Brandon took a big step towards safety in the ENL Second Division when they thumped Birtley 9-0 last night.

Birtley only turned up with ten players, and they were soon two goals down inside the first 20 minutes to James Davidson and Stephen Moody. They then went down to nine because of an injury, and after that it was backs to the wall. It was only 2-0 at half time, and in the second half, Brandon scored four in five minutes. Moody completed his hat trick, with John Harrison also scoring a hat trick, Adam Cocks and Andrew Blackburn getting the others. Brandon are now up to third bottom.

In the first division, Billingham Synthonia won 3-1 at Penrith.

Synners took an early lead through Jack Bradbury, then he and Michael Sweet scored twice within a minute before half time. Shaun Gardner pulled a goal back in the second half.

In the other second division games, leaders North Shields are closer to promotion after they won 6-2 at Alnwick.

Dean Walker gave Shields the lead with a header, but Alnwick levelled through Darten Riddell. However, Alnwick then had Bryan Murray dismissed for handball on the line, and Gareth Bainbridge scored his 42nd league goal of the season from the spot. He went on to complete his hat trick, with Dean Holmes and Micky Tait getting the others.

Esh Winning are now second bottom after they lost 3-1 at home to West Allotment. Sean Reid and Tony Lancaster put Allotment 2-0 up with 15 minutes left, and after Stephen Parnaby pulled one back for Esh to give them some late hope, Reid made sure for second placed Allotment, who remain six points behind Shields.

Heaton Stannington kept their slim promotion hopes alive with a 4-2 win at Stokesley.