Sunderland RCA stayed top of the STL first division with a 4-2 away win at Billingham Town.

Mark Davison fired the RCA into the lead on 44 minutes, but Steve Roberts levelled from a corner just on the whistle. Andy Jennings, against his old club, made it 2-1 to the RCA with a looping header just after half time, but Jamie Arthur levelled straight from the kick off. New signing Bryan Stewart put RCA into the lead for the third time from the penalty spot to make it 3-2, and Jennings scored the fourth from a rebound off the bar after 75 minutes, to extend their unbeaten start to the season to six matches. Sunderland RCA manager Neil Hixon said: "When Billingham scored their second, we made a substitution by putting on Marc Ellison, and that changed the game. We dominated from then on, and Andy Jennings could have scored more than two." Billingham Town are still to win in five matches.

Their manager, Carl Jarrett said: "I thought we defended great against the wind in the first half, but gave a sloppy goal away just after half time. We defended too far up the pitch in the second half, and sloppy marking let us down."

Dunston fell behind early on at Marske, but stormed back to win 6-2. Chris McGill gave Marske an early lead, but that only stung Dunston into action, and by half time they led 5-1, with Anthony Hume scoring a hat trick, and Chris Swailes and Lee McAndrew scoring the others. Hume added another in the second half to become the second player in the league to score at least four in a game this season, with Karl Charlton scoring a consolation for Marske.

Dunston manager Billy Irwin, whose side hasn't lost yet in five league matches, said: "The conditions were poor with a strong wind, but we still managed to score from five setpieces in the first half. It was a good win, and we couldn't have asked for anything more from the lads."

Marske manager Paul Burton said: "Some of our defending was very naive, it's time to bring in some new players. We were good for fifteen minutes, but then fell away."

Guisborough lost 2-0 at Ashington, sub Gareth Bainbridge scoring both goals in the last 20 minutes. Guisborough manager Chris Hardy said: "A gale force headwind meant we spenty a lot of time in our half in the first 45 minutes, but we defended well. In the second half, we made two errors and conceded two goals, and never really made their keeper work."

In the FA Cup, the tie between South Shields and Newcastle Benfield was abandoned at half time with the score 2-2, because of floodlight failure. They will try again next Tuesday night.

Hebburn made no mistake in their away replay at Whitehaven, winning 4-2, after taking a 3-0 half time lead. Hebburn are now at home to Penrith.

Hebburn manager Paul Bennett said: "The players needed no motivation after last Saturday when Whitehaven celebrated, saying that the hard work was done, and we got at Whitehaven from the word go. The game was won by half time, and there was a totally professional performance from every player."

In the second division, Darlington RA picked up a good point in a 2-2 draw at Gillford Park, Stephen Allison scoring both their goals to take his tally for the season to five for the season. The RA went 2-1 up with five minutes left, but Gillford equalised straight from the kick off. Darlington RA manager Nick Harrison said: "A good point. I asked for a response after our shambles on Saturday and got one. But switching off and not taking responsibility at the back has cost us three points in the last two games. However our determination and belief has seen us come back from one or two goals down in the last four games."

Chester-le-Street handed Colin Wake their manager’s job following the departure of Grant Crookes on Monday night, and he started with a 1-0 home win over Horden, Glenn Reay scoring their goal a minute before half time. Chester caretaker manager Colin Wake said: "We created plenty of chances, but we lacked a cutting edge in the final third."

Whickham lost their unbeaten record by 2-1 at home to Team Northumbria. Tony Thirkell put Whickham into the lead after 35 minutes, but Peter Watling hit back with goals on 53 and 67 minutes. Thirkell missed a good chance to equalise right at the death. TN are now up to second, a point behind the RA.

Ryton’s revival continued with a 1-1 draw at home to Alnwick. They led with a goal by Mark Eccles, but Brian Murray equalised in the last minute. Ryton manager Dave Hagan said: "It was a travesty that we didn't get three points. We missed a great chance in the last minute, then they went up the other end and scored."

Thornaby beat Washington 2-1, Stephen Hodgson scoring the winner in the last minute for Thornaby. Michael Latimer earlier put Washington into the lead, with Ian Clark levelling from the penalty spot, his first goal since returning to the club. Manager Ray Morton said: "It was a welcome three points against a physical Washington side."

Seaham Red Star and Brandon drew 0-0 in the night's other game. Seaham coach Steve Cook, who was manager at Brandon last season, said: "A draw was the right result in a game that the wind spoiled. They were two young sides trying to play the right way but probably cancelled each other out." Nevertheless, Seaham climbed two places to sixth bottom.

FA Cup preliminary round replay South Shields 2 (Burnell, Benjamin) Newcastle Benfield 2 (Fenwick, Chilton) abandoned at half time, floodlight failure. Whitehaven 2 (Holliday, Pears) Hebburn 4 (Wright 2, Tate, Stephenson). STL Northern League Division One Ashington 2 (Bainbridge 2) Guisborough 0, Billingham Town 2 (Roberts, Arthur) Sunderland RCA 4 (Davison, Jennings 2, Stewart), Marske United 2 (McGill, Charlton) Dunston 6 (Hume 4, Swailes, McAndrew). Division Two Chester-le-Street 1 (Reay) Horden 0, Gillford Park 2 (Lea, Reed) Darlington RA 2 (Allison 2), Ryton and Crawcrook 1 (Eccles) Alnwick 1 (Murray), Seaham Red Star 0 Brandon 0, Thornaby 2 (Clark, Hodgson) Washington 1 (Latimer), Whickham 1 (Thirkell) Team Northumbria 2 (Watling 2).