SOUTH Shields underlined their title credentials in Evo-Stik Division One North by romping to a 5-1 win at Brighouse Town on a Saturday when many of the league’s fixtures fell foul of the weather.

Town had volunteers at the Yorkshire Pay Stadium in the morning and the pitch passed an inspection ahead of the leaders making the long journey from the north east.

The visitors led 2-0 at the break after Carl Finnigan had opened the scoring midway through the first half, heading home a free-kick, and Louis Storey added on the stroke of half-time with another header following a set-piece, this time from a corner kick.

Vill Powell’s men were in the game and created chances throughout, and they were given brief hope when Gabby Johnson controlled a ball looped into the area and netted a composed finish in the 66th minute.

The game was soon out of the home side’s reach, however, as skipper Adam Field was sent off following an incident in the area, and the Mariners’ Barrie Smith made it 3-1 from the resulting penalty.

There were just 15 minutes remaining at that point and the visitors rubbed salt in Town’s wounds with two late goals, Graeme Armstrong sliding in his first for Shields and Alex Nicholson netting a deflected shot.

Powell had said before the game: “We’ve under no illusions how difficult it will be.

“We’ve seen them play and been up to their ground and they have the backing, the infrastructure and the quality on the pitch to continue their rise through the divisions.

“They’re like a league club in waiting and I can see them getting there.”

Albion Sports earned a very good point away from home in the Toolstation Northern Counties East League Premier Division as they shared six goals with Hemsworth Miners' Welfare but they had twice led before being pegged back to 3-3 by Wayne Benn’s side.

The Albion Lions were two goals to the good in the first quarter after Sumaili Cissa opened the scoring in the 11th minute and Danny Facey added a second.

The home side, who were 13 places higher and had double the points haul of their visitors going into the game, pegged a goal back on the stroke of half-time, with Luke Danville on target.

Midway through the second half, Adam Hayton equalised for former Bradford Park Avenue favourite Benn’s side but Danny Facey put the Lions in front again.

The home side bagged a share of the spoils, which was the least they deserved, when Nash Connolly netted six minutes from time.

There was no joy for Campion in Division One of the NCEL as they lost 1-0 at home to promotion rivals Winterton Rangers.

James Bicknell’s side remain seventh, just outside the play-off places, but Winterton are now immediately behind them after an own goal in the second half saw them claim all three points at the sportsbulk.co.uk Stadium.