Durham City still have a chance of avoiding the drop after they came from behind to beat Washington 3-2 on Saturday.

City still need at least eight points from their last four matches to remain in the first division, but if they show the same fighting spirit as they did on Saturday, then manager Chris Moore believes that they could still pull off their own version of the great escape.

“It was important to get a result and the lads had to dig deep in the last five minutes after Washington pulled a goal back so fair play to them,” he said. “We played good football in spells though we’ve played better and lost in recent weeks. We need to use this result and build on it on Wednesday against North Shields.” City still have Whitley Bay and Guisborough (twice) to play.

Washington took the lead after 20 minutes through Mark Davison from a clever back heel by Joe Walton, but City got back into the game in the second half when sub Andre Ardeglan fired home.

Boosted by the equaliser, Nicky Allen put Durham into the lead, then Sam Norris raced away and scored the third. Johnny Butler scored from a Chris Wallace assist to pull a goal back, but Washington held on.

At the top, Shildon’s charge to the title was delayed slightly when they lost 2-0 at Marske United, their first defeat since November 18 league games ago.

Marske took the lead after 7 minutes when Nathan Mulligan broke clear and set up Connor Hood who fired into the bottom corner, but Shildon nearly equalised but Marske keeper Robbie Deane pulled off a good save from a Lewis wing free kick.

Glen Butterworth hit the post for Marske before the break, and in the second half they pinched a second on the break when Hood ran clear and beat Shildon keeper Kyle Hayes.

Shildon then had defender Jamie Harwood dismissed for two yellows. They can still win the title by winning three of their last five matches.

Shildon manager Gary Forrest said; “We weren’t at our best, not enough energy or passion, but credit Marske as they competed better than us. However, we had previously gone 18 games league games unbeaten and had never really looked close to losing a game so maybe a bit of complacency crept in, but we will respond positively.”

Marske manager Carl Jarrett said; “We totally deserved to beat them today. We competed all over the pitch and I am very proud of the lads’ hard work this week.”

Bishop Auckland are into third after they beat North Shields 1-0 at Heritage Park.

Shields hit the bar through Ryan McGorrigan on 20 minutes, but Scott McCarthy levelled with a good header from a Priestley Griffiths cross.

Shields hit the bar again late on, while Bishops keeper Edward Wilcynski pulled off a couple of good saves.

Striker Andy Johnson didn’t get himself on to the scoresheet, but he is still the division’s leading scorer with 36 goals.

Bishop Auckland manager Steve Riley said; “It was a little bit of a scrappy game, not many chances for either side. The lads had to withstand pressure from a good Shields side but we deserved the point after showing good character. John Jury and Jake Cairns played extremely well. Hopefully we can get some injured players back for the last few games and finish the season well.”

Newton Aycliffe did Shildon a favour by beating Morpeth 2-0 at Craik Park.

John Campbell found space and fired Aycliffe into the lead on just three minutes, and just after half time Dennis Knight split the home defence for Campbell to score his second.

Campbell has now scored 18 league goals for Aycliffe this season.

Morpeth manager Nick Gray said; “There was a lot of effort without the quality in the final third and lacking a killer instinct. But at the other end we can’t give any strikers at this level the two chances we gifted today, never mind gifting them to someone of John Campbell’s quality.”

Newton Aycliffe manager Peter Dixon said; “I was happy with the reaction from Wednesday. We had twelve players available of which three weren’t really fit to play which was very frustrating. So I was delighted with our will-to-win against a team that I consider to be the best footballing side in the division.”

West Auckland are now safe from relegation thanks to a 3-2 win at Penrith.

Adam Burnicle put them ahead after 9 minutes, and four minutes before the break Burnicle added a second . Penrith hit back in the second half, and after they hit the post, Grant Davidson pulled one back, and then Jamie Street equalised in the 90th minute . But West kept their cool and won it right at the end when Chris Emms burst through and slotted in the winner.

West Auckland manager Andy Campbell said; “We’re pleased with the three points. I think we deserved them but disappointed to let a two goal lead slip. We scored three very good goals and could have scored more . We created chances by playing some good stuff and I’m pleased to be safe. Now’s the time to kick on and make sure we’re not in this position again.”

Guisborough drew 1-1 at Newcastle Benfield. Nothing much happened in the first half, but Guisborough took the lead on 64 minutes when Danny Earl had a penalty saved, but he managed to score from the rebound. Benfield levelled five minutes later through Dan Taylor’s header.

Newcastle Benfield joint manager Mark Convery said; “It was a really good performance. We thoroughly deserved the win but a point will do. We have a big week ahead.”

Guisborough manager Steve Dowling said; “It was hard game against a lively Benfield side whose forwards caused us problems in the first half and they maybe should have gone in a goal up at half time. I thought we performed better in the second half and after Danny Earl scored I thought we might go on to win but fair play to Benfield they scored a deserved goal to take a point.”

Dunston UTS won 3-1 at Ashington. They took the lead after 7 minutes when Malky Morien scored from the edge of the area, but Ashington levelled through Micky Dixon from a Kyle Downey corner..

Dunston regained the lead on 38 minutes through Aristote Geurin-Lokonga, and then went 3-1 up with another Morien effort.

Ashington played the last 25 minutes with ten men after Dixon went off injured, and they had already used all three of their subs.

Dunston striker Malky Morien now has 32 league goals for this season.

Ashington assistant manager Ian Skinner said; “We didn’t quite play at the level we have of late. That said we were in the game at 1-1 and a poor referee decision cost us a goal before half time. We conceded a poor goal early in the second half but our display with ten men after we used all our subs and picked up an injury for the last half hour was excellent.”

Dunston UTS manager Billy Irwin said; “It was a good solid team performance. We deserved the win, and now we’re looking to finish the season strongly.”

Bedlington are now relegated after they lost 4-2 at home to Consett after being level 2-2 at half time.

Josh Gray set up Max Craggs to fire Consett into the lead, then Luke Sullivan ran through and scored the second.

Ryan Drane pulled one back for Bedlington, and then he fired his second on 69 minutes. But Consett recovered and with three minutes Jordan Lavery crossed for Dan Hawkins to head in, and in stoppage time Nathan Steel scored from a rebound.

Consett manager Mark Eccles said; “It was a positive start and we scored a good first goal, and we should have gone in at half time 2-0 or 3-0 up. We came out for the second half too complacent but six weeks ago we would have lost that game when they brought it back to 2-2. Great mentality from the lads made us push on and win the game with the result looking more comfortable than it was. The lads are looking confident.”

Jarrow Roofing thumped West Allotment 6-0. Michael Mackay put them ahead from a loose ball on 6 minutes, and the goal glut started after half time. James Fairley made it 2-0 from the edge of the area, then he got another with a free kick into the bottom corner of the net.

Mackay scored the fourth after Fairley’s shot was saved, and Paul Chow volleyed the fifth. Fairley completed his hat trick with another free kick near the end.

Jarrow Roofing manager Richie McLoughlin said; “It was even play in the first half, but we got one up before the half ended, then we played well after half time and a Fairley hat trick made it a great performance second half.”

Sunderland RCA came from behind to win 2-1 at Whitley Bay.

The home side took the lead when Alex Kempster scored from the rebound after Callum Munro’s shot was blocked. Stuart Bramley then hit the bar and a header by Ash Davis was cleared off the line as Whitley looked for a second, but on 74 minutes the RCA levelled through Colin Larkin from a few yards.

And with three minutes left, Callum Hope got the winner after Joe Hughes hit the bar.

Sunderland RCA manager Marty Swales said; “They were the better team in the first half and deserved to be in the lead, but we were the better side in the second half and deserved the win. We are now mathematically safe!”

Whitley Bay manager Ian Chandler said; “It was a game of two halves which eventually saw us concede two goals late in the game. Once again we only had two outfield subs, and I had to put a keeper on up front for the last ten minutes. Unfortunately our reserve team feel they don’t want to play in the first team, thus giving the majority of the first team no chance to recover from three games per week.”

South Shields are champions of the second division after they won 4-0 at Crook Town.

They took the lead after 4 minutes through Darryl Hall from a long throw by Ben Riding, then Julio Arca made it 2-0 from the penalty spot.

Former Crook player Warren Byrne then burst down the left and slotted in the third, and Lewis Teasdale scored the fourth with another penalty right at the end.

Second placed Ryhope CW surprisingly lost 1-0 at Hebburn, which means that they still need one win to clinch promotion. Channon North scored the winner in the first half from a Craig Malley assist. There were plenty of chances in the game, but Ryhope couldn’t get the goal they badly needed.

Ryhope CW manager Gary Pearson said; “I was gutted to lose at the end of a tough couple of weeks in which we have played five in twelve days, especially as a win would have guaranteed promotion. We haven’t played well in our last three games but taken maximum points but our luck ran out on Saturday and we got what we deserved as tired legs definitely took its toll. Until we get definite confirmation of promotion, we need to treat each game as a cup final.”

Hebburn manager Scott Oliver said; “We’re delighted with the result, it was a real team effort.”

Chester-le-Street are also within touching distance of promotion after beating Billingham Synthonia 1-0, Craig Mickle scoring in the opening minutes of the game.

Chester-le-Street manager Colin Wake said; “It was a hard fought 1-0 win. It wasn’t a pretty performance but it was effective and kept Billingham down to one chance in 90 minutes which was excellent. Clean sheets win games as I we always feel we have got goalscorers in the side.”

Team Northumbria are still in the hunt after a last minute goal by Ryan Redford gave them the points against Whickham.

Team North are now four points behind the top three, and have gone above Billingham Synthonia who have completed their fixtures.

Easington beat Darlington RA for the second time in three days, this time by 2-0 at Brinkburn Road, with goals by Joe Kerridge and Aidan Heywood.

Northallerton won 2-0 at Brandon. They opened the scoring on 73 minutes when Andy Ramsbottom scored from the spot after Danny Ballantyne was fouled, then Elliott McGlade scored the second with a left foot shot. There were three players sent off at the end – Kieron Duffy-Weekes and Luke Thompson of Brandon, and Richard Farrell of Northallerton.

Northallerton manager Darren Trotter said; “I was really pleased wit the reaction of the team. It was a solid performance against a hard working Brandon side who are better than their league position. We proved that it’s a game of emotions.”

At the bottom, Stokesley won back-to-back games for the first time this season when they beat Willington 2-1. Willington defender Peter Wakefield put through his own goal to give Stokesley the lead, but Chris Hardy levelled for Willington.

However, Stokesley’s confidence grew and Ben Jackson got the winner from a free kick.

Stokesley manager Craig Winter said; “it was an easy three points to be fair, but we made it hard for ourselves at times. I wish I’d had this same squad all season and we wouldn’t be where we are now.”

Willington manager Gary Innes said; “It was a terrible performance and we deserved nothing.”

Birtley picked up a useful point in a 1-1 draw at Tow Law, with a late goal by Anthony Smith after Joe Gill had put Tow Law in the lead.

Tow Law manager Steve Murray said; “It was a disappointing show, end of season fayre.”

Third bottom Esh Winning were hammered 6-0 at Heaton Stannington, for whom Gary Yates (2), Lewis Burns, Peter Scott, Ryan Bailey and Dean Imray scored.

Heaton Stannington assistant manager Geoff Walker said; “Obviously happy with the result and the clean sheet. We did a professional job as normally we struggle against bottom sides but we played really well and scored some very good goals. It was a massive help being nearly back to full strength which allowed us to put three very good subs on the field.”

Alnwick won 2-1 at Ryton and Crawcrook. Jordan Miller scored both for Alnwick with Eddie Keenan replying.