Marske’s new signing Karl Charlton inspired them to a 3-1 home win over Birtley at Mount Pleasant.

Charlton was signed from neighbours Guisborough in midweek, and joined forces again with his old Northallerton boss Paul Burton. He had a spell at Whitby Town before joining Guisborough.

Birtley shocked Marske by taking the lead through former West Brom player Stuart Nicholson, but Marske levelled when Anthony Ormerod set up Benn Thompson to score with a left foot shot. Charlton then curled a superb free kick over the wall to put Marske into the lead, and then he showed good awareness to set up Owen Dixon for the third.

Guisborough cut Newton Aycliffe’s overnight lead from four points to one, with a solitary goal win over Thornaby at the King George, quite a contrast to their EA Cup match earlier in the season, when fourteen goals were scored.

Both clubs observed a minute’s silence before the game in memory of Thornaby secretary Peter Morris, who passed away last week.

Thornaby looked as if they would hold on to a good point until Lee Bythway scored with a 30 yarder just a few minutes from the end.

Crook have now failed to win any of their last three league games after they were held to a 1-1 draw at home by Gillford Park. Martin O’Riordan gave them an early lead, but Michael Reed equalised for the Cumbrians. Crook have now dropped to sixth place in the table.

North Shields edged closer to the top three with an important win over fellow promotion chasers Whickham. Joe Elliott headed Shields ahead after just three minutes, to give them revenge for defeat at Whickham earlier in the season.

Chester-le-Street jumped three places into seventh after winning 5-2 away to bottom club Morpeth. They went an early goal down to Wyn Fremlin, but Gary Shields quickly equalised. Chester took full control in the second half, and scored through Liam McBryde (2), Robbie Draper and Shields, before Matthew Wade pulled a late goal back.

Third bottom Northallerton stunned promotion chasing Whitehaven by beating them 5-3 at Ainderby Road, only their second league win of the season. Kevin Connelly gave the Cumbrians an early lead, but Northallerton hit back with goals by Stuart Hardy, Darren Mowbray and Neil Tarrant. Whitehaven got one back through Steven Shaw, but Northallerton scored the fourth through Wayne Hall. Connelly pulled a goal back, before Mowbray, brother of Tony, made sure of the points.

Horden also had a good win, by 2-1 away to Team Northumbria. TN a half time lead through Graeme Carrick, but Horden hit back with an equaliser by Jack Honour, and with five minutes left the keeper spilled a free kick by Ash Corker, and Martin Langley tapped in to give Horden their third straight win.

Seaham Red Star beat Washington 3-1 to pull further away from trouble. The visitors took the lead with an early goal by Craig Coates, but then a Washington defender headed the ball into his own net for the equaliser. Washington piled on the pressure in the second half, but Seaham caught them twice on the break with strikes by Lewis Turnbull and Anthony Watson.

At the bottom, Brandon were within seconds of only their second win of the season against Hebburn, but were denied by a late equaliser. Danny Corbett fired Brandon into the lead after 78 minutes, but Hebburn scored in the dying seconds through Michael Armstrong to end a run of three defeats.