Sunderland Nissan boss Wilf Constantine handed in his resignation after the 6-1 home drubbing by Newcastle Benfield - but was then persuaded to withdraw it.

Nissan have won just twice this season, and Constantine temporarily decided that enough was enough after the thrashing by Benfield, whose manager Paul Baker was celebrating his first game in charge.

Constantine, who took over two seasons ago, said: "It was a heat of the moment thing because it was the worst I've seen us play.

"The club wouldn't accept my resignation and talked me into staying.

"I was told that other people should be going instead of me."

After a goalless first half hour Benfield went into the lead when Micky Chilton headed in a Shaun Bell cross, then Bell netted the second.

Chilton ran through for the third just after half time, with Kevin Leighton heading a fourth. Chilton then fired two more in quick succession. Nissan scored a late consolation through Andy McKenna.

Managerless Tow Law shocked Ashington by winning 1-0. Both sides missed chances before Nicky Martin scored with an overhead kick, his second of the season. Lawyers are still looking for a manager, although they have already spoken to two possibilities.

Brandon collected their first point of the season in a 1-1 draw at home to West Allotment. The visitors, who missed a chance to go top, took the lead with a header by Andy Hay, but Brandon battled away and levelled three minutes from time with an own goal by Geoff Allison when he headed a right wing cross into his own net.

Esh Winning lost 3-0 at home to Morpeth. The visitors took the lead when new signing Lee Picton headed in and Wayne Edgcumbe got the second from the spot after he had been brought down before half time.

Grimes made sure of the points after 73 minutes after beating the offside trap.

Shildon were beaten 5-3 at Bedlington and remain in the bottom four. Shildon had a good first half, missing two good chances and hitting the bar through Michael Hillary before Wayne Gredziak picked up a back pass and rounded the keeper to open the scoring.

Bedlington burst into life in the second half. Justin Keegan, Steve Preen (2) Tony Shandran and Robbie Cockburn all netting.

Ralph Petitjean and Paul Orton netted late for Shildon.

Jarrow Roofing won their first away game of the season, beating Horden 2-1. Roofing took the lead with a Paul Chow penalty then Andy Allen got another from a free kick. Lee Dixon pulled one back, but they couldn't break Roofing down again.

In the second division, Darlington RA striker Warren Byrne took his tally to 12 goals in the four games with a hat trick in his team's 3-1 win at Peterlee to put them third.

Byrne has now scored 14 in the league this season and has scored in every game he's played. Stephen Winspear scored for Peterlee when the score was 2-0.

Spennymoor suffered their first defeat, collapsing 5-1 at Penrith, conceding four times in the second half.

Paul Bailes gave Spennymoor the lead and they missed chances to increase it before Penrith equalised through Dan Broadley. Penrith went into the lead with an own goal then scored further goals through Barry Irving, Michael Reed and Ryan Errington. Spennymoor's Ian Lowe was red carded.

Washington thumped North Shields 6-1. Tony Healer (2), Craig Knowlson, Craig Marron (two penalties) and Steve Burns on target.

Crook Town won 3-2 at bottom club Kennek Ryhope CA after being pegged back twice. Roy Allen, Phil McGuire, and Sam Vernalls in turn put Crook ahead, with Dean Arkley and David Christie scoring for Ryhope.

South Shields snatched a point with a late goal at Ryton to earn a 2-2 draw. David Henderson and Craig Burke, with his seventh league goal of the season, put Ryton ahead, with Michael Ford and Neil Green scoring for Shields.

Norton lost 3-2 at Marske United after leading 2-0 with goals from Mark Hand and Tyson Masters. David Onions pulled one back and Norton missed two good chances to increase their lead, but Onions and then Peter Boldison scored for Marske.

Guisborough are still without a win after they were beaten 5-1 at Prudhoe.

Guisborough also lost their keeper because of injury for the last 20 minutes, so outfield player Carl Tate went in goal. Lee Telfer, Steve Beherall, Marc Nixon and Andrew Bulford (2) were Prudhoe's scorers, with Gary Shardha replying for Guisborough when the score was 4-0.