WEARSIDE LEAGUE by MALCOLM PRATT
 
Ryhope  CW remain four points ahead at the top of the table but they were  taken to the wire by Wolviston at Metcalfe Park.
 
The  Wearsiders  were on the back foot from the third minute when Stephen  Baker headed in a free kick delivered by Michael Arthur.
 
Martin  Swales' side gradually recovered from the early setback and equalised in the 20th minute with Chris Trewick's close-range strike.
 
A  minute after the interval David Newby fired in what proved to be the  winning goal  but late in the game Ryhope were forced to defend as Wolviston pressed for an equaliser.
 
Ashbrooke  Belford  House, who fielded a severely weakened side, were unable  to halt Scarborough Town's championship challenge.
 
Nathan  Cook rifled a hat-trick and Wayne Brooksby also struck. Two of the  four goals came after Ashbrooke had Lee Harrison sent off in the 70th minute.
 
Silksworth  were  in  with  a chance of upsetting the  form  book  at  third-top Teesside Athletic who were flattered by the 3-0 scoreline.
 
Luck  was  with  James Kesterton when the ball hit him and rolled into  the  net after the goalkeeper had parried his initial shot.
 
Chris Lindstedt's team more than held their own and it was not until late in the game  that  Billy  Millington  and  Kesterton wrapped  up  the  points  for  the Teessiders.
 
Houghton  Town  were  twice  in front before losing a  seven-goals  thriller  at Cleator Moor Celtic who have quietly moved into fourth position.
 
Brad  Freeman  bagged a brace of goals with Simon Anderson also on the mark  for the  visitors. Barry Irving (2), Craig Padley and Chris Thornton netted for  the Cumbrians.
 
Despite  leading with goals from Kris Robertson and Michael Meek, Boldon CA went down  to  New  Marske whose second-half marksmen were  Andrew  Dawson,  Kristian Kamara and Shaun Mackin.
 
Fortunes ebbed and flowed when Jarrow and Easington Colliery shared six goals at Perth  Green.  Peter Kane, Jonathan Matthews and Richard Stubbs scored  for  the hosts with Robert Huntley (2) and Chris Tarn replying.
 
Coxhoe  Athletic  and  Hartlepool also ended 3-3 with Michael  Owens  and  Chris Garbutt  (2)  on  target for the home team. Andrew Ross (2)  and  Chris  Birbeck replied for Pools who moved off the bottom of the table.
 
Willington  are  back at the basement following a 5-1 defeat at Windscale  whose marksmen  were  Dean Rogers, Peter O'Donnell, Ryan Lowery, Lee Dixon and  Graeme Goulding. John Shields claimed a consolation for the visitors.