Look North for leaders of league
NORTHALLERTON Town returned to the top of the Northern League Division Two table with a 2-0 win at sixth-placed Whickham.
The North Yorkshire club had to wait until midway through the second half for Stephen Cheeseman and Shaun Hudson to secure victory.
Hebburn Town had an outside chance of going top but suffered a surprise defeat at Crook Town.
Kyle Morris’ goal maintained new manager Chris Lax’s positive start.
David Robinson’s only goal of the game saw Blyth AFC close in on the promotion places at home to Jarrow.
Both teams ended the game with 10 men, David Henderson and Max Kirkham receiving their marching orders following a brawl.
Chester-le-Street beat fellow strugglers Darlington RA and moved out of the bottom three while RA dropped to secondbottom.
Kieran Meghran scored for the visitors before half-time.
RA wasted the opportunity to level in the 53rd minute when Jim Wilson missed a spot-kick.
Aaron Reynolds then punished the hosts in the 66th minute.
Another penalty was awarded for the home side in the final 10 minutes. Glenn Donaldson converted but the Cestrians held out.
West Allotment moved further away from relegation trouble after beating bottomof-the-table Alnwick Town 2-0.
Zayd Muhammed opened the scoring just after the hour mark. Bruno Mendes-Correia then put the icing on the cake in injury time.
Brandon United slipped into the bottom three after their 5-0 hammering at home to Willington. Matty Moffat, Michael Brown, Jay White, Connor Lowes and an own goal saw Willington move up to 12th.
Esh Winning went ninth after a game with seven first-half goals. Callum Broakes scored twice – one being the opener and the other making it 2-2.
Shaun Reay’s penalty made it 3-2 to Esh but the home side responded again as Bradley Hird also added his second.
Connor Halpin got struck in the 44th minute to make it 4-3 Esh before Daniel Mann made sure of the win in the 75th minute.
Ryton and Crawcrook Albion earned back-to-back wins after beating Easington Colliery, thanks to second-half goals from Sam Moore and Martyn Hepple. JORDAN CRONIN