Brandon manager Kenny Lindoe is wanting a top-four place after his side crushed Washington 8-2 on Saturday.

Brandon, regarded as one of the most attractive sides in the league, started the season well, but have slipped away in the last month.

But now Lindoe thinks they're at their best again. "It's a pity we're out of everything because we're on the way back.

"I've told the players that it's no good feeling sorry for themselves, because we can still finish in the top four. We must keep progressing."

Early season signing Robbie Marsden was Brandon's hero with four. He opened the scoring after two minutes from a Dave Robson pass, but Washington levelled when Tony Gibson's corner went in off a defender.

Robson restored Brandon's lead from a Steve Huggins cross, then Marsden made it 3-1 with a low shot. And Marsden completed his hat trick before half-time when raced clear.

Huggins finished well for the fifth just after the break, and even though Andy Lumsden pulled a goal back, Robson got another from a cross by new signing Michael Jameson.

Marsden helped himself to another with a low shot, and in the closing minutes John Ewart scored the goal of the game, when he beat four men and fired past the keeper. Bedlington increased their lead at the top of the table with a 3-0 home win over Newcastle Blue Star.

They took an early lead when John Milner's shot was blocked, and Willie Moat scored from the rebound. Tony Chapman scored the second after 26 minutes, and just on half-time he grabbed the third from a pass by Robbie Cockburn. Bedlington are now seven points clear, because second-placed Whitley Bay were held to a 0-0 draw at Peterlee.

Whitley's Steve Cuggy missed a good chance in the first half, while Chris Creamer was unlucky with an effort for Peterlee.

Bottom-club Seaham Red Star suffered their second successive 5-0 defeat when they went down at Dunston, who are now second.

After Andy Fletcher missed an early penalty for Dunston, they took the lead when Tony Healer chipped the keeper.

Gary Forbes added the second from a rebound, then Fletcher got the third from a Healer knockdown.

In the last ten minutes, Steve Mason crossed for Fletcher to fire the fourth, and in the last minute Mason added another after breaking from the halfway line. Durham City also won by five clear goals, with former Darlington boss Gary Bennett starring in their 5-0 win over Ashington.

Bennett was involved in the first goal, when he headed a Stuart Irvine corner against the bar, and another former Sunderland player, Richard Ord, scored from the rebound. Lee Ludlow quickly added a second from another Irvine corner, and they went further ahead when Ludlow scored from a Craig Lake cross. Irvine supplied another cross for Stuart Brightwell to score the fourth, and he did the spadework again for Ludlow to complete his hat-trick. Consett had a good 2-0 away win at Jarrow Roofing to lift themselves away from the bottom two.

After Consett keeper James Platten pulled off a couple of good saves, his side took the lead when Chris Hodgson and Eddie Sharp combined for Rod Butler to score with a left-foot shot.

Consett scored their second when Butler's shot was parried and Eddie Sharp tapped in from a yard. Chester-le-Street and Guisborough shared the points in a 2-2 draw.

Guisborough took the lead from a setpiece after nine minutes, when Chris Keegans scored from a corner, but Street levelled when Martin Bowes scored from a Gary Andison cross.

Kevin Newall quickly restored Guisborough's lead from ten yards, but Andy Blower equalised on 70 minutes from a Steve Leadbitter cross.

Billingham Synthonia drew 1-1 at Morpeth, who took the lead when Paul Beavers scored from a Colin Lawton cross. They held on until three minutes from time, when Chris Fawcett fired home.

Billingham Town are now in the top half of the table after they beat Marske United 3-1, despite finishing the game with ten men.

Paul Dalton had a hand in the first two Town goals. He provided the cross for Richie Storr to head home after 34 minutes, then another for Stuart Jackson to score the second.

Billingham midfielder Robbie Hutchinson was dismissed for his second yellow before Greg Booth pulled one back with a deflected shot after 72 minutes. But George Woodhouse, on his return to the club, made sure after Neil Bishop's shot was blocked.

The game between Tow Law and Thornaby was abandoned at half-time because of floodlight failure. Thornaby were leading 3-1 at the time.

In the second division, leaders Shildon were held to a 0-0 draw at home by Alnwick. Nigel Bolton missed a penalty for a foul on David Taylor.

However, Shildon are still three points clear at the top, because second-placed Penrith's game against Easington was postponed. Prudhoe are now third after they won 2-0 at Evenwood. Northallerton and Esh Winning, two of the other promotion contenders, had to be content with a point apiece from their goalless draw. Former Newcastle and Tottenham striker Kevin Scott scored on his debut for Crook Town in their 4-0 home win over Murton.

Willington won their second away game of the season, by 2-0 at Washington Nissan, Chris Taylor scoring both goals.