Liam McBryde led Whickham a merry dance, scoring five for his side, with David Palmer getting the other. Mark Fitzpatrick and Dan O’Reilly scored for Whickham.

McBryde is the first player from the second division to score five goals in a game this season.

Seaham Red Star manager Mark Collingwood said; “We were expecting a reaction from Whickham after last weekend, but my players were fantastic from start to finish. We could have scored more, but at 4-2 they were still in the game. Liam McBryde’s finishing was clinical, he could have had more than the five he scored.”

Norton surprisingly lost 4-3 at Alnwick, who conceded nine last week at Seaham. They led 2-0 and 3-1, with goals by John Seaton (2) and Nicky Martin, but they collapsed in the second half. Adam Shanks (2) Jon Colley and Stephen Hogg scored for Alnwick. Norton had Seaton red carded late in the game for swearing.

Norton manager Andy Campbell said; “I’m very disappointed. To be leading 3-1 at half time was great but to crumble in that manner is not like my team. It’s going to be tight now but we’re still in the driving seat. I think we need to win every game to go up.”

There was a minute's silence before the game for Alnwick stalwart Eric Hately, who died recently.

Washington also passed the 100 goals mark when they beat Stokesley 2-0 at Nissan with goals by Aaron Croft and Mark Davison, his 33rd league goal of the season. Stokesley’s Kristian Kamara missed a penalty late in the game.

Washington manager Stephen Hutchinson said; “We showed a good commitment today and a great attitude. We can only ask them to go out and perform to their best, so long as we keep going with the same attitude then we should have a good finish to the season. I’m proud of the team tonight.”

Northallerton did the top three a favour by winning 2-0 at fourth placed Team Northumbria, with goals by Thom Atkinson and Aaron Ramsbottom.

Northallerton manager Danny Mellanby said; “Our away record this season has been poor so for the players to put in a committed performance like today against an excellent footballing side was great.”

The slips by Team North and Norton has opened the door for fifth placed Hebburn to push the top four, and they beat bottom club Brandon 2-1.

Channon North put Hebburn into the lead with his 31st league goal of the season after 16 minutes, but that was cancelled out by a Billy Snaith penalty for Brandon on 26 minutes. But Brandon’s David Rush put through his own goal to give Hebburn the winner seven minutes into the second half.

Hebburn are eight points behind third placed Norton with two games in hand.

Hebburn manager Scott Oliver said; “We started well. A ridiculous penalty decision rocked us before half time. We missed some chances but to be fait to Brandon they missed a great chance too.”

Brandon manager Lee Jewitt said; “The lads played really well, you wouldn’t have thought that it was fifth versus bottom. For the last half hour we put them under pressure and had three or four good chances to grab a deserved point. The players are fighting for each other, there’s a buzz about the club again.”

Darlington RA are up to sixth after beating Esh Winning 2-1 at Brinkburn Road.

Esh took the lead just on half time with a hotly disputed penalty for handball converted by Karl Turner, but the RA levelled with a Darren Kokes header. They got the winner with just a minute left when Christian Holliday picked up the ball 25 yards out and fired into the top corner for a picture winner.

Darlington RA manager Warren Moncur said; “It was a diabolical decision to give them a penalty, but we came back well in the second half. It was a great winner.”

Esh Winning manager Chris Blakelock said; “We weren’t at our best but we still should have had something. A poor spell in the second half cost us.”

Willington scored a late goal to give them a 1-1 draw at home to Ryhope CW.

The visitors took the lead through former Darlington player Richard Hodgson from the edge of the box after 76 minutes, but Adam Burnicle levelled two minutes from time with his 19th goal of the season.

Willington manager Rob Lee said; “I’m pleased with a point. We defended well, and it was a good entertaining game.”

Ryhope CW manager Gary Pearson said; “It could have been 3-3 at half time. Second half we were camped out in their half and scored a well worked goal through Richard Hodgson, then Willington equalised through an extremely debatable offside goal, Not one to criticise, but the linesman had one decision to make in the second half and got it wrong. Shame as it was another solid performance.”

Billingham Town had a good 3-1 home win over Birtley.

Danny Wray, who recently returned to the club, put Town into the lead from a corner, then two minutes later Gary Redman fired the second.

Ian Bishop added a third at the start of the second half with a header, then Town scored a fourth, but unfortunately that was at the wrong end.

They could have added further goals after that.

Birtley manager Tony Boakes said; “It was another poor performance from us. We gave two goals away, by not clearing our lines we enough.”

Chester-le-Street led 2-0 at home to South Shields, but then lost 4-2.

They led with a Michael Hepplewhite penalty and a Dan Johnson goal, but then Shields took over.

Chris Rue scored with a cross from the right, and then James Talbot scored from a rebound. Paul Kane curled the third into the top corner, and Stephen Ramsey headed the fourth on 64 minutes. Barrie Smith also missed a penalty for Shields.

Chester-le-Street manager Colin Wake said; “We didn’t deserve anything from the game, and at times it was men against boys. We went 2-0 up against the run of play and got battered for 90 minutes and struggled to have any foothold in the game.”

Heaton Stannington drew 2-2 with Ryton and Crawcrook.

Richie Hoggins twice gave the Stann the lead, but Sam Moore and Adam Chrostowki equalised.

Heaton Stannington assistant manager Geoff Walker said; “A bit disappointed after leading twice and conceded in the second equaliser in the last couple of minutes. We created the more clear cut chances. But overall a draw was probably a fair result. We are playing with a lot more desire at the minute which is pleasing.”