Easington are relegated to the Wearside League after they were beaten 2-0 at home by Crook Town. After a goalless first half, Crook took the lead when Kyle Davis crossed for Alex Marshall to score from a few yards, and Easington were sunk when Ben Riding headed home a Richard Hodgson cross.

Easington manager Paul Adamson said: “Again we were low on numbers, with just one sub. In the first half we were the better team, but Crook got on top in the second as we tired.”

Crook manager Gary Pearson said: “It was a comfortable win. A pretty even first half, both times have a couple of half chances. Then we stepped it up and had a huge percentage of possession wit ha lot of chances in the second half.

Horden were maybe relieved that Easington lost, because they were hammered 11-1 at Gillford Park. Gavin Barton scored four to take his tally for the club since he signed to 20, with Chris Lynn and Ryan Errington both scoring two apiece, and Mike Reed, David Wallace and David Ranyard scoring the others.

Horden only had nine players at the start of the game, because a car carrying another four broke down on the way to the game. And they finished with eight because another wnt off injured in the second half.

Manager Peter Mulcaster said: "It's bad enough going to Gillford Park, let alone nine. I was very proud of the effort that the other players put in."

At the top, Team Northumbria missed out on the title because they were held to a 2-2 draw at Brandon, who were within minutes of victory. Graeme Cairns put TN into the lead, but Ryan Redman hit back with goals on 59 and 83 minutes to put Brandon 2-1 up. But Jack Palmer salvaged a point for TN in the last minute.

TN can still win the title if they pick up at least a point at home to Whitehaven next week.

Team Northumbria manager Paul Johnson said: “We got what we deserved, and that was not to win. We were slow in everything in the first half and although we were winning 1-0, it was an average performance by the team. Credit to Brandon, they worked hard and upped their game in the second half and deserved to go ahead, we simply didn’t match them. In the closing ten minutes we missed chances that would have made us title winners but the whole we didn’t deserve to win. The players will now be under no illusions that only the best in the next three games wil guarantee anyone a place in a title winning squad or in the Northumberland Senior Cup final at the Sports direct arena. Today was simply not good enough.”

The other promoted club, Hebburn, ran riot in the second half as they hammered Ryton 8-2. Ryton held their own after Dan Streibelt cancelled out Lee Harrison’s opener. But the floodgates opened after the hour mark. Alex Benjamin scored his 37th league goal of the season for four different clubs, and Liam McBryde scored a hat trick to take his tally for the season to 33 league goals. Tony Stephenson (2), Dan Kirkup scored the other goals, with Peter Kane pulling a goal back late on.

Darlington RA are guaranteed an excellent fifth place after winning 4-2 at Seaham Red Star.

Garry Barnes scored twice to put the RA 2-0 up, but third bottom Seaham came storming back to equalise through Michael Chapman and Calvin Gowland.

However, the RA kept their composure, and top scorer Stephen Allison scored twice to give them the points.

Darlington RA manager Nick Harrison said: “We weren’t at our best, but got the job done. A good finish to a cracking season.”

Northallerton, who go to the RA in the Ernest Armstrong Cup on Tuesday night had a man sent off, but they still drew 1-1 at Alnwick. James Bowman put Northallerton ahead, but Chris Moffet equalised. Northallerton played for most of the second half with ten men after Danny Shoulder was sent off.

Northallerton manager Mark Fanning said: “We started well and took the lead. They equalised early in the second half and we had to play for 35 minutes with ten men after Danny Shoulder was sent off. We had chances to win it, but a draw was a fair result.”

Chester-le-Street returned to winning ways with a good 1-0 away win at North Shields, Luke Wilson heading the only goal of the game in the opening minutes. They could have added more in the first half, and after some strong Shields pressure in the second half, Chester’s Johnny Evans was denied a second by the crossbar.

Chester-le-Street manager Anth Smith said: “We started really well and the early gaol was just rewards and settled us. We created a couple more good chances and but for the goalkeeper could have gone in 3-0 up. In the second half Shields pressed higher and contested the game more but cancelled one another out.”

Thornaby had a good 1-1 draw at Morpeth, who have just missed out on promotion. Gary Mitchell put Thornaby in front, but David Dormand levelled for Morpeth, Thornaby keeper Mark Briggs saved a penalty.

Thornaby manager Ray Morton said: “We played well, and were 1-0 up at half time. Morpeth took the lead and attacked strongly, but we defended well and ground out a point. I’m very pleased with the performance and the overall game.”

In the other games, Washington had a good 3-1 home win over Whickham. Nicky Evans scored after just 4 minutes, with Chris Tate and Ben Richardson adding second half goals before Lawrence McKenna pulled a goal back with four minutes left.

Whitehaven beat Esh Winning 3-1. Leigh Dunn put Whitehaven in the lead with two goals in the first half hour, and after Gary Turton pulled a goal back, Peter O’Donnell scored the third in the second half.

Esh Winning manager Andrew Soppitt said; “I thought we were by far the better team and dominated, but just couldn’t score and got caught on the break.”