Newton Aycliffe kept a firm grip on the Second Division leadership with a powerful 5-1 away win at Hebburn on Saturday.

Aycliffe brushed Hebburn aside with four second half goals to keep them eight points ahead of second place, and manager Alan Oliver said: “It as a good result considering that Hebburn had won their last five matches. But even though we’re clear at the top, we’ve played more games than the others, and I still think it’s going to be very tight. Nothing has been decided yet.”

Veteran Danny Mellanby gave Aycliffe the lead on 25 minutes when he scored with a shot on the turn following a defensive mistake, then two minutes later their top scorer, Warren Byrne, put a spot kick over the bar following a foul on Elliott Gardiner. Hebburn recovered and Dean Nicholson crossed for his brother Stuart to level on 40 minutes.

But in the second half, Aycliffe showed their quality from setpieces. Gardiner headed them back into the lead from a corner, then John Close scored a third from another setpiece. Aycliffe were awarded another penalty for a foul by Geoff Forsyth who was dismissed, and Byrne made no mistake from the spot. Craig Mickle finished off Hebburn with the fifth.

Second placed Guisborough also won by a 5-1 margin, at Seaham Red Star to give them 13 goals in their last three matches.

David Onions gave Guisborough the lead fater Michael Roberts’ shot was blocked, and he quickly added a second when he rounded the keeper and scored from a tight angle.

Robbie Bird pulled a goal back for Seaham, but Onions completed his second hat trick of the week with a good shot, and then hit the post. Luke Bythway and Shane Henry added further goals within a minute of each other.

Third placed North Shields also cruised to a comfortable win by 4-0 at Chester-le-Street. They took a first half lead through Steve Robinson, but in the second half they added further goals through Keith Douglas (2) and Andy Bowman.

Darlington RA thought that they were on their way to some sort of record victory when they led 5-1 at home to bottom club Morpeth at half time, but they could only win 6-3. The Ra played their best football of the season in the first half, and by half time had scored through Dave Webster (2), player-manager Nick Harrison (2) and Fred Huscroft. But the RA took their foot off the pedal in the second half, and only added one more through Webster to complete his hat trick. Much travelled former pro Trevor Benjamin was on the scoresheet for Morpeth, with Wyn Fremlyn and Cameron Patrick scoring the others.

Northallerton continued their recent improvement and are now sixth off bottom by winning 1-0 at Washington. Craig Winter scored the only goal of the game on 17 minutes from close range, but Northallerton had keeper Alex Kelly to thank for an excellent save right at the end.

Team Northumbria still have slim promotion hopes after beating Crook Town 2-0., with goals by Lee Scott and Dean Critchlow.

Whitehaven are also on the fringe with a 4-2 home win over Horden. Kevin Connolly and Darren Donald scored twice apiece, with Gary Redman replying twice for Horden.

Thornaby have now dropped to fifth bottom after losing 1-0 at Birtley, for whom Chris Tait scored. Thornaby have received confirmation that they have been given £48,000 by the Lottery to help with the refurbishment of Teesdale Park.