Newcastle Benfield and Whitley Bay edged closer to leaders STL Northern League leaders Spennymoor with victories last night.

Benfield had a comfortable 5-0 victory over Tow Law. They took the lead with a sidefooted goal by Scott Fenwick after 11 minutes, then two minutes later Phil Lumsden made it 2-0 after Brian Dodsworth’s shot was scrambled off the line.

Fenwick set up Dodsworth for the third before half time, and just on the hour Shaun Bell crossed from the left for Chris Feasey to sidefoot in. Fenwick scored his second from a Paul Anthony pass right at the end. Benfield are now seven points behind leaders Spennymoor on the same games. Lawyers had Lee Dial red carded when the score was 4-0.

Whitley Bay, meanwhile, won 2-0 at Norton to go nine points behind Moors with a game in hand. Steve Gibson gave the Vase finalists the lead after 5 minutes when he scored from a long ball, and on 47 minutes Brian Smith headed the second from a corner.

STL Northern League Division One.

Newcastle Benfield 5 (Fenwick 2, Lumsden, Dodsworth, Feasey) Tow Law 0, Norton 0 Whitley Bay 2 (Gibson, Smith).

Division Two Gillford Park 3 (Errington 2, Skinner) Whickham 1 (Pennington).