Brandon manager Kenny Lindoe slammed his team's attitude after his title challengers failed to beat bottom club Newcastle Blue Star on Saturday.

Brandon had to settle for a goalless draw in a scrappy game on a bumpy pitch, and Lindoe was far from happy.

"I could detect in the warm up that the players had the wrong attitude," he said. "I said last week that there are no easy games in the League, and I was proved right.

"The game didn't look as if it was one between the top of the table and the bottom. We didn't adapt to the pitch very well, and very few players could hold their hands up and say that they played well. "

There were very few chances in the game. Blue Star keeper Paul Bennett pushed a powerful shot from Andy Cuthbertson over the bar, while Brandon's new keeper, Chris Anthony, was hardly troubled at the other end. Cuthbertson was later dismissed for two bookable offences.

Bedlington are now two points behind Brandon with a game in hand after they won at Guisborough. In a game of few chances, Bedlington striker Roy Allen scored the all important goal after 28 minutes from a Robbie Cockburn flick on.

Wayne Osborne had a chance to equalise but his shot was blocked, while Dean Gibb nearly added a second for Bedlington.

Third bottom Consett gave themselves hope of avoiding the drop when they beat Durham City 2-0 at Belle Vue. Durham were well on top in the first half and Consett keeper James Platten made two good saves, but Consett took control in the second half.

They took the lead after 48 minutes when Darren Grimes headed in a cross from Mark Lee, and shortly after youngster Andy Green picked up a pass from David Hogg and lobbed Adam Dowell in the Durham goal.

And another Consett youngster, Richard Lognonne hit the bar late in the game.

Consett are now one point behind Prudhoe, who lost to a last minute winner at home to Dunston. Ben Thompson put Dunston into an early lead, put Prudhoe stormed back to equalise with a long range shot from Wayne Edgcombe, and then take the lead through Mattie Foreman from close range. Keith Foster levelled with a lob from the edge of the box, but Prudhoe then hit the post twice. And Dunston made them pay when Andrew Snaith got the winner with the last kick of the game.

Billingham Synthonia kept a firm hold on third place and in turn pushed Peterlee closer to the drop in a 3-1 win at Central Avenue. Neil Radigan gave Synners the lead when he scored from the rebound after his shot hit the post, then Radigan crossed for Chris Fawcett to make it 2-0 after 15 minutes.

However, Peterlee bounced back when David McTiernan scored from the spot following a foul on Anthony Dobell, and they had a chance of a point until David Wells fired the third for Synners near the end.

Billingham Town missed a chance to go fourth after they lost to a stoppage time winner at Whitley Bay. Carl Chillingsworth gave Town the lead after 35 minutes when he chested down a Mark Scott pass and fired into the top corner, but Whitley levelled just before half time through Craig Melrose.

David Gallagher made a good run and set up Craig Skelton to sidefoot Town back into the lead after 70 minutes, but Whitley equalised when Anthony Lee handled on the line, and Lee Ludlow scored from the spot.

But a defensive mistake deep into stoppage time allowed Steve Boon, signed from Bedlington, to score the winner.

West Auckland lost 3-2 at home to Washington, whose winner was scored by debutant Paul Freeman. Washington, who have lost just twice since Christmas, took the lead after just two minutes when Stuart Dixon scored from close range, then Michael Stubbs rounded Adrian Swan for the second a few minutes later.

But West hit back with a shot by former Sunderland player Steve Agnew, and levelled just before half time through James Lang from Agnew's free kick.

However, Washington recovered to grab the winner after 74 minutes when Dixon crossed from the left for Freeman to score from a few yards.

Shildon's hopes of a top four finish took a knock when they lost 2-0 at Esh Winning.

Shildon missed several chances in the first half, and Esh took command after the break when Trevor Hawthorne scored from the edge of the box.

And it was 2-0 after 70 minutes when Steve Burns dribbled through the Shildon defence and set up David Mawson to score his 11th league goal of the season.

Chester-le-Street lost 2-1 at home to Morpeth. Paul Beavers fired Morpeth into the lead with his 12th goal of the season after 18 minutes, and an equaliser from Martin Bowes after 58 minutes from the edge of the box brought Chester level.

However, Morpeth got the winner with five minutes left when Derek Atwell scored from close range.

Tow Law are into the semi finals of the league cup with a 2-1 win at Marske, even though they played for all but a minute of the game with ten men after Carl Beasley was dismissed for elbowing.

In the second division, Washington Nissan are back on top after previous leaders Thornaby lost 3-2 at Hebburn, who were 2-0 up at half time.

Nissan defeated Crook 3-2. The scorers were level at 1-1 for a long time until Adam Johnston scored twice to take his tally for the season to 35 in the league.

Horden are third after they won 1-0 at Shotton, who are still hovering just above the relegation zone. Fourth placed Penrith are still unbeaten in the league after they thrashed Murton 7-1, Barry Irving scoring a hat trick.

Seaham Red Star are now up to sixth after they thumped Alnwick 4-0, with Paul Taylor scoring a hat trick. Willington won for the second time in four games when they won their basement clash 3-1 at Norton. Eppleton had a surprise 3-1 win at Easington.

South Shields' 1,000th League game since they were reformed 30 years ago ended in a 3-3 draw with Whickham. Evenwood were beaten 5-2 at Northallerton, after being level 2-2 at half-time.