Shildon’s title hopes were dented by a hotly disputed penalty when they went down 2-1 at home to Whitley Bay in the STL First Division.

Whitley took the lead after 8 minutes when Paul Chow flicked the ball on for Lee Kerr to lift over advancing Shildon keeper Dan Staples, but Shildon levelled with a curling shot by Chris Hughes from the corner of the box.

But the main talking point was after 67 minutes when David Pounder went down in the area, and after strong Shildon protests were waved away, Kerr scored from the spot.

Dunston are though to the final of the Durham Challenge Cup after beating Spennymoor 3-2 in a penalty shootout at the UTS stadium. The teams drew 1-1 after extra time. Dunston took the lead midway through the first half when Andy Bulford scored with an effort from the edge of the box, but Spennymoor, who enjoyed the majority of possession in the game levelled with just minutes of the 90 remaining with a header by Micky Rae. Liam Connell saved the ninth penalty of the shootout, and Lee McAndrew then fired Dunston into the final against Gateshead on Good Friday.

Consett went second with a 3-0 home win over Sunderland RCA. Mark Eccles fired them in front from 20 yards after 31 minutes, then Jamie Poole made it 2-0 from the spot after he was brought down. Poole scored the third on 51 minutes with a cross that sailed over the keeper and went in off the post.

Bishop Auckland stayed fourth bottom because of their 3-0 away defeat at Norton. Jamie Clarke put Norton into the lead from a Shaun Clarke pass on 56 minutes, then sub Craig Gott made it 2-0 from a Danny Earl cross. Earl scored the third from a Jamie Owens pass.

Billingham Synthonia moved away from immediate danger with a 1-0 home win over South Shields, veteran striker Graham Robinson scoring the winner on 23 minutes with a header on his debut.

In the second division, Newton Aycliffe won 4-0 at Crook to stay well clear at the top. Elliott Gardiner put them in front after 5 minutes from a Danny Mellanby pass, then Crook had Dan Sanders dismissed for two yellows.

Warren Byrne deflected in a Josh Knox effort for his 32nd league goal of the season just before half time, and after the break Ben wood made it 3-0 with a left foot shot. Knox scored the fourth from a Mellanby pass.

Guisborough are still ten points behind Aycliffe after scoring twice in three second half minutes through Austin Johnson and Shane Henry to give them a 2-0 away win at Washington,