BILLINGHAM Town manager Micky Watson reckons that his side still has an outside chance of the title after beating bottom club Horden 2-0.

Victory put them to within two points of leaders Whitley Bay, but they have played more games than both Whitley and second-placed Sunderland Nissan in what has become the best title race for several years..

"If we win our last two games against Shildon and Consett, then you never know what might happen," said Watson.

"The other teams still have some tough games, so we can still be in a position to take advantage. The lads have played really well in the past week, because they've played four games in the space of eight days."

Town got off to a great start after when Chris Emms split the Horden defence for Steve Flockett to score, and they missed several chances to increase their lead until five minutes from the end when John McKie headed his 14th league goal of the season.

Leaders Whitley Bay were held to a 1-1 draw at Tow Law. They took a 15th minute lead through a Wayne Phillips penalty awarded for handball, then Lee Kerr and Anthony Woodhouse both missed good chances before Andy Thompson levelled with a blistering 30 yarder just on the hour.

Second placed Sunderland Nissan could go top tonight if they win at Morpeth.

Durham City are now unbeaten in eleven games after they won 3-1 at Shildon, Neil Maddison scoring all three goals. Shildon took the lead when Stuart Niven's penalty was blocked by Durham keeper Jon Caffry, but he scored from the rebound. City equalised when Maddison headed in a quickly taken free kick by Tommy English, then Maddison headed another just before half-time. In the second half he cleverly beat a defender and fired home to complete his hat trick.

City finished the game with ten men after Richie Pitt was dismissed for violent conduct near the end.

Bishop Auckland won 2-1 at Jarrow Roofing, despite playing with an outfield player in goal for all the second half following an injury to regular keeper Chris Porter. Craig Nelson put Roofing into the lead, and at half time Bishops were forced to put defender Paul Griffiths in goal . Gavin Parkin equalised for Bishops from a Dale Mendum pass, and after Griffiths made two good saves, Bryan Stewart got the winner on 70 minutes when he pounced on a poor defensive back header and rounded the keeper.

Darlington RA's season can't end fast enough after they were hammered 6-0 at Consett, conceding five in the second half.

Ian Robson opened the scoring when he ran through and scored, but he opened the floodgates with another goal early in the second half. David Pounder scored the third from close range, then another from a Kraig Wilkinson pass. Ian Robson set up Michael Brown to score from ten yards, and near the end Ian Robson headed in to complete his hat trick and take his league tally to 41.

The RA only have one game left, while bottom club Horden, who are two points behind, have three games in hand.

Beaten Vase semi finalists Billingham Synthonia certainly seem to be suffering a hangover after they were easily beaten 5-0 at West Allotment.

The home side took the lead on 20 minutes when Alex Houlsby set up Andy Watson, then Scott McDonald made it 2-0 from a David Potts cross.

Allotment scored three in the last ten minutes. Ben Dawson sent Potts racing clear for the third, then Dawson turned quickly to score from the edge of the area. In the last minute, John Fitzpatrick, making his 600th appearance, scored from close range.

Newcastle Benfield went goal crazy against Morpeth, hammering them 7-0 to record their best win of the season.

Micky Chilton scored a first half hat-trick, with Mark Rasmussen scoring another just before half-time, and after the break Rasmussen went on to complete his hat-trick, with Chris Laws completing the rout.

Newcastle Blue Star defeated Northallerton 2-0 at the Wheatsheaf, with goals by Stephen Hutchinson and Jack Burridge.

Chester-le-Street and Dunston drew 1-1 in an entertaining game. Steve Preen headed Dunston into a first minute lead, but Andy Cuthbertson quickly equalised for Chester.

In the second division, champions Spennymoor received the league trophy and also beat Norton 3-0. They coasted to a three goal half-time lead.

Anthony Dobell scored after David Turner's close range shot was blocked by the keeper, then a Neil Crosby effort was deflected in by Richie Storr. Turner scored the third just before half time from a long ball. Moors could have had more in the second half, while keeper Ben Escritt pulled off two good saves near the end. Moors are now unbeaten in 23 league games, and they have won their last fifteen on the trot.

Seaham are promoted with Spennymoor after beating Guisborough 3-1.

Recent signing Warren Byrne put Seaham into the lead on 30 minutes with a volley from an Andy Jennings cross, then Byrne headed the second from a Chris Bell centre. Guisborough pulled a goal back just before half-time through Paul Birch, and in the second half Seaham's Paul Taylor missed two good chances before he set up Jennings to score the third, his 24th league goal of the season

Washington need just a point to join them after winning 2-0 at North Shields. Kevin Dixon put them into an early lead from a rebound, then Gareth McKenna crossed for Liam McBride to head the second near the end. Washington could be promoted in midweek if South Shields, the only team who can catch them, fail to win at Ryton. Shields scored twice in the last five minutes with ten men to win 2-1 at Alnwick, who have now dropped to bottom place. Alnwick scored in the first minute through Stuart Bertram, and after Shields had Richard Logan dismissed, they won with goals by Lee-Paul Scroggins and Graham Irving.

Stokesley, new to the league this season, are assured of a top eight place after drawing 1-1 at Marske, Jon Newton scoring for them with four minutes left after Mark James scored for Marke on 75 minutes.

Esh Winning moved away from the bottom three when they beat Penrith 3-1. Brian Dodsworth and Michael Thompson put Esh 2-0 up, and after Penrith pulled a goal back through Phil Thornton, Kelvin Armstrong made sure for Esh.

Ryton manager Keith Sheardown tasted victory for the first time when they beat Whickham 1-0, Andy Bulford scoring his 32nd league goal of the season.

Prudhoe moved off the bottom by beating Crook Town, who were unbeaten in their previous six games, by 3-0 with goals by Chris Baxter (2) and Ian Davison.

Sunderland RCA made sure they won't finish in the bottom two by beating Brandon 2-1, Simon Andrews scoring both their goals, with Andy Johnson replying for Brandon.

In the UniBond League, Gateshead stretched their unbeaten run to nine games with a 2-1 win over Leek at the International Stadium. Jamie Harwood scored their winner with five minutes left after David Southern had given them an early lead.

Whitby, who haven't won an away game since December, went down 3-1 at Marine despite taking an early lead through Danny Brunskill.