THE mid-table battle is really heating up with Hexham Phoenix going into fourth with a resounding victory over Bardon Mill Bowes Lyons .

Doubles from man of the match Callum Duncan, James Stokoe and Luke Parkinson helped them to a convincing 9-1 triumph.

Matthew MacLoughlin, Tom Hacking and an own goal was also registered, with Bardon Mill netting through Billy Rogan. Their goalkeeper Thomas Craney impressed and was named man of the match.

Phoenix are topping a pool of three teams tied on 15 points, but third spot looks out of reach after Barrasford went seven clear with a 6-1 success at Prudhoe Social Club .

Marc Nixon kept up his red hot scoring streak by adding a hat-trick, with teammate Andy Richardson, named the Robins’ star man, hitting the back of the net twice. Will Forsyth got the other.

Jordan Phillips scored for Prudhoe, who were best served by Matty Fothergill.

While playing catch-up on their rivals, Haydon Bridge Anchor kept alive their title ambitions by putting five without reply past bottom club Ponteland United Stamfordham .

Kieran Robley and Phil Tipple both scored two and Greg Williams one, while Paul Wilson, a new recruit from Bardon Mill, was man of the match. For Stamfordham, Liam Blair starred.

League leaders Ryton Country House remain well in the driving seat as they defeated Adam and Eve Prudhoe by the same scoreline, five different scorers earning the three points.

Martin Smith, Chris Chapman, Jordan Martlew, Adam Bell and Liam Goodwin all struck, while Andrew Below was named star man.

Matthew Quinn was voted Prudhoe’s man of the match.

On a day of 5-0s, Crawcrook Fox and Hounds hit five on their travels to Rose and Crown Bellingham , who were best served by Jonny Herdman.

In the Mick Simmons Trophy, Division Two side Ponteland Village defeated the higher ranked Hexham Hearts 8-3. Man of the match Kieran Ellis and David Bambrough both scored two, with James Pattison, Liam Rutherford, Ryan Spragg and Rob Oglethorpe also netting.

Hearts’ man of the match Tom North scored two and Steven Leetham one.

Prudhoe Town East End held club rivals Prudhoe Town to a 1-1 draw, with man of the match Scott Douglas registering for the Division One side.

Goals from star man Elliot Price, Dan Walker and Ross Bailey earned Heddon St Andrew’s a 3-1 victory over Haltwhistle Railway , who had Ricky Armstrong on target and Stu Sproul starring.