Stokesley closed in on the leadership with a crucial victory over Cleadon at Jack Clark Park.

Cleadon started in pole position having lost just once in 18 games but Stokesley deserved a 2-0 victory.

James Alsop gave them a second-half lead before Jonathan Newton also struck. Stokesley stay third and are now just two points adrift of newly-installed leaders Whitehaven and a point behind Cleadon.

Whitehaven moved to the top of the table for the first time this season with a 4-1 win at home to Coxhoe Athletic and Birtley Town maintained their challenge although they were pressed all the way by New Marske.

The result was settled in the 13th minute when Mark Irwin netted but throughout, the Seasiders, who are second from bottom, matched their opponents.

Teesside Athletic's championship hopes received another setback at Jarrow, who also won by a 1-0 margin. Graham Hutchinson latched onto a long through ball and after rounding goalkeeper Philip Northway, slotted the ball into an empty net.

Athletic had a glorious chance to claim a point when they were awarded a penalty in injury-time but Simon Welch fired over.

The Wolviston defence was deficient when Gary Mitchell bagged a brace of goals within two minutes to earn Willington a 2-0 victory at Metcalfe Park.

Second-half strikes from David Tait and Lee Buglass earned Boldon CA a similar result at home to Nissan SSC Sunderland.

Gateshead Low Fell recovered from being two-down to beat Ferryhill Athletic 3-2. Goals by Allan Robson and Andrew Heaviside put Ferryhill firmly in control but early in the second period John Sherlock reduced the deficit and Damien Coia equalised.

Sherlock scored his second goal and Gateshead's winner with only three minutes remaining.

Harton and Westoe saw off Windscale in the Second Round of the Monkwearmouth Charity Cup. Following Jonathan Mullen's 15th-minute strike, David Hopper converted a penalty.

The Cumbrians rallied and goals either side of half-time threw the game wide open and in the second period of extra time, Harton clinched the tie as Hopper was again on target.