Consett acting manager Dave Hagan accused his side of lacking passion as they threw away their title chances with a 1-0 defeat at Billingham Synthonia.

Synners also ended Shildon's title hopes earlier in the week, but Consett still had a chance to overtake leaders Spennymoor.

They didn't produce any championship material and Hagan, in charge while manager Kenny Linden awaits a heart bypass operation, said: "There was no passion, no desire, no bottle. You wouldn't have thought that we had a chance of winning the league.

"We have ridden our luck for a while, but on Saturday it ran out. A lot of players need to look at themselves and ask a few questions. The performance was unacceptable."

Consett got little from the Synners defence in the first half, and Synners gradually got on top. Nathan Jameson went close with a left foot shot, and the only goal came on 65 minutes. Matthew Osmond crossed for former Hartlepool youngster Chay Liddle, whose first shot was blocked by Consett keeper Peter Jameson, but he scored at the second attempt.

Shildon lost again, going down 2-1 at home to South Shields to leave them five points behind the leaders with only four games remaining.

Former Shildon striker John Ryan gave Shields the lead after a shot by Anthony Burnell rebounded to him, but Sonny Andrews equalised from a corner.

Shildon failed to build on the goal, and Shields' Dave Colvin scored the winner from outside the box.

Spennymoor are now five points clear following their 2-0 win at Sunderland RCA.

Moors took the lead after 24 minutes when Alex Francis volleyed the ball into the box from the right, and Michael Laws, at full stretch, toe- poked the ball into the net from a few yards.

Francis missed a sitter before Adam Johnston cleverly chipped the RCA keeper from 25 yards. Moors haven't conceded a goal in seven league matches.

Newcastle Benfield came back from 2-0 down to win 4-3 at Bishop Auckland and are ten points behind Moors with a game in hand.

Chris Bell gave Bishops the lead after 25 minutes from a Dan Hawkins cross, then four minutes later Wayne Gredziak lobbed Benfield keeper Andrew Grainger.

Scott Fenwick pulled one back, then Kevin Leighton equalised from close range on 55 minutes. Leighton fired another to make it 3-2, with Chris Feasey quickly adding a fourth. Darren Richardson netted in stoppage time for Bishops.

The race to avoid relegation still isn't over. Fifth-bottom Stokesley drew 2-2 with Ashington, who took the lead after 25 minutes with a Jonny Wightman penalty.

Stokesley levelled when Karl Liley crossed for Paul Crager to head in.

Ashington went ahead again through Chris Scott after 65 minutes, but Liley grabbed a valuable point for Stokesley from the penalty spot after a foul on Stephen Allison.

West Allotment are three points behind third bottom Jarrow Roofing with a game in hand after they beat Norton 1-0.

Esh Winning, relegated in midweek, won their first point under new manager Andrew Soppitt in a 1-1 draw against Dunston.

Dunston missed some good chances at the start of the second half, but Esh hit them on the break after 70 minutes when Ian Ward raced clear and pulled the ball back for debutant Brian Fairhurst to fire home. Dunston levelled when Esh keeper Jake Johnson punched a corner into his own net.

Furious West Auckland had two men sent off in their 2-1 defeat at Bedlington.

West thought they should have had a penalty in the first half for a foul on Mattie Moffat, but instead a free kick was awarded outside the area. After Moffat went close for West, Bedlington took the lead when Anthony Shandran scored at the second attempt, but West quickly levelled with another effort by Moffat.

West full back Andrew Green was red-carded for the use of an elbow, and Bedlington took the lead through another Shandran effort. Another West defender, Mark Stephenson, was shown his second yellow, but West nearly levelled when Moffat broke away and hit the post. West assistant manager Paul Foster was also sent from the dug-out as tempers flared.

Tow Law and Penrith drew 0-0 at Ironworks Road in a game of few chances.

Bottom of the table Ryton ended their 36-match losing streak when they drew 2-2 with Billingham Town.

Stephen Freyne opened the scoring with a free-kick for Ryton, their first goal in nine. They went 2-0 up early in the second half through John Watson. Town recovered, and pulled one back through a Glen Butterworth penalty, then equalised through Stephen Flockett's effort.

Newton Aycliffe clinched the second division title, even though they could only draw 2-2 with Chester-le-Street.

Aycliffe thought they might have to wait a week before they could lift the silverware but then news filtered through that the teams chasing them had dropped points.

Manager Alan Oliver said: "It's a tremendous performance considering that it's only our second season in the league. There have been some very good performances. Everybody can be proud of what they've achieved."

Chester started the better of the two sides, and after Mark Davison hit the bar, they took the lead when Robbie Draper took advantage of a mistake.

Elliott Gardiner levelled for Aycliffe with a header from Paul Broom's cross, but Chester regained the lead when Jordan Fraser claimed the last touch after Davison's shot was blocked on the line by a defender.

However, prolific Aycliffe striker Warren Byrne took his tally for the season to 41 in the league when he converted a disputed penalty for a foul on Ben Wood.

Aycliffe will be presented with the second division trophy after their home game against Birtley on April 16.

The chase for the other promotion places took a twist because of fifth placed Marske's 2-1 win at second-placed Guisborough, gaining some revenge for their defeat in the North Riding Senior Cup final in midweek.

Marske took the lead after 20 minutes when Chris McGill picked up a through ball and beat the Guisborough keeper, and they went 2-0 up just after half-time when Anthony Ormerod scored with a near post header from a Derek Bradley corner.

Guisborough hit back with a David Onions penalty awarded for handball, and caused some anxious moments, although Benn Thompson nearly scored at the other end.

North Shields failed to win for the fifth successive league game, as they were beaten 1-0 at home by Crook Town.

Crook, who fielded several youngsters, defended well, and scored the winner with just two minutes remaining when Paul Moss headed a Shaun Davies set-piece into the top corner.

Shields moved up to third on goal difference because Team Northumbria suffered their first defeat in nine when they were easily beaten 5-0 at Whitehaven.

Kevin Connelly was among the goals, taking his league tally for the season to 27.

Northallerton were too strong for Seaham Red Star, running out 5-2 winners.

Northallerton quickly went two-up through Martin Butterworth and Peter Bulmer, but Jonathan Monaghan hit back with two for Seaham, one of them from a mistake by the Northallerton keeper.

However, the home side regained control, and top scorer Darren Mowbray grabbed two to take his tally for the season to 23, with Bulmer adding the other.

Northallerton also hit the bar twice.

A young Horden side had a 3-1 win at Gillford Park. Kevin Boddy, Tom Gavin and Lewis Edwards scored for Horden, with Peter Ferris replying.

Darlington RA won for the first time in seven when they beat second bottom Brandon 2-0.

Garry Barnes created the first goal when he ran down the right and set up Christian Holliday, and after missing a few chances the RA got their second when Fred Huscroft broke away.

Washington drew 1-1 with Thornaby. Debutant Jordan Morgan put Thornaby ahead after 17 minutes, but Nicky Martin levelled.

Morpeth won only their second league game of the season, beating Whickham 2-1.

Whickham's home game with Washington on Saturday kicks-off at 11.30 as part of a special Northern League Day set up by a group of on-line bloggers.