West Auckland caretaker manager Mark Hudson admitted that he was very pleased after his side picked up a vital three points with a 1-0 win at Newcastle Benfield on Saturday.

West have slipped back into the fight to avoid the bottom three in recent weeks, and this much-needed win gives them breathing space over Guisborough and Washington, although the team finishing third bottom might yet be reprieved because of South Shields’ promotion.

“The lads wanted to win the game more than Benfield and it showed,” said Hudson, who took over from Steve Skinner a fortnight ago. “It was a wonderful goal from Zak Boagey. We had to dig deep in the last 20 minutes , as we came under pressure, but the win was well deserved.

“We need one more win to make sure. Guisborough have two tough games left but are on a great run of form. Washington need to get something now we’ve overtaken them.”

West started the game well, and Darren Richardson hit the post before Zak Boagey scored a great goal with the outside of his right from 25 yards.

Ross Gardner hit the bar with a free kick on the half hour, and Richardson again went close just on half time. Tommy Marron missed another chance after the break, but when Benfield improved in the last twenty minutes, West defended well.

South Shields were within minutes of lifting the title in front of a 2,054 crowd, when they led 1-0 against Morpeth, but the visitors levelled late in the game, which means that Shields need one more win from their two remaining matches.

They got off to a great start when Carl Finnigan scored from a Wayne Phillips free kick, but they couldn’t add a second goal to make the game safe. Morpeth missed a couple of chances themselves, before Mark Davison headed in a Sean Taylor corner for the equaliser.

Morpeth manager Nick Gray said; “The lads kept going right to the end after a very tough week and earned our draw.”

Guisborough won their fifth successive game with a great 4-0 away win at Penrith, but are still third bottom, a point below Washington.

They took control after half time. Connor Smith crossed for David Onions to open the scoring, then Onions missed a penalty awarded for a foul..

Steve Roberts hit the bar for Guisborough, before Penrith’s Adam Main was red carded. Roberts then succeeded with a second penalty for handball on 74 minutes, and on 80 minutes Louis Goldsack chipped the keeper for the third. Goldsack fired another in the dying minutes.

Guisborough play neighbours Marske on Monday morning, and league leaders South Shields on Saturday.

Guisborough manager Gary Forster said; “It was a great second half performance, and the season is probably going to end too soon for us. Massive game on Monday. I think it will be very hard for us to escape with the fixtures we have but you never say never. You know what football is like.”

Shildon had the best win of the day, thumping Consett 6-3 at Dean Street.

They took the lead when Matty Robson sent the keeper the wrong way from the penalty spot, then Boro-bound Lewis Wing curled a speciality free kick home for the second.

Consett pulled a goal back through Jordan Lavery, but Shildon went 3-1 up with a powerful shot by Sam Hodgson.

Danny Craggs pulled another back with a header, but Wing scored the fourth from a rebound. Adam Burnicle charged through the middle and made it 5-2, and after Lewis Teasdale pulled a late goal back, Micky Rae made it 6-3 from the edge of the box.

Shildon manager Danny Moore said; “It was a good three points. Some good team goals built a good platform for next season.”

Consett manager Mark Eccles said; “I can’t say anything except that I feel let down by the players. Shildon deserved their win although every time we got back into the game, we gave away soft goals immediately. We didn’t work hard enough or show any passion which I think should always be a given. I can take getting beat by a better team but when we don’t show any passion or effort, I just feel let down.”

Marske United still need one win for fifth place after they were held to a 1-1 home draw with Ashington.

Ben Harmison headed Ashington into the lead, but Marske levelled in the second half through Peter Bulmer after Marske failed to clear a corner.

Ashington had Paul Antony sent off, but despite their late pressure, Marske couldn’t get a winner.

Marske manager Carl Jarrett said; “It was very frustrating to watch and to be involved in. It wasn’t one of our better team performances. Ashington came looking for a point and they basically made it very hard and we couldn’t break them down due to our lack of quality.”

Newton Aycliffe and Bishop Auckland drew 1-1 in their local derby at Moore Lane.

Ben Wood gave Aycliffe a sixth minute lead when he scored from the edge of the box but John Jury equalised on the half hour from a few yards out.

Both teams had chances after that, but had to settle for a draw.

Newton Aycliffe manager Deano Browne said; “It was quite an even first half, Bishop kept the ball better than us but 1-1 at half time was fair. Second half we were better, missed chances and poor decision making meant that we didn’t take all three points. Bishop finished strongly and some good defending meant a draw was a fair result.”

Bishop Auckland manager Steve Riley said; “It was a great game for the neutral, I thought we were very good in the first half but conceded against the run of play. We pressed really hard for the winner in the last 15 minutes and despite going close several times, we just missed that finishing touch that normally Andy Johnson gives us.”

Chester-le-Street lifted themselves off the bottom with a good 2-1 home win over Dunston, only their second home win of the season.

Dunston took the lead through a Dan Capewell header on 30 minutes, but Chester levelled ten minutes later through Alex White’s free kick.

Chester keeper Jack Wilson pulled off a good save from a penalty, and Kieran Megran took advantage to score the winner at the other end five minutes from the end.

Chester-le-Street manager Colin Wake said; “It was a typical end of season game on a hard bumpy pitch, but I feel that we had a little more to play for than Dunston. A draw was possibly a fair result on chances, but I think we shaded it slightly on desire. So off the bottom for the minute and one game to go.”

Dunston UTS manager Chris Swailes said; “We didn’t take our chances and we fell for the sucker punch.”

Stockton Town won the second division title by winning 2-1 at their nearest challengers Team Northumbria, just a year after winning the Wearside League title.

Max Craggs gave Stockton the lead on 21 minutes although Team North claimed the ball didn’t cross the line, but the students levelled through Andre Ardelean on 70 minutes.

Adam Nicholson got the winner with a looping header to give Stockton the title.

Stockton Town manager Micky Dunwell said; “It was a massive achievement by everyone. Promotion last week was special but the players wanted the title and thoroughly deserved it. There were some great scenes at the end. I can’t believe what we have achieved as a club in such a short space of time.”

Billingham Synthonia said farewell to Central Avenue by clinching the third promotion spot with a 2-0 home win over Willington.

After a nervous first half, Synners took the lead when Chay Liddle scored from a Steve Huggins pass, and Nathan Steel scored the second to become the last player to score at Central Avenue in a competitive league game.

Synners have now returned to the first division after a two year absence.

Willington manager Rob Lee said; “We had three key players missing. We gave them a good game in the first half, but second half we tired and Billingham took advantage. Well done to them, it’s a shame they’re leaving, a lot of history and memories.”

Billingham Town could have caught Synners, but they dropped points in a 2-2 draw at Esh Winning after being 2-0 up at one stage.

They led with goals by Craig Hutchinson and Conor Dunlavy, but Esh hit back through Michael Soulsby and Kai Hewitson.

Billingham Town manager Barry Oliver said; “I was very disappointed to be 2-0 up and so comfortable in a game, then to throw it away like we did is hard to take. I saw things today that weren’t nice to take, but credit to Esh Winning for taking the game to us and showing if you have the desire and determination your rewards will come and that’s what they did.”

Esh Winning manager Tony Boakes said; “It was another great result for us against top quality opposition under hard conditions and with seven or eight players missing.”

Heaton Stannington will probably finish fourth after a 2-1 away win at Blyth Town, with Gary Yates scoring both goals for Heaton, with Gary Day scoring in between.

That point for Esh means that they are a point above bottom club Ryton and Crawcrook, who won 1-0 at Hebburn thanks to a goal by Phil Hodges. Hebburn were without a recognised keeper, so midfielder Callum Smith went in goal.

Hebburn manager Scott Oliver said; “Having my right winger in goal didn’t help with the goal we let in, but we were horrendous. Ryton deserved to win.”

Tow Law easily beat Darlington RA 5-1 at Ironworks Road. Lawyers were 3-0 up by half time through Kelvin Thear, Jordan Lee and Matty Moffat, and they added another two through Thear and Dean Thexton, before David Harrison replied.

Tow Law manager Steve Murray said; “Too little too late, but still pleasing.”

Darlington RA manager Peter Mulcaster said; “It was a poor show today, especially in the second half when we had a gale force wind behind us.”

Northallerton drew 1-1 at Whickham. They took the lead through Daniel Jones, but Mark Fitzpatrick equalised with a penalty.

Northallerton manager Darren Trotter said; “It was a very poor game. I thought we should have seen the game out after taking the lead though that has been an issue all season and needs addressing for the next campaign.”

Thornaby lost 1-0 at Alnwick, for whom Sammy Perez scored.

Thornaby manager Paul Burton said; “It was a poor game, poor performance and poor result.”

Crook drew 4-4 at Bedlington, with Danny Pigg, Christian Holliday (2) and Callum Johnston scoring their goals. Lee Scott (2), Sam Norris and Chris Armstrong scored for Bedlington, who were ahead three times.

Easington best Brandon 3-2 at Welfare Park. Dylan Elliott put Easington into the lead, but Kieran Duffy-Weekes and Dan Quine put Brandon in front by the hour. But Jack Pounder hit back with two for Easington.