Willington suffered their heaviest ever defeat in the Northern League when they were thrashed 13-0 at Washington Nissan on Saturday.

Willington, near the bottom of the Second Division, were forced to field their 52-year-old manager, Richard Huntley, as they struggled to find a team on their way to the biggest scoreline in the league this season.

And the margin of defeat won't help their goal difference as the club, one of the longest serving members of the league, battles against relegation.

Washington Nissan manager Gavin Liddle said: "It could have been more if we had taken our chances and the pitch hadn't been so bobbly after the recent bad weather.

"We thought also that the referee blew the final whistle six minutes too early."

Willington were up against it once they went a goal down in the opening minutes, scored by Jamie Oldroyd.

Adam Johnston, the division's leading scorer, took his tally to twenty with a hat-trick, as did Owen Peterson, who came on as a second-half sub.

Another sub, Jon Wightman, scored two, along with Gavin Cogden (2) Oldroyd (2) and Gary Coatsworth. The victory is also Nissan's biggest in their short existence.

The match of the day between the league's top two, Brandon and Bedlington, ended goalless, which leaves Bedlington with a three-point lead at the top.

Brandon played for virtually all of the game with just ten men after defender Chris Neil was dismissed for deliberate handball when Tony Chapman tried to find John Milner.

After Chapman had hit the bar on the half hour, the visitors took the lead when Milner scored his 14th goal of the season from a corner.

But Brandon battled back, and equalised with a header by Andy Purvis. Bedlington had the chances to win the game after that but failed to take them.

Shildon moved into third place with a 2-1 home victory over Esh Winning in their last scheduled home game of the year.

Shildon took the lead after 12 minutes when David Bayles scored with a powerful shot from a Lee Ellison pass, but Esh's pressure paid off when Gary Messer headed in from a corner.

Shildon grabbed the points on the hour when Danny Richmond scored for the second successive game from another Ellison pass.

Billingham Synthonia moved into sixth place with a 2-0 home win over bottom club Newcastle Blue Star.

However, they had to wait until the second half to go into the lead when Andy Ripley helped on a corner for David Wells to score from a few yards. Wells then provided the cross for Lee Flanagan to score the second.

West Auckland are still the division's highest scorers with 45 goals after they beat Whitley Bay 4-1.

Whitley dominate the opening stages, and took the lead after 17 minutes when Kevin Walton scored from a cross by Jon Sunderland.

However, West levelled after 28 minutes through Phil McGuire from a Roy Allen pass, and then took command of the second half.

Jonathan Milroy, on his return to the side after injury, scored the second from another Allen pass, then ran through for the third from Allen's through ball.

Former Darlington striker Michael Carter scored the goal of the game near the end, with a 25-yard chip which went in off the bar.

Tow Law's hopes of narrowing the gap on the top seven were dashed when they lost 2-0 at home to Morpeth.

The visitors, who are looking forward to the possible inclusion of Paul Gascoigne in their Vase team next week, took the lead after seven minutes when Darryl Leach scored from close range.

Already hit by injuries and suspensions, Lawyers' centre-half Graham Liddle is looking at a ban after he was dismissed along with Morpeth's Stuart Douglas following an incident after 15 minutes.

Morpeth got the second just before half-time thanks to a shot from Colin Lawton.

Washington pulled off a good 1-1 draw at Guisborough to move them up to third bottom.

They took the lead after ten minutes when Michael Stubbs scored from a John Robinson free-kick, but new signing Danny Brunskill from Spennymoor levelled for Guisborough following a mistake by Washington keeper Micky Norris.

Dunston moved away from the relegation fight after they beat Jarrow Roofing for the second time inside four days.

Paul Chow hit the post for Roofing in the first half before Dunston took the lead after 56 minutes through Micky Farrey following a handball offence.

Ben Thompson scored his eighth goal since joining the club with a powerful shot to make the score 2-0, but Chris Leonard pulled a goal back from a free-kick. Thompson went up the other end to restore Dunston's two-goal lead, before Paul Chow headed Roofing back into the game again. However, Anthony March made sure of a 4-2 victory near the end.

The games at Marske and Prudhoe were both postponed, while the match at Chester-le-Street, who were playing Consett, had to be abandoned at half-time with the score 1-1 because of floodlight failure.

In the second division, Whickham are now back in third place after their 2-1 home win over Norton, thanks to a late goal from Ian Robson.

Horden are now sixth after goals from Craig Lines and Chris I'Anson gave them a 2-0 home win over Murton.

Ashington are just behind them after they won 2-1 at Northallerton, thanks to first-half goals by Alan Hogg and Ross Atkinson.

Kennek Ryhope CA lost ground in a 4-3 defeat at Hebburn after being level at 2-2 at one stage.

In the battle of the bottom two, goals from new signing Michael Dibie and Ryan Dunn earned second bottom Eppleton the points over Alnwick.

Crook Town lost 2-1 at Seaham Red Star, Paul Taylor scoring the home side's winner.