by MALCOLM PRATT
 
Ryhope CW go marching on at the top of the table and they took their goals tally to an impressive 65 when they hit Houghton Town for five on Saturday.
 
Steve  Patton's  side  though, held their own until the second half and  at  the interval harboured hopes of causing an upset.
 
Once  Ryhope  broke the deadlock, however, it was one-way traffic and the  goals flowed.  Man-of-the-match  John Butler collected a good pass from Jimmy  Farrell and rounded goalkeeper Daniel Hajras on 47 minutes.
 
Five  minutes  later,  Butler set up Richard Jordan who fired  home  from  close range  and  on the hour Butler was again on target following good work by  David Newby.
 
Butler  slotted home from 18 yards to complete his hat-trick and take his  total for  the  season to  24  goals. Just before the end Dean Arkley  scored  with  a stunning solo effort.
 
Ryhope  remain  six  points ahead of Scarborough Town who were also  in  scoring mode at home to Jarrow.
 
Josh  Greening  and  Nathan Cooke had the Seasiders two goals ahead  inside  the opening  half  hour and during the second period Joe Danby, with a  brace,   and Cooke completed a 5-0 rout.
 
Third-top  Cleator  Moor  Celtic  needed just one goal from  Chris  Thornton  to see off a strong challenge from Kirkbymoorside.
 
Bottom-of-the-table  Willington  took  Easington  Colliery to  the  wire  before losing to an 89th-minute goal.
 
When James Huntley was brought down, his brother Rob fired the Colliers in front from  the  penalty  spot but the visitors hit back with an equaliser  from  Josh Binks.
 
With  time  running out Peter Crawford grabbed the winner,  chipping  goalkeeper Chris Sawyer from the edge of the penalty area.
 
Aaron  Robertson  gave Annfield Plain an early advantage but Boldon  CA  quickly equalised  through  Chris  Robinson.  Goals either side of half  time  by  Lewis Harrison earned Plain a 3-1 victory.
 
Coxhoe  Athletic  were two goals in front courtesy of Stephen Oakley  and  Danny O'Brien  but went down to New Marske whose winning goal came deep into  stoppage time.
 
Shaun  Howes  reduced the visitors' deficit and midway through the  second  half Philip  Peggs  levelled. In the 93rd minute Richard Playforth's drive  rebounded from the underside of the crossbar into the net.
 
By  then,  Coxhoe  were  down to 10 men. Substitute  Chris  Mulkerrin,  who  was only introduced in the 86th minute, was sent off in additional time.
 
Guisborough Town HC improved their position with an 85th-minute goal from Junior Masambi in the bottom five clash at Windscale.
 
Silksworth  were  saved  from  making the journey to  Hartlepool  and  the  game between Wolviston and Teesside Athletic was also called off.