Leaders show their Steel to go clear at top
CONSETT opened up a three-point lead at the top of Division One with a 4-3 home win against Stockton Town.
The Steelmen raced into a two-goal lead with early goals from Ross Wilkinson and Arjun Purewal.
Tom Coulthard halved the deficit ahead of half-time but Michael Mackay restored Consett’s two-goal advantage early in the second-half.
Max Craggs put Stockton back in it on 68 minutes, only to see Michael Sweet seal the points for the hosts with 12 minutes left.
However, Chris Moore’s side were made to sweat as Fred Woodhouse pulled one back with four minutes left.
An injury-time goal from captain Mark Turnbull earned Newcastle Benfield a 3-3 draw at Whitley Bay.
Strikes from Luke Salmon and Gavin Caines put the Bay two up at half-time but Jake Orrell and Paul Brayson pulled Benfield back on level-terms within eleven minutes of the restart.
Jack Foalle looked to have secured the points for the hosts, just minutes after Brayson had missed a penalty.
However, Turnbull’s injury-time equaliser ensured Tom Wade took a point from the first game of his second spell in charge of Benfield.
Paul Robinson was the inspiration in North Shields’ 4-2 victory at Newton Aycliffe as the former Whitley Bay midfielder netted twice for the Robins.
In Division Two, Heaton Stannington continued their good form and made it eight victories in a row as they saw off a determined Redcar Athletic at Grounsell Park.
Joe Wear, Connor Campbell and Joe Kerridge notched to help the Stan to a 3-1 success over the Northern League’s newest club.
The win moves them up to fifth and they are just two points behind fourth-placed Jarrow.
A Jonathan Hirst brace helped the South Tyneside club to all three points against Ryton and Crawcrook Albion, although they were made to work for their points after Callum Turnbull halved the deficit with eleven minutes left.
West Allotment Celtic moved into the top ten as Gilberto Chapim’s late counter helped them to a 1-0 home result against Crook Town.
Durham City failed to build on their recent upturn in form as they were beaten 2-1 at home by Tow Law Town - Lewis Martin and Kai Hewitson on target for Town.