Darlington RA are in the bottom five of the second division after they lost 3-1 to Sunderland RCA.

Gary Shields opened the scoring for the RCA from six yards out, then he ran through and fired the second. It was all over for the RA when Lee Bell's shot was parried and Matthew Raine scored from the rebound. Paul Freary pulled a late goal back for the visitors.

The RA are asking for applications for their vacant manager's job following the resignation of David Woodcock.

League leaders Birtley lost their local derby 3-1 at second placed Whickham.

Graeme King gave Whickham the lead, but John Sherlock levelled. Whickham went back in front with a Darren Tindale header, and after Whickham keeper Stephen Robinson saved a penalty, David Fairless raced through to score the third.

Crook's remarkable revival continued when they thumped early season leaders Stokesley 4-0 at the Millfield.

Striker Don Olusoga headed them into the lead, then Darren Kokes beat a defender and set him up to score his seventh goal in eight games.

In the second half, Liam Bone cracked a 25 yarder into the top corner, and near the end, the Stokesley keeper fumbled and Bone scored from a couple of yards.

Crook are unbeaten in the last seven, while Stokesley have lost their last seven.

Guisborough have now lost five successive league games after going down 4-0 at Ryton. Paul King gave Ryton a half-time lead, and then they brushed Guisborough aside with second half goals by Bradley Brooking on 52 and 89 minutes, and Stephen Shaw on 59 minutes.

Thornaby, inspired by former Boro player Dean Gordon, are into sixth following a 4-0 home win over Prudhoe. Gordon set up John Ryan's goal, then new signing Shaun Boynton finished off a good move with a curling shot.

Gordon blasted the third from a free-kick just before half-time, and after the break he crossed for Dane Wilson to head another.

Esh Winning won their fourth successive match, 1-0 at Hebburn. Nicky Martin netted.

Marske are into seventh after an easy 4-1 home win over Horden. David Onions took his league tally for the season to 14 with hat-trick, with James Brodie-Myers scoring the other. Roy Allen replied for Horden.

Norton's new signing Micky Dunwell scored a hat-trick to set up a 4-1 win at North Shields and move his side further away from the bottom two.

Graeme Baverstock scored Norton's fourth, with Craig Pleasant scoring for Shields.

South Shields survived a fightback by Brandon to win 4-2 and stay in fifth place. Dean Patton, Chris Feasey and Lee-Paul Scroggins scored in the space of ten minutes before half-time to put Shields 3-0 up, but after the break Kevin Russell and Chris English hit back for Brandon. However, Stephen Ramsey made sure for the home side.

Team Northumbria were beaten 3-0 at home by Penrith for whom Michael Hodgson (2) and Mark Jones scored.

Whitby's new boss Graham Clark saw his side beat Leek Town 2-1 at the Turnbull Ground, new signing Andrew Thompson scoring both their goals

Newcastle Blue Star had a 4-1 away win on the artificial surface at Woodley Sports in the First Division North.

They led 3-0 with goals by Chris Emms, Lee Novak and Scott Bell, then David McTiernan added a fourth near the end.

Gateshead advanced in the FA Trophy by winning 2-1 at Matlock, Kris Gate and Wayne Phillips scoring their goals.