DURHAM City manager Brian Honour hasn't ruled his side out of the title running after their 4-1 home win over Dunston on Saturday.

City are now sixth in the table with games in hand on all the clubs above them, and they also gave themselves a boost for this weekend's FA Vase tie at Dereham.

Manager Brian Honour - who made a 500 mile round trip to watch Dereham in midweek - said: "I've always said that once we got our players back from injury, then we would return to form. We're not out of the title race yet. If we keep on playing the way we are, then we're capable of beating anybody"

Durham took the lead when Stuart Irvine and Stuart Brightwell combined to give Lee Ludlow the chance to fire home his 25th gaol of the season.

Gary Bennett missed an easy chance for the second, before Brightwell crossed for Ludlow to score from a few yards.

Dave Mason pulled a goal back for Dunston from a Derek Ord free kick, but then youngster Andrew Shingleton made it 31- from a Craig lake cross.

Shingleton then won the ball in a challenge with Dunston keeper Andrew Hutchison, and the ball dropped for Irvine to roll home.

Leaders Bedlington are still six points clear after they beat Jarrow Roofing 3-1.

Roofing took the lead with a shot from Craig Nelson from the edge of the box, but Bedlington levelled with a header by John Milner from a Tony Chapman cross.

Chapman put Bedlington into the lead from a Warren Teesdale pass, and Milner struck again from an Ian Bogie cross.

Whitley Bay remain second, but with just one game in hand, after they beat Chester-le-Street 4-0.

They took an early lead when Mick Fenwick scored from a rebound after Andy Dugdale's shot was blocked, and Andy Hay added the second just on half time with a solo run.

Dugdale fired a third from the edge of the box after 61 minutes, with Fenwick getting another right at the end.

Three players scored hat tricks in the other games.

West Auckland striker Roy Allen scored all of his side's goals in their 3-1 win over Morpeth Town.

He scored his first from the spot in the opening minutes after he had been brought down by visiting keeper Neil Fairbairn, and he raced clear for his second after 10 minutes.

Fairbairn pulled off several good saves to keep Morpeth in the game, and his side pulled one back just before half time with a Colin Lawton header.

But Allen made sure of the points when he snapped up the rebound after Jonathan Milroy's shot was blocked.

Billingham Synthonia striker Lee Flanagan scored three in his side's 4-1 win at bottom club Seaham Red Star.

All of the goals came in the second half after both sides had good chances in the opening period.

Synners took the lead just after half time, when Flanagan scored from the spot after he was brought down by Seaham keeper Craig McCulloch, who was dismissed.

McCulloch's replacement, defender Darren Griffiths, saved another penalty from Flanagan following a foul, but Flanagan made no mistake from ten yards a few minutes later.

Michael Dibie pulled a goal back for Seaham, but David Wells made it 3-1 to Synners, and then Flanagan completed his hat trick with a header.

Veteran Billingham Town striker Paul Rowntree scored all three in his team's 3-0 home win over Peterlee.

He scored his first after 29 minutes from a right wing cross by Steve Osborne, who also provided the pass for him to score the second after 52 minutes.

And Osborne again destroyed the Peterlee defence to complete his hat-trick after 66 minutes.

Thornaby slipped closer to the relegation zone after they lost 2-1 at Marske United.

Simon Kasonali, who recently returned to the club following a spell at Spennymoor, gave Marske the lead on 25 minutes, and John Woods added a second on 63 minutes.

Former Marske player Chris Reeve pulled a goal back in the last minute for Thornaby, who are just two points above the relegation zone.

Brandon went down 2-1 at Washington, only weeks after thrashing them 8-2 in the reverse fixture

Washington were reduced to ten men after 18 minutes when defender Tony Gibson was sent off for headbutting Brandon's Mark Patterson, and then went ahead through Andy Lumsden.

Robbie Marsden equalised, but Washington grabbed the points when Neil Hood scored.

Consett, who are second from bottom, picked up a useful point in a goalless draw at home to Guisborough, with both sides having good chances.

Tow Law's game at Newcastle Blue Star was postponed because of a waterlogged pitch, denying Lawyers of some much-needed match practice before their FA Vase tie at Ash United on Saturday.

In the second division, leaders Shildon lost 5-4 at Prudhoe.

Shildon took the lead with a header by Graham Ash, but Steve Hamil equalised and then Ash put through his own goal. Brian Fairhurst levelled for Shildon, but Marc Nash fired Prudhoe back into the lead. Nigel Bolton made it 3-3 from the spot after Fairhurst was fouled.

Peter Ould restored Prudhoe's lead, but Ash equalised before Michael Barkas got the winner.

Penrith are still in third after a 3-2 win at bottom club Shotton.

Easington climbed into fourth over Esh Winning after their 5-2 win at Esh, Aaron Scott scoring two of the goals.

Kennek Ryhope CA are still in touch with the leaders after a 5-0 victory at Hebburn, who had two men dismissed in the first half.

Willington drew 1-1 at Murton after Dave Berry put them in the lead in the first half, while Washington Nissan had a 2-1 win at Norton thanks to a late winner from Adam Johnston.

Andy Burgess and Martin Blythe scored the goals in the first half for Crook in their 2-0 win at Evenwood. Eppleton won their bottom of the table game at Alnwick by 3-2, while South Shields drew 1-1 at Horden.