Shildon won their first Northern League title in 76 years when they beat local rivals Bishop Auckland 4-0, while the only team that could overtake them, Marske, lost at home to Guisborough.

Shildon had the benefit of kicking off for the second half against Bishops knowing that Marske had already lost, and by then they were 2-0 up.

Shildon took the lead after just 4 minutes when Sam Hodgson nodded the ball into the Bishop box for Ben Wood to slide past Bishops keeper Ed Wilczynski.

Bishops nearly levelled through when Ian Ward’s header from a right wing corner was blocked on the line by Billy Greulich-Smith.

Shildon went 2-0 up on 23 minutes when Wilczynski made a hash of gathering a mishit clearance by Arjun Purewal, and Greulich-Smith scrambled the ball over the line.

It was nearly three when Bobby Moore headed a free kick from the right against the top of the bar.

But with the stiff breeze behind them, Bishops nearly pulled one back wit ha shot by Sam Orritt then went just wide.

In the second half, Wilczynski, pulled off a point blank save from Hodgson, and then could only watch as a vicious free kick by Lewis wing smacked against the crossbar.

It was all over when Purewal pulled back Wood in the area on 72 minutes, and Bell scored from the spot, and in the last minute Micky Rae, who had only been on the field for a minute, turned home a free kick from the left.

Marske, meanwhile lost 2-0 at home to Guisborough in their local derby.

Guisborough started on top, and nearly took the lead through Connor Smith, but he missed from just a few yards out., then Robbie Dean also pulled off a good save.

Guisborough took the lead on 25 minutes, when Curtis Round fired into the top corner.

Marske tried to hit back, but Adam Wheatley headed a free kick over the bar and Jamie Owens fired straight at the Guisborough keeper.

In the second half, Marske didn’t create much until Nathan Mulligan was just wide with ten minutes left, and with a couple of minutes remaining, Steve Snaith broke away and beat Dean.