Billingham Town were looking to leapfrog neighbours Synthonia at the expense of West Auckland today.
Town gave debuts to former Boro Reserves and Marske front man Tom Jones and former Washington midfielder Stuart Dixon as they went looking for the points that would make them Teesside's Northern League top dogs.
Jones got an early taste of the action in the first minute as he raced down the left to put in a dipping cross-shot that sent West keeper Collinson back-pedalling furiously to save at the far post.
Town kept up the early pressure and seized control with two goals in two minutes.
The opener came on seven minutes as Jason Ainsley sent Dave Turner down the right and he crossed in for alert striker CARL CHILLINGSWORTH to slide between two defenders and stab home at the near post.
Then, a minute later, it was two as Jones sent a sublime defence-splitting pass through for Craig Skelton to race into the box, then with the keeper advancing he squared unselfishly for teammate CHILLINGSWORTH to blast into an empty net.
And it was three on 10 minutes as Town's debutants combined neatly, Dixon slotting a neat ball to the edge of the box for TOM JONES to burst through unmarked and curl past the advancing keeper.
A heavy downpour led to a scrappy spell with play congested in the middle.
And that allowed West to regain their composure and they enjoyed a spell of good possession but failed to carve out a clear chance.
Town threatened again on 25 minutes when an Ainsley free-kick sparked a scramble in the box before Jackson passed to Turner but his shot was deflected.
West went close on the half-hour as they won a free-kick on the edge of the box but Fairhurst's effort dipped just over.
But Town were back on the attack two minutes later as Ainsley sent Chillingsworth free but with two defenders hot on his tail he rushed his shot and it flew straight into the keeper's arms.
Town almost broke through again on 36 minutes with a carbon copy of the second goal as Jones sent Skelton storming forward but this time as he tried to square it for Chillingsworth and alert defender Stout stretched out a boot to cut out the ball.
And just before the break Town went close again as lively new boy Jones weaved past three men on the left, then picked out Chillingsworth but the striker's 20-yard volley sizzled just wide.
Town had the ball in the net within a minute of the restart as Turner cut out a poor keeper's clearance and crossed in for Skelton to stab home but the flag went up for offside.
And a minute later another Turner cross from the right squirted through the keeper's arms and to the far post but Skelton just failed to make contact.
But it was West who got the next goal on 52 minutes as Town conceded a sloppy corner and when the flag kick came in Sivills nodded on for JONATHAN MILROY to head home unmarked at the far post.
Then Town lost their shape and discipline for a spell and they were under pressure and down to ten men on 54 minutes as Ainsley picked up a second yellow for arguing with the linesman.
And two minutes later West almost pulled back another as indecision in the Town defence let Raitt wander through and send Milroy clear but keeper Darren Collier was out quickly to save at his feet.
But Town weathered the storm and started to press forward again and went close on 65 minutes as Turner chased a seemingly lost cause down the right, then crossed into the box where Jones nipped in to steal the ball from the keeper but he pushed it too far and it went out for a goal kick.
Town continued to build up the pressure as first Turner burst forward but fired high and wide, then Lee Ure burst onto a ball over the top but lost control in the box and a defender cleared the danger.
But speedy substitute URE'S lightning pace told on 77 minutes as he raced free to score Town's fourth.
He burst clear onto a quick ball over the top from Turner to drill a low shot and although the keeper got down well to block, the striker reacted quickly to crash the rebound into the roof of the net.
West were down to ten men a minute later as Raitt picked up his second yellow.
Town continued to press and twice Ure and Turner combined well to open the defence but couldn't find an opening.
Two minutes from time West had the ball in the net as Milroy raced clear to drill home but the linesman had flagged.
BILLINGHAM TOWN: Collier, Burton, Scott, Hutchinson, Jackson, Turner, Ainsley, Dixon, Chillingsworth, Skelton, Jones. Subs: Ure, Gregory, Hyson, Swalwell.
WEST AUCKLAND: Collinson, Stout, Fairhurst, Raitt, Summers, Johnson, Bainbridge, Applegarth, Milroy, Sivills, Cole. Subs: Gilroy, Wilkinson, Hillary.