Willington are off the bottom of the Second Division table for the first time in several months after beating promotion challengers Washington Nissan 4-3 on Saturday.

And it was also sweet revenge for them following their 13-0 thrashing at Nissan earlier in the season. Former Newcastle star Shoulder, who was forced to play the full game because of injuries, said: "The win has been a long time coming.

"We've steadily brought stronger players to the club, and when we can get our strongest team out, we can give anybody in this division a game. Let's hope we can win a few more matches"

The key games for Willington will be later in the month, when they play fellow strugglers Eppleton twice.

Nissan defender Glen Moan lobbed his own keeper to put Willington into an early lead, but Nissan levelled with a shot by Adam Johnston. However, Brett Cummings restored Willington's lead just on half-time.

Jamie Oldroyd levelled right at the start of the second half, but then 18-year-old Sean Tarling restored Willington's lead again with a diving header.

Cummings made it 4-2 and Willington had a nervous last ten minutes when Oldroyd pulled the score back to 4-3.

The result means that Norton are now bottom of the table, with Willington three points above them. Crook Town are also well away from the bottom, after Les Langley, who stepped down as manager in midweek, scored a late winner against Seaham Red Star to give them a 2-1 win.

Langley, who came on as sub early in the second half, finished off a four-man move to put Crook into the lead after 70 minutes, but Seaham levelled with a superb free-kick by Colin Nesbitt only for Langley to volley home David Snow's cross in the dying minutes. The first division title pendulum swung back into Bedlington's favour after they beat Tow Law 3-0 at Welfare Park, while leaders Brandon could only draw 0-0 at Dunston.

Bedlington took the lead after 21 minutes when Robbie Cockburn crossed low for John Milner to turn the ball home.

Lawyers missed a couple of chances to equalise before Christian Graham fired home from 25 yards. And Bedlington wrapped up the points when Carl Beasley rounded off a bad week when he headed a Tony Chapman cross past his own keeper.

Brandon had to be content with a draw at Dunston, leaving them two points ahead having played a game more.

Dunston had the edge in the first half, and went close twice, but Brandon came more into the game after half-time and nearly pinched a winner near the end through Chris Neil.

Most of the teams hoping to finish in the top three slipped up.

Billingham Synthonia needed a stoppage time goal against Morpeth at Central Avenue to earn a 3-3 draw. Dean McGee put them in front with a header just before half-time, but Morpeth hit back to lead with goals by Steve Walker and Colin Lawson.

Tony Wood, on his return from injury, fired the equaliser for Synners, but Gary Middleton grabbed what seemed like the winner for Morpeth in the last minute of normal time. However, David Wells levelled in the dying seconds from close range.

Fourth-placed Durham City lost 1-0 at home to Whitley Bay. Former Durham player Lee Ludlow and Danny Anderson both had efforts cleared off the line early in the game as Whitley took control, but Durham came back into the game and Lee O'Donovan hit the bar. The game looked as if it would end goalless until the last minute, when Whitley midfielder Kevin Walton scored directly from a corner.

Billingham Town drew 0-0 with Esh Winning in a lacklustre game - the first time Town have failed to score in a League game this year.

And Town's problems worsened when keeper Darren Collier had to go off with a groin injury near the end, so outfield player Anthony Lee went in goal.

At the foot of the table, Consett's position now looks hopeless after they lost 3-0 at home to Shildon, to leave them in third-bottom spot.

Shildon had a goal disallowed for offside before they took the lead with a Gary Barnes penalty following a handball offence.

And they went 2-0 up when Charlie Walton crossed for Mark Rutter to score from ten yards.

Shildon improved their own chances of finishing third when Stephen Tobin set up David Bayles to score.

Prudhoe gained a valuable point in their safety fight following a 1-1 draw at Marske United. They took a second-minute lead when Gary McDonald scored from an Anthony Lowther cross. But Marske levelled midway through the half when Scott Davies scored from the edge of the box. Peterlee are also almost down after they were beaten 1-0 at home by Guisborough, who scored the winner through Darren Mowbray's seventh League goal of the season.

Peterlee had striker Paul Hinton dismissed late in the game.

West Auckland pushed Newcastle Blue Star closer to the drop with a 4-1 win at the Wheatsheaf.

Phil McGuire put them into the lead from a pass by Phil Brumwell after five minutes, then Jonathan Milroy headed the second from a Steve Agnew corner. McGuire got the third with a deflected shot after 31 minutes, and James Lang added the fourth with a near post header.

Micky Cunningham scored a late consolation.

In the other game, Washington and Chester-le-Street drew 2-2. Youngster Mark Adamson ran clear and beat Michael Norris to put Chester into the lead just before half-time, but Keith Hutchinson restored Washington's lead with a header. Steve Cuggy got Chester back in front, but Michael Stubbs grabbed a point for the home side.

In the other second division games, Eppleton, who are also battling against the drop, drew 3-3 at Alnwick after leading 3-1 with 20 minutes left. Dean Goodwin scored the goal of the game for Eppleton with a 25-yarder.

Leaders Thornaby needed just one goal, early in the game from Jamie Clark, to give them the points against Shotton, who are now in the bottom four.

Penrith are still unbeaten and three points off the lead in second place, after goals from Michael Hodgson and Jamie Heath gave them a 2-0 home win over Easington.

Horden are level with Nissan in third place after they won 3-0 at Murton. Alan Martin scored after 14 minutes, with Luke Allen and Gus DiLella adding further goals. Ashington are still hanging on thanks to an Alan Hogg winner against Northallerton.

Evenwood are without a win in six league games after they lost 3-1 at home to South Shields - a bad omen for their forthcoming Craven Cup semi final.

* The draw for the League cup semi finals is: Shildon v Tow Law, Brandon v Billingham Synthonia. The draw for the Craven Cup semi finals is: Ashington v Seaham Red Star, Evenwood v South Shields. Games to be played April 22 and 23.