EBAC NORTHERN LEAGUE

DEAN Nicholson believes Heaton Stannington ‘earned the right’ to claim all three points from Friday night’s home clash with struggling

Sunderland RCA.

The Stan made no mistake with a dominant display and secured the points that boost their hopes of claiming a top-five spot thanks to a Sean Reid brace, a stunning long-range effort from Andy Burn and an early opener from Leighton Hopper.

Nicholson told The Chronicle: “We started really well again and we had to because these are tough games.

“On Wednesday, the hype was all about us having to beat Guisborough but with no disrespect to anyone else, everyone thinks you just turn up and win this one.

“You have to earn the right to win any game, I thought we did that, we started well, we scored good goals, we played in their half a lot and we got the three points we wanted.”

Dean Thexton, Joe Bartliff and

Louis Johnson all found the net as Bishop Auckland remained six points clear at the top of the table after they swatted aside Penrith

Joe Posthill scored twice as secondplaced Shildon matched the

Two-blues’ 4-0 win in their home game with Crook Town.

Third-placed West Auckland Town were also 4-0 winners as a Josh Scott hat-trick and a Nathan Greenwood effort helped them see off Tow Law Town at the Wanted Stadium.

A Matty Tymon brace helped Guisborough Town bounce back from Jay Errington’s opener in their 2-1 win at Newcastle Benfield.

Dan Kirkup got the only goal of the game as Carlisle City claimed all three points at Redcar Athletic, and Birtley Town boosted their play-off hopes with a dominant win against Whitley Bay.

Matthew Ward stole the show with a fine hat-trick for the Hoops, and Liam Wotherspoon and James Proctor also found the net in a 5-1 home win.

West Allotment Celtic scrapped their way to a goalless home draw against North Shields, and Seaham Red Star and Boro Rangers also failed to trouble the scorers.

Blyth Town moved another step towards clinching promotion into Division One with a stunning win against Boldon CA.

Brandon Slater’s hat-trick laid the foundations for an 8-0 win for his side, and Ben Sayer, Dan Wilson, Joe

Gibson, Louis Calvert and Lucas Cooper also found the net at Ford Hub.

Newcastle Blue Star are leading the chasing pack after Tom Bexton got the only goal of the game in their 1-0 home win against Sunderland West End.

Billingham Synthonia are sat in fourth place despite only taking a point from their home game with Jarrow.

Jamie Mcleod put Synners in front on 38 minutes but Ryan Hardie’s quickfire equaliser ensured the points were shared.

Second-half goals from Luca Nelson and George Priest ensured Thornaby were 2-0 winners at Brandon United, and there was late drama at Moor Park as Billingham Town snatched the points on their visit to Chester-lestreet Town. Laquan Esdaille put the Cestrians in front on 22 minutes, but two goals in the last five minutes from Harry Close and Mckenzie Dicicco gave the honours to their visitors.

Yarm and Eaglescliffe secured a narrow home win against Chester-lestreet United as Joe Dalton got the only goal of the game, and Dominic Griffin’s brace helped Newcastle University to a 4-1 home win against Redcar Town.