West Auckland warmed up for their game against league leaders Darlington with a 7-0 thrashing of Norton at Station Road last night.

West took the lead when Johnny Gibson crossed for Elliott Gardner to fire into the roof of the net, and then Stuart Banks got the second before half time from a John Campbell cross.

Campbell made it 3-0 from the spot after Dan Hindmarch was brought down, then Paul Garthwaite opened up the defence for Campbell to score from 15 yards.

Garthwaite strolled through to score the fifth on 74 minutes, then Banks scored twice within the space of two minutes to complete his hat trick.

Norton manager Andy Campbell said: "I will battle on. I'm confident in my own ability and my team's, We will get there, starting Saturday."

West Auckland manager Peter Dixon said: "The fringe players who came into the team did very well tonight."

Shildon lost 2-0 to Ashington at Dean Street. Ashington took the lead after 5 minutes when a right wing cross was glanced on for Glenn Taylor to force home, then a shot by Andy Dugdale was deflected into the path of Marc Walton to convert his 16th league goal of the season on the hour. The closest Shildon came to scoring was a first half shot on the turn by Jamie Owen that went just over the bar.

Shildon manager Gary Forrest said: "We just weren't good enough in the final third of the field. Some of our decision-making was bad."

Former Middlesbrough winger Nathan Porritt was on the mark for Celtic Nation in their 4-0 win at Newcastle Benfield. Michael Reed, player-manager Steve Skinner and former Darlington winger Jeff Smith also scored. CN manager Steve Skinner said: "We are getting better and better, Our workrate is fantastic and the quality is class."

Benfield manager Anthony Woodhouse said: "We were awful for 90 minutes. Celtic Nation are the best team we've played so far. I was disappointd with a few of my players' performancestonight."

Newton Aycliffe almost pulled off a shock against Dunston, going down by a single goal. Aycliffe battled hard in the first half, but they were beaten by a 75th minute setpiece, Chris Swailes scoring from a Terry Galbraith free kick.

Dunston manager Billy Irwin said: "It was a very hard game, Aycliffe will climb the table playing like that."

In the second division, Darlington RA lost 2-1 at home to fellow promotion challengers Morpeth. The visitors took the lead after 26 minutes when Ben Keenan volleyed home, and then Lee Scott finished off a good move on the hour. Chase McMullen pulled a goal back with ten minutes left.

Jarrow Roofing scored twice in stoppage time to beat Washington 3-2, with Andy Appleby and David Palmer scoring. Roofing manager Richie McLoughlin said: "We did well at times, but we should have seen the game off sooner."

In the league cup, Bishop Auckland beat Marske United 3-1 at Heritage Park. They took the lead through Steve Salvin from a Jamie Harwood free kick, but James Magowan equalised with a header. Harwood restored the lead with a free kick, and with seven minutes left Andy Johnson rounded the keeper for the third.

Bishop Auckland manager Colin Myers said: "I thought we played really well against the wind. It was an excellent performance and a comfortable win, but we gave away a goal with a mistake again."

Marske manager Ted Watts said: "We played quite well, even though we made six changes. On the whole, I wasn't too disappointed."

Guisborough easily beat Stokesley in the North Riding Senior Cup, Nathan Steel leading the way with the first three goals. Guisborough maanger Chris Hardy said: "This was a game that went to the form book, seeing the home side having lots of possession and showing a real cutting edge to our forward play.
"Having scored 6 goals at home this evening it felt like a job well done, it would of been nice to have kept a clean sheet, but credit to Stokesley they kept at the job for the full 90 minutes."

Stokesley assistant manager Chris Lax said: "We held Guisborough in the first half and were still in the game ta 2-1, but with us resting players, our inexperience showed in the end."

Billingham Synthonia needed extra time to defeat Esh Winning 2-1 at Central Avenue. Synners took the lead through Nathan Jameson before half time, with John Harrison equalising. Jameson scored the winner in extra time.