan pass.

West Auckland are now fifth after they drew 1-1 at Chester-le-Street. West started the game well, and took the lead when Ray Stanger nodded down a Steve Agnew free kick for Jonathan Milroy. David Bainbridge missed a good chance for a second before new signing Ian Dixon fired home from the edge of the box following a corner. Both sides had good chances in the second half, while West also had a penalty appeal turned down.

Washington climbed two places to seventh from bottom after they beat Peterlee 2-1 in their relegation battle.

Peterlee took the lead when player-manager Andy Toman was fouled, and Paul Hinton scored from the spot. But Washington hit back and, after Ben Chambers missed a good chance, equalised before half time when Paul Robinson headed in a from a corner. And a draw looked a likely result until two minutes from the end when Kevin Leighton scored from close range

Whitley Bay and Dunston drew 1-1 at Hillheads.

Whitley took the lead when Ian Dixon headed a Marc Walmsley cross past Dunston keeper Stuart Dawson, but Steve Pickering dribbled through the Whitley defence for the equaliser after 36 minutes. Lee Ludlow hit the post for Whitley in the second half.

In the second division, Washington Nissan are now ten points clear after they drew 2-2 at Thornaby.

They were in the lead twice, and missed a penalty with the score 2-1.

Adam Johnston put them in the lead from Paul Conlon's cross for his 23rd goal of the season, but Glen Corkain levelled from Jamie Clarke's pass.

Johnston then missed a penalty awarded for a foul on Conlon, and both sides then had a man sent off, former Darlington player Gary Coatsworth of Nissan and Thornaby's Lee Bowes. Thornaby levelled through Andrew Banks in the second half.

Ashington moved into third place with a 4-0 home win over Crook, who are perilously close to the bottom of the table when a possible six point deduction for playing an ineligible player is taken into account.

Two goal Ashington striker Alan Hogg was on target for the seventh successive game to take his tally in the league for the season to eleven. Mark Campbell and Steve Sinclair score the other goals before half time .

Seaham Red Star are also in touch with the leading pack as they extended their unbeaten run to ten games with a 1-1 draw at Hebburn.

They came back from a goal down with ten men after Scott Bolton was dismissed for swearing before half time. Hebburn took the lead with a Paul Donaghie penalty, and then had another saved by Seaham's former Darlington keeper Keith Finch. Colin Wright levelled for Seaham after John Harrison hit the bar.

Alnwick are now out of the bottom two after they won 2-1 at Murton. James Swordy scored twice for Alnwick in the first half.

Willington and Eppleton, who didn't play on Saturday, now occupy the relegation positions.