In midweek at Wheatridge Park, Delaval drew 2-2 with Blyth Town but should have claimed all three points.

They had Carl Pennington scoring to end over an hour of stalemate and Craig Johnson doubled the lead ten minutes later.

But Blyth were allowed to make a late comeback with Jonathan Mann bagging a brace in 82 and 87 minutes to salvage a point.

Delaval followed up three days later by beating a strong Heddon outfit 3-1, again at Wheatridge.

John Amos opened the scoring for Delaval and just before the break Paul Baird doubled their lead. Stephen Howes was on target for the home side's third goal before John Dunn replied for Heddon on the hour mark. And the visitors never looked likely to add to their tally.

After two straight victories Heaton Stannington, sharing second place with Harraby Catholic, were beaten 1-0 by the powerful Cumbrians at Grounsell Park.

Heaton's first defeat was inflicted by a goal in 34 minutes and the Harraby scorer was Marc Shiel.

Both Gillford Park and Shankhouse are showing early signs of being major players in this campaign and they cancelled each other out in a 3-3 draw at Northburn.

The Shankhouse marksmen were Gavin Keen, Chris Wall and Lee Gustard with Mike Riding (2) and Ian Johnson replying for the Park to ensure a sharing of the spoils.

Newly-promoted sides Wark and Murton met up in the Tyne Valley and Wark made home advantage count.

But it was a close call with a single goal settling the issue. Ten minutes into the second half Wark's new recruit Alistair Stobbs slotted in their winner.

Alnwick Town are under new management this season and determined to improve on last term's disappointing performances.

And Alnwick secured their first victory by beating hosts Cramlington Town 3-2.

James Swordy gave Alnwick an interval lead but replies from Steve Elsey and Kieran Parsons then put Cramlington in charge.

With only five minutes to go Andrew Tate's leveller rescued Alnwick and Ben Keenan bagged their vital winner just before the final whistle.

Carlisle City also chalked up their first three-pointer with a 3-1 success at home to Blyth Town.

Chris Kelleher's first half opener for City was cancelled out after an hour by the Town's Daniel Day.

Guiseppe Amato quickly restored Carlisle's advantage and they made the points secure with a third strike in the 80th minute by Steve Bell.

Peterlee Town and Ponteland United were lying idle and Peterlee are propping up the early table along with Ashington Colliers.

Both teams, however, have played only one game so far and so have defending champions Walker Central, whose game away to Ashington Colliers had to be postponed.

Ponteland United had seen some action in midweek, however, but were beaten 5-2 at home by Shankhouse.

Both sides had opportunities to take the lead in the first half with Kevin Gustard for Shankhouse and his opposite number Richard Kent also going close.

The best two moves from Ponteland in the first half resulted in Kevin McGorie having one shot saved by the keeper from Dummett's cross and then Liam McIvor shaving the upright with his glancing header.

Honours remained even at half-time with Pont having enjoyed slightly the better chances.

Shankhouse started to take control in the second half and they had Craig Johnson opening the scoring.

Then, when Johnson was brought down by Phil Groom in the box, Gavin Keen made no mistake from the resultant spot kick.

Pont pulled a goal back with 15 minutes to go when an excellent cross from Liam McIvor finished up in the net with a deflection off a defender.

The game changed completely with ten minutes to go when Johnson scored his second for Shankhouse and then Pont had David Redhead sent off.

Further goals flowed from Lee Gustard and James Armstrong for the visitors before substitute Sean Willis pulled one back for Pont with almost the last kick of the game.

Four teams – Hebburn Reyrolle, Stocksfield, Whitley Bay 'A' and Newcastle East End – are sharing the early leadership in the first division.

And based on last season's performances of these teams the pace-setting line-up is somewhat surprising.

Hebburn Reyrolle secured their second league win at Red Row Welfare with a 2-1 scoreline.

They had Craig Walton and Jay Telford scoring their goals with Welfare's single reply in their second straight defeat coming from Dean Palmer.

Stocksfield have emerged as real dark horses, and after beating midweek visitors Westerhope 4-1 they were 2-0 victors away to Gateshead Rutherford.

Peter Williams of Rutherford saw his spot kick saved just after the interval but Stocksfield had looked stronger throughout.

They fully deserved the points and earned them with two second half strikes by Ben Pearson.

Whitley Bay 'A' have won both of their opening games and their latest victims were Chopwell Officials.

At Hillheads Bay clinched a 2-1 victory after Mark Fenwick fired them into a 35th minute lead.

Only five minutes later Joe Bell netted to get Chopwell back on terms but ten minutes after the break the Whitley winner was supplied by Malcolm Morien.

There have been a lot of changes behind the scenes at Newcastle East End and two wins in three starts have been encouraging.

Beaten 3-2 at home by Seaton Burn in midweek the East Enders bounced back effectively by beating their next visitors Gosforth Bohemian Garnett 1-0. Paul Bright bagged the vital first half winner for the hosts.

After their victory over the East End in midweek Seaton Burn were brought down to earth and were beaten 2-1 by Northbank over at Carlisle.

Stuart Taylor gave Seaton Burn an early opener but Mark Worrall levelled before the break for the Cumbrians whose vital second goal was scored on the hour by Martin Coward.

Percy Main started their new campaign by losing 6-3 to Westerhope at Purvis Park.

Almost straight from the kick off David Brunsden put Westerhope in front but the Main took command following replies from Mike Haley, Jason Ritchie (penalty) and Dean Clay.

However, further goals for Westerhope's Kevin Rookes and Brunsden again got them back on level terms.

Then as Percy Main visibly wilted the visitors piled on the agony with further strikes by Kevin Smith (2) and Chris Gleadow.

Newly-promoted Killingworth YPC finally got their first division campaign on the road but suffered an unfortunate baptism.

Away to Penrith 'A' they were well beaten 4-1 with Baines as their only scorer.

The home side always looked the sharper and had Martyn Coleman (2), Wilson and Jackson sharing their goals.

Amble United and Wideopen and District have won their two opening games and are jointly leading the charge in the second division.

The Seasiders extended their winning start with a 6-2 victory away to South Shields United, both of whose replies came from Kyle Yorston with one scored from the spot.

Amble, however, fully deserved this latest success and their determined performance yielded goals from Brad Wake (2), Ross Gair (2, including a penalty), Michael Dance and Darren Riddell.

Wideopen's second victims in the new season were hosts Benfield Chemfica who only have one point from their three starts to date.

Nick Guest netted for Chemfica but they were finally beaten 2-1. Gary Lamb equalised for Wideopen and Dan Muckle claimed their important winner.

Willington Quay Saints and newcomers Forest Hall are keeping tabs on the current leaders and the Saints picked up four points from their two games last week.

They had Glen Gallon (2) and Callum Ancrum on target in a 3-3 draw away to Chemfica and three days later hammered visitors Whitley Bay Town 9-1.

Bay actually had Graeme Murray opening the scoring but Willington Quay soon showed their strength.

The winners' goals flowed at regular intervals from Andy Duffield (hat-trick), Glen Gallon (2), Mark Henderson (2), Stuart Duffield and Glen Johnson (penalty).

Forest Hall have lost only one of three games so far on their return to the Northern Alliance.

Goals for Matthew Smith (2), Alan Knight and Thomas Faid earned them a midweek 4-0 verdict away to North Shields Athletic.

But Hall were then restricted to a 1-1 draw at Hexham after Kevin Baldwin put them in front after 75 minutes.

With only five minutes remaining Scott Coates grabbed Hexham's leveller.

Wallsend Town kicked off their latest campaign with a win at the expense of neighbouring visitors Wallsend Boys' Club.

The Boys' Club had beaten Whitley Bay Town 1-0 a couple of days earlier with a late goal by Simon Wilson but found hosts Wallsend Town a tougher proposition.

Despite having Tony Stephenson on target they went down 2-1 to Town's goals both scored by Stephen Dodd.

Newcastle BT secured their first victory of the new term with a single goal success away to Amble who were making a delayed start.

The game's only goal was put away by BT's David Thompson.

Fixtures

Saturday, August 23 (2.30pm)

Premier Division
Ashington Colliers v Carlisle City; Cramlington Town v Blyth Town; Harraby Catholic v Peterlee Town; Heaton Stannington v Gillford Park; Heddon v Alnwick Town; Murton v Shankhouse; Ponteland United v Seaton Delaval; Walker Central v Wark.

Division One
Cullercoats v Hebburn Reyrolle; Gateshead Rutherford v Northbank; Gosforth B Garnett v Berwick United; Newcastle East End v Stocksfield; Percy Main v Killingworth YPC; Seaton Burn v Red Row Welfare; Wallington v Penrith 'A'; Westerhope v Whitley Bay 'A'.

Division Two
Amble United v Whitley Bay Town; Forest Hall v Stobswood Welfare; Newcastle BT v Benfield Chemfica; South Shields United v North Shields Athletic; Wallsend Boys Club v Hexham; Wideopen & District v Wallsend Town; Willington Quay Saints v Tynemouth United.

Wednesday, August 27 (6.30pm)

Premier Division
Alnwick Town v Blyth Town; Cramlington Town v Ponteland United; Gillford Park v Harraby Catholic; Peterlee Town v Heaton Stannington; Seaton Delaval v Ashington Colliers; Shankhouse v Heddon; Walker Central v Murton; Wark v Carlisle City.

Division One
Berwick United v Wallington; Chopwell Officials v Gateshead Rutherford; Hebburn Reyrolle v Newcastle East End; Killingworth YPC v Seaton Burn; Red Row Welfare v Percy Main; Stocksfield v Penrith 'A'; Westerhope v Cullercoats; Whitley Bay 'A' v Gosforth B Garnett.

Division Two
Amble v Wallsend Boys Club; Hexham v Wideopen & District; North Shields Athletic v Willington Quay Saints; Stobswood Welfare v Newcastle BT; Tynemouth United v South Shields United; Wallsend Town v Amble United; Whitley Bay Town v Forest Hall.