DEFENDER IS BEST FORM OF ATTACK; NORTHERN LEAGUE.

Byline: ANTHONY VICKERS

DEFENDER Stuart Jackson bagged a hat-trick as Marske United won 4-2 at struggling Birtley to move back into the promotion spots.

The goal-getting centre-back took his personal tally to seven for the season -he is the Seasiders' top scorer in the league this term - as Marske easily saw off second-bottom Birtley to go back into third place in Division Two.

After a sticky opening half hour, Jackson struck and then they took control. Rob Jones was also on target and Tremble got both Birtley goals but it was too little, too late.

Marske gave a debut to former Mount Pleasant junior Danny Brunskill. The striker signed from UniBond League big boys Whitby Town on Friday.

There was also an impressive hat-trick for prolific Sonny Andrews as top flight Norton stopped the rot with a stirring 3-2 win away at lowly Ryton.

The Ancients had wobbled after a sizzling start and had slid down the table into the bottom half on the back of injuries and some departures of influential players from the team and the dug-out.

However lively front-runner Andrews put in a sizzling show to take his tally for the season to 10 goals as Norton eased into a 3-1 lead before Ryton got a late lifeline.

Elsewhere in the top flight both the Billingham teams leaked four goals.

Billingham Synthonia's good run came to a juddering halt as they were thumped 4-1 away at table-topping Spennymoor.

Darren Hollingsworth gave Synners a dream start as he drilled home the opener from the edge of the box after only two minutes.

Moors levelled quickly through pint-sized former Boro midfielder Anthony Peacock and then took the lead just before the break when ex-Billingham Town man Chris Emms struck.

In the second half as Synners pressed to salvage something, Moors scored twice on the break - Chris Lawther on the hour and Gavin Cogden netted late on.

Billingham Town beavered away but went down 4-2 at Bedford Terrace to Chester-le-Street.

Town were up against an in-form hitman in Nathan Fisher who scored all four goals for Chester-le-Street in a sizzling solo display that the home defence couldn't cope with.

Town pegged back an early opener as Sean Boynton pounced and then got another after the break through Sean Clarke, but they were always second best.

Down in Division Two, partypooping Stokesley closed in on the promotion pack with an emphatic 5-2 away win in what was hosts Brandon's 1,000th Northern League fixture.

In-form Stokesley raced into a threegoal lead in the opening half-hour as Paul Crager, Andy Jennings and Simon O'Shea netted in a purple patch before Brandon burst into life and pulled two back in a lively end to the first half.

Brandon piled on the pressure after the break but Stokesley defended well and twice punished the home side as Lev Yalcin scored on the break to wrap it up and nudge into seventh with games in hand on most of the teams above.

Guisborough Town also edged closer to the pack as they won 3-1 at home to Washington.

After a furious early assault, they finally made the breakthrough on the half-hour when Luke Bythway got on the end of a good move.

They added a second through a Lee Bythway free-kick soon after the break then, with Town in complete control, Gary Wood got a third before Washington pulled one back late on.

A Thornaby side weakened by flu went down 2-0 at North Shields.

Shields went ahead on the stroke of half-time then Thornaby missed some good second half chances and had a close range effort from Dean Fox well saved before the home side sealed it six minutes from time.

CAPTION(S):

GOING FORWARD: Luke Bythway, one of the three Guisborough scorers at the KGV Ground on Saturday, puts pressure on the Washington defence Picture by IAN McINTYRE