The Albany Northern League Today: Durham City manager Billy Cruddas blasted the referee after the league leaders wasted a trip to Penrith on Saturday.

Durham received a call on their bus from Penrith officials when they were within sight of the ground saying that their game was postponed because of a waterlogged pitch, but Cruddas was far from happy with the decision.

"We were annoyed at first because the referee didn't wait until we got there," he said.

"Penrith advised us at 10.30 in the morning that the pitch was playable, but there was a possibility it could be unplayable, and in our opinion when we got to the ground, the pitch was more than playable and there weren't many clouds in the sky.

"There was no standing water on the pitch, apart from a small area in one of the six-yard boxes.

"The referee said that the pitch was dangerous, so on that basis, we won't be playing many games at all during the winter."

While Durham wasted an afternoon, most of their nearest challengers failed to make up ground. Bedlington's home game with a relieved Chester-le-Street had to be abandoned at half-time because of floodlight failure.

Second-placed Bedlington led 4-0, scoring three times in as many minutes just before half-time. Chris Rue, Roy Allen (2) and Keith Douglas all scored in vain for Bedlington. Whitley Bay in third, lost 3-0 at Horden to stay six points behind the leaders.

Horden scored all their goals in the first half when they had the wind at their backs.

They took the lead after 12 minutes when Lee Dixon scored from a Gus DiLella corner after it had been flicked on at the near post.

They then went 2-0 up on 35 minutes when DiLella cut in from the right and beat Phil Naisbett.

And then deep into stoppage time Craig Stephens charged down a Naisbett clearance and Darren Atkinson rolled the loose ball into an empty net.

Whitley are still six points behind leaders Durham.

Shildon narrowed the gap on the leading group with a 5-1 home win over Esh Winning.

Prolific striker Garry Barnes opened the scoring when he finished off a good move after 22 minutes with a powerful shot, but David Anderson set up Steve Burns to level for Esh. Barnes restored Shildon's lead from a pass by Adam Reid.

Shildon took control after the break.

They made it 3-1 when David Bayles netted with a strike from outside the area, Ellison dribbled through for the fourth, then Danny Richmond finished off Esh.

Barnes has now scored 37 goals this season, 19 of them in the league, in which he's top scorer. The club record in all games is set by Jack Downing, with 61 in 1937.

Jarrow Roofing in fourth lost ground when they were beaten 4-3 at home by Thornaby, Jamie Clarke scoring the winner for the visitors in the dying seconds.

Clarke and Richie Storr in turn put Thornaby into the lead, but Adam Johnston twice equalised, one of them a penalty. Craig Nelson put Roofing into a 3-2 lead on 61 minutes, but Storr headed the equaliser.

However, Clarke lobbed the keeper for the winner in the last minute and his 11th goal of the season.

West Auckland collected their first point in four games in a goalless draw at Guisborough.

The match was spoilt by the wind, with Guisborough going close in the first half through Darren Sankey and Craig Bishop, while Jonathan Milroy nearly scored in the second half for West.

Billingham Synthonia ended Morpeth's ten-game unbeaten run with a 1-0 win at Central Avenue.

The match was spoilt by the wind, but Synners got the goal that mattered five minutes from the end, when a David Wells shot was blocked, and Tony Woods scored from the rebound.

Washington won their relegation zone battle against Marske by 4-3 at Mount Pleasant to lift them out of the bottom four.

They took the lead when Tony Hanson cut in from the wing and scored with a low shot, then midfielder Stuart Dixon added the second when he controlled a low cross and beat the keeper.

They increased their advantage just before half-time when Scott Oliver chipped the keeper.

Marske hit back in the second half. David Lawson headed in a cross from Jonathan Stott, then Lee Alexander pulled another back from a free-kick.

However, Washington recovered and scored an important fourth through Hanson from close range. There was just enough time for Marske to pull another back through Craig Gibbins.

Peterlee and Dunston drew 1-1 at Eden Lane. Peterlee took the lead when Dunston keeper Stuart Dawson parried a shot from Anthony Dobell, and David Yale scored from the rebound.

Dunston levelled midway through the second half when Ben Thompson, returning from injury, headed in a right wing cross. The game between Tow Law and Brandon was postponed because of fog. In the second division, Crook Town had a much needed 4-0 home win over Shotton in their basement clash.

Michael Sutcliffe scored early on from a corner, then David Snow, recalled to the side, got the second from close range.

Snow scored the third from an acute angle, and rounded the keeper to complete his hat-trick.

Crook hope to appoint a new manager early this week.

League leaders Consett needed a last-minute goal by Paul Terrell to earn them a point at Kennek Ryhope CA.

The home side led 2-0 thanks to an own goal by Consett defender Jeff Sugden and then Gareth Hill just on half-time, but Consett hit back through Jonny Brown after 65 minutes and then Terrell, his 14th of the season.

Newcastle Blue Star are now fifth after they beat second-placed Ashington 1-0 at the Wheatsheaf, thanks to an Andy Smith header just before half-time. Star have won five out of their last six matches.

Northallerton dropped a place into seventh after they were beaten 2-1 at Alnwick.

They led in the first half through David Onions, but James Swordy and Jason Belisle hit back for Alnwick. Prudhoe lost ground when they were thumped 5-2 at Hebburn.

The home side led 3-0 at half-time, with goals from Rob Marsden, Gary Donaldson and Paul Clegg. Whickham are now unbeaten in their last six matches after they beat Willington 3-0. Tommy Scott, Ian Robson and Gary Smith scored their goals, but Danny Hall also missed two penalties.

Seaham have now dropped into the bottom five after they were beaten 2-0 at home by Murton, for whom Dean Goodwin and Andrew Middleton scored late in the game.

Easington are just two points above the relegation zone after they lost 4-0 at home to Newcastle Benfield Saints, who have games in hand on all the top seven. Stephen Young was amongst the Benfield scorers with his 11th goal of the season.

The game between South Shields and Evenwood had to be postponed after 61 minutes when the floodlights failed with the score 1-1.