Shildon are still on for a league and league cup double when they beat North Shields on penalties in the semi final on Saturday.

The Railwaymen will play Marske in the final at a venue and date to be decided, and manager Gary Forrest was pleased with the improvement in his team’s performance after their 3-0 defeat Newton Aycliffe in midweek.

“It was like watching a different team,” he said. “It was a terrific game and a fantastic advert for the league. Our lads showed a fantastic attitude and we must take that forward into Monday’s game against Bishop Auckland.”

Marske are the only team that can catch Shildon in the league, but the destiny of the title could be decided today if Marske lose to Guisborough and Shildon beat Bishops.

Shildon took the lead after just 20 seconds through Anthony Bell when he beat two defenders and fired past Shields keeper Chris Bannon, and then both keepers pulled off good saves with Shildon’s Lewis Graham saving a Ben Richardson penalty.

Shields levelled when recent signing Jack Devlin curled a shot into the top corner, and near the end of normal time both teams went close. Sub Mark Doninger put Shildon back in front from a Lewis Wing cross at the start of extra time, only for Ryan Carr to cancel the goal out with a powerful shot.

Shildon keeper Graham then saved two penalties in the shootout, while his team mates managed to score four and put them through to their second successive final.

North Shields assistant manager Andy Bowman said; “I thought we were the better team, but penalties were needed to decide it. Their name is on the cup. Knocked out and back in , then getting to penalties against a better side. Still that’s football and take nothing away from them, they’re a good side.”

In the other semi final, Marske beat Whitley Bay 3-1 at Mount Pleasant.

Reece Kelly lobbed Marske into the lead from the edge of the box on 9 minutes, but Whitley levelled with an Adam Shanks penalty awarded for a foul.

Jamie Owens restored Marske’s lead on 76 minutes when he ran through and beat the Whitley keeper, then Danny Wheatley headed against the post for Adam Preston to score from the rebound.

Marske manager Carl Jarrett said; “I’m over the moon for the players and the club. We looked very fatigued but that was our sixth game in 12 days so I can’t ask for much more.”

Whitley Bay manager Ian Chandler said; “We had a good go at it with some very good performances from all the squad, but in the end we just didn’t have enough strength in the depth of our squad. We had nine regulars missing or cuptied, another three working and we lost Callum Anderson after a few minutes.”

In the league, Durham City are looking doomed after they were thumped 6-0 at Guisborough, all the goals coming in the first half.

Guisborough took the lead after just 5 minutes when Jonny Helm scored from 25 yarder, and four minutes later Connor Smith scored from a through ball.

Danny Earl volleyed the third from a right wing cross, then before the halfway mark of the first half Smith scored the fourth from a Helm through ball.

Smith completed his hat trick on 35 minutes, with Earl scoring the sixth.

City now need seven points from three games to avoid the drop, and one of those games is against Guisborough at home this week.

Guisborough manager Steve Dowling said; “It was a good display. We were 6-0 up at half time, and we should have scored a few more but for good defending and the woodwork. Fair play to Durham who never gave up.”

West Auckland finished their home fixtures with a 1-1 draw with Newcastle Benfield to keep them seventh from bottom.

Benfield took the lead with a Paul Brayson penalty after 16 minutes, but West quickly levelled through Adam Burnicle with a header from Mattie Bell’s cross.

The referee was replaced at half time because of injury, and in the second half both keepers pulled off good saves.

Newcastle Benfield joint manager Mark Convery said; “It was a typical end of season game. It’s been a hard week for the lads, but so pleased with the end to the season. Our aim was to stay up and we have comfortably achieved that, so looking to kick on next season.”

West Auckland manager Andy Campbell said; “It was a disappointing day. It was a sloppy game between two sides who are safe. A draw was a fair reflection but we didn’t perform to our best.”

Newton Aycliffe went down 4-2 at Consett after they took an early lead when Alan Harrison opened up the Consett defence for Stuart Banks to score.

Consett levelled with a good header by Nathan Steel from a Luke Sullivan cross, and then he put them ahead after a shot by Danny Craggs was blocked.

Dennis Knight equalised with a free kick from 30 yards out, but Consett regained the lead with a strike by Sullivan from an acute angle.

Consett wrapped up the points when Craggs set up Sullivan to chip the keeper. Consett have now won their last six matches.

Aycliffe manager Peter Dixon said; “It was a proper end of season game, it was difficult to motivate our players.”

Vase finalists Morpeth are challenging Guisborough for third place after they won 4-1 at Dunston UTS.

Morpeth went 3-0 up before half time with goals by Shaun Bell, Luke Carr and Ben Sayer, and after Steve Richardson pulled a goal back, former Dunston player Lee McAndrew completed the scoring.

Morpeth manager Nick Gray said; “After a really hard week, it was really pleasing to put a great performance in as our main focus is now the Vase final.”

Washington beat relegated Bedlington 3-0, all the goals coming in the second half through Mark Davison (2) and Anthony Callaghan.

Washington manager Steve Hutchinson said; “We controlled the game from start to finish. We were always good to score a few, and a clean sheet is a bonus.”

In the other first division game, Penrith and Ashington finished goalless.

Ashington manager Ian Skinner said; “We travelled with 11 fit players and the game had an end of season feel to it. It had few clear cut chances but we had the better of the ones that were created. Our attention now turns to trying to get eleven players on the pitch for the last two games.”

In the second division, Esh Winning are safe from relegation thanks to a 2-1 home win over Alnwick, which means that Birtley will go down.

Alnwick took the lead with a goal by Tom McPherson, but Esh hit back with two goals by Luke Hogan in the second half.

Esh Winning manager Wilf Constantine said; “To say that I’m delighted is the understatement of the year. We played well, got our act together and achieved safety.”

The two promoted teams that were in action both lost.

Runners up Ryhope CW lost 2-1 at Thornaby. Josh Home-Jackson gave Ryhope the lead from close range, but Thornaby levelled through Richie Walker on 73 minutes. Thornaby got the winner when a shot by Danny Joseph was blocked, and Tom Bligh scored from the rebound.

Ryhope CW manager Gary Pearson said; “It was a game of two halves. We were excellent in the first half and poor in the second. We weren’t the same side. Andy Lowerson was outstanding in goal, and without him it could have been embarrassing.”

Chester-le-Street were beaten 2-1 at Northallerton.

Aaron Ramsbottom put Northallerton into the lead from a Damon Reaks through ball just after half time, but Chester equalised on 65 minutes when Northallerton keeper Matty Calvert dropped the ball and Scott Heslop scored his 34th league goal of the season.

But Chester keeper Joe Calvert also dropped a clanger at the other end, losing possession to Reaks who scored a simple goal.

Northallerton manager Darren Trotter said; “I was really pleased with the performance. We controlled long spells of the game of the game but probably over complicated the final pass . We were more direct in the second half and took our chances when they came.”

Chester-le-Street manager Colin Wake said; “It was after the Lord Mayor’s show. The job was done on Tuesday and the lads have given me everything all season so to under perform for one game I will accept. We will have a good summer regroup and add a few to make us more competitive and we’ll give it a right good go next season. In the meantime we will celebrate promotion without a budget which is an achievement in itself.”

Tow Law finished their season in style by thumping Crook 6-0 at Ironworks Road with goals by Cameron Nichol (3), David Parker, Adam Knowles and Lewis Harrison.

Crook caretaker manager Colin Myers said; “You don’t stand a chance if you can’t get eleven players on the pitch no matter who you are playing against.”

Tow Law manager Steve Murray said; “It was a good way to end the season with a derby victory. It ended an improving season.”

Brandon were also on the wrong end of a thumping, by 7-1 against Heaton Stannington. The visitors were 5-0 up at half time through Ben Telford (2), Lewis Burns, Peter Scott and Adam Rowntree, and after Vince Ellis pulled a goal back, Gary Yates scored twice for the visitors.

Heaton Stannington assistant manager Geoff Walker said; "The scoreline probably didn’t reflect the game but we were clinical in front of goal. Our keeper made some great saves as well, but happy with the win, and four wins out of four in a week.”

Darlington RA won 3-1 at Ryton and Crawcrook. The home side took the lead through Sam Moore, but Sam England (2) and James Wilson hit back for the RA, who finish 14th.

Willington lost 6-1 at home to Team Northumbria. Ben Dibb-Fuller (2) David Dormand (2), Gerard Richardson and Kane White scored for Team North, with Michael Brown replying.

Willington manager Gary Innes said; “It was a typical end of season game. I played and was tremendous!”

Blyth Town from the Northern Alliance will be playing in the Northern League next season after they won promotion on Saturday.