Guisborough further strengthened their Northern League title challenge as they took over at the top of the league with a well-deserved 1-0 win at West Allotment Celtic.
Marske gave their own title push a much-needed jolt following back-to-back defeats, coming from a goal down to win 6-1 at rock-bottom Crook with captain Craig Gott scoring a hat-trick as they climbed up a spot to fifth.
Billingham Synthonia also came from behind to claim three valuable points in their fight for first division survival as danger man Michael Sweet struck twice in a vital 2-1 win at fellow strugglers Newton Aycliffe.
Second division action saw Norton move back up to second with half-time substitute Matty Hawkins scoring twice and the returning Karl Charlton on target in their 5-0 win at Birtley.
Ben Bonner scored twice against his old club as Billingham Town celebrated a seasonal derby double with their 3-0 home victory against Stokesley, who fall to third-bottom.
Thornaby suffered an unexpected setback as they lost 2-1 at lowly Esh Winning.
Guisborough now lead the league by a point after Curtis Round scored in their 1-0 win at West Allotment and previous table-toppers West Auckland were held to a 2-2 draw at 10-man Shildon.
The winning goal came in the 39th minute and it was a highlight reel one as Round fired home from 25 yards while West Allotment were being forced to defend in numbers.
The victory extended Guisborough’s tremendous current unbeaten run to an impressive 16 games.
West put Guisborough under more pressure in the second half, but although they had the ball in the net 10 minutes from time the goal was ruled out for a push on Priorymen keeper Nick Liversedge.
Apart from their 16-match unbeaten run, Guisborough are still unbeaten so far in 2015 with 10 wins out of as many league and cup matches.
Marske surprisingly fell behind at hard-working Crook to a goal just before the half hour point.
But they turned on the style in the second half to spare their blushes after returning front man Jamie Owens brought it back to 1-1.
Gott scored from the penalty spot shortly after half time following a foul on Owens, then Sam Garvie made it 3-1 before Gott struck twice more.
Substitute Danny Brinskill completed the rout as he scored the sixth.
Billingham Synthonia fell behind to a 16th minute Dennis Knight free-kick at Aycliffe, but got back on level terms straight away when Sweet knocked in a Tommy Marron cross.
The same duo linked up again as Synners scored the winner eight minutes before half-time, Sweet firing home on the turn after Marron lifted a pass into the striker’s path.
Synners are now 17th, a welcome eight points clear of the bottom three.
Norton were poor last week in being held to a goalless draw by Whickham, but a lengthy post-match inquest in the dressing room paid off as they rediscovered their killer instinct in a ruthless display of finishing at Birtley.
Nicky Martin set the Ancients on their way and fit-again Charlton added the second.
Hawkins came off the bench to replace Rocky Andrews in the Ancients' engine room, and the second goal of his brace was a belter as he fired low into the bottom corner from 25 yards after driving forward from midfield.
Gary Mitchell scored Norton’s fifth and manager Andy Campbell was delighted with a clinical job well done.
“We were excellent on a poor pitch,” the former Boro striker said. “And it was pleasing to see Matty get his first goals of the season.
“He hasn’t played much, so it was good to see him do what he shows in training in a match situation.”
Joel Callender marked his first start for six weeks with Billingham Town’s 21st minute opener against Stokesley, thumping a left-foot volley into the roof of the net after the visiting defence failed to clear Gary Redman’s scooped pass.
The game opened up with half-time approaching, with Josh Keogh and Callam Brown going close for the hosts in between Stokesley efforts from Jack Bradbury and Wilf Dinsdale.
But it was Town who did more scoring after the break as Bonner punished his old side twice.
Bonner got the hosts' second with a soaring back post header from Brown’s inswinging free-kick, moments after he had gone close with an acrobatic bicycle kick.
Bonner’s second and Town’s third arrived in the final minute when substitute Alan Taylor picked him out with a superb diagonal ball and he coolly lobbed Stokesley keeper Dan Bowman.
Town are 17th in Division Two while Stokesley now only have Tow Law and Brandon below them in the table.
Thornaby fell behind to a Ben Sanderson goal at lowly Esh Winning, and they looked out for the count when Paul Basey put the hosts 2-0 up as the visiting defence was caught square.
Central defender Stephen Morrison pulled a goal back following an exchange of passes with Matthew McQueeney and Thornaby had chances to equalise.
Former Boro winger Nathan Porritt squandered the best of them when he went for a fancy finish which allowed the Esh keeper to save.
Thornaby are eighth in the second division table.
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