Morpeth Town maintained their seven-point lead at the summit after going nap at home to a seventh-placed Gresley FC side who had won their previous three league games.
But their last league defeat was another five-goal defeat at Carlton Town, and they found themselves two-down at the break with new Morpeth signing Jack Foalle bagging both.
Ben Sayer made it 3-0 within 8 minutes of the second half getting underway, with Martin Smyth responding immediately.
But a Tom Potter brace in the 63rd and 90th minutes made it a nap hand for the northerners.
There were 1-0 wins for the teams occupying second, third and fourth place in the table.
Marske United's match-winner at home to Stocksbridge Park Steels was Matty Watters in the 66th minute, James Hurtley's 33rd minute effort eventually proved enough for Brighouse Town at AFC Mansfield, while Paul Grimes' 73rd minute penalty sealed Lincoln United's win at eighth-placed Ossett United's Ingfield.
Fifth-placed Tadcaster Albion were in impressive form as they hammered bottom side Cleethorpes Town 5-1 at Bradley Road.
It was all-square at the break, with Billy Whitehouse's 6th minute strike for the visitors being cancelled out by Scott Vernon on the half-hour mark.
But Clee were blown away in the second half as Taddy hit four through Casey Stewart, Lamin Colley and Joe Lumsden.
Belper Town are now in the top six after they edged out and moved above Pontefract Collieries.
Eli Hey gave Colls a 24th minute lead at Christchurch Meadow, with Derry Robson levelling just past the half-hour mark.
Alex Peterson put the Nailers in front 5 minutes into the second half, only for Hey to level on 73 minutes.
George Milner popped up with the Nailers' winner in the 88th minute.
Second-bottom Spalding United won their first league game of the season at the twelfth attempt.
The Tulips beat Sheffield FC 2-1 at the Sir Halley Stewart Fields with the returning Cenk Acar's 7th minute penalty and a James Hugo effort 4 minutes later proving too much for Club, whose Mitch Dunne replied a minute from time.
Spalding are now level on points with neighbours Wisbech Town after the Fenmen were beaten 4-2 at Fenland Park by mid-table Loughborough Dyanmo.
Karl Demidh gave the visitors a 16th minute lead that recent signing Toby Hilliard cancelled out after 32 minutes.
Ollie Gale put the hosts in front 11 minutes after the break., but a Danny Gordon penalty on 66 minutes pulled Dynamo level and Corbi Brown's brace on 67 and 81 minutes sealed their win.
Carlton enjoyed a good 2-0 win at the Zeeco Stadium against Stamford AFC.
It was an Aaron Opoku brace that won it for the Nottingham side, from the spot after 75 minutes and then in stoppage time from open play.
The day's other game saw a remarkable comeback from home side Pickering Town earn them a point from an eight-goal thriller against Yorkshire rivals Frickley Athletic.
The visitors led 4-1 by the 48th minute – a Jacob Hazel penalty, a Tyler Walton brace and one for Jameel Ible for the Blues and Nick Thompson for the Pikes.
The in the 86th minute, Ryan Blott reduced the deficit from the spot, followed 2 minutes later by a third for Danny Davison and then Billy Logan equalised in time added on.
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