STL Northern League 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 on Saturday.

The Steelmen still had a chance to overtake leaders Spennymoor going into the game, but they didn’t produce any champion material as they lost to Sinners, who also ended Sheldon’s title hopes earlier in the week.

Hagan, who is in charge of the team while manager Kenny Lindoe 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, because the performance was unacceptable to me.”

Consett got very little change out of the Synners defence in the first half, and Synners gradually got on top as the game progressed. Nathan Jameson went close with a left foot shot, and the only goal came on 65 minutes when 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.

Billingham Synthonia assistant manager Lee Tucker said; “I didn’t think we played as well as we did against Shildon in midweek, but overall play was very good. Spennymoor must be loving us!”

Second placed Shildon also lost, by 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 just before half time.

However, Shildon failed to build on the goal, and it was Shields’ Dave Colvin who scored the winner with a good strike from outside the box.

Shildon manager Gary Forrest said: “The players are playing as if they’ve had the rug pulled from underneath their feet. They know that they can’t win the league now.”

The defeats for Shildon and Consett mean that Spennymoor are now five points clear at the top following their 2-0 away 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, managed to toe poke the ball into the net from a few yards.

Francis then missed a sitter to make it 2-0, but Moors got a second with a well-executed goal by Adam Johnston, who chipped the RCA keeper from 25 yards out. Moors haven’t conceded a goal now in seven league matches.

Spennymoor manager Jason Ainsley said: “Two pieces of quality gave us the points. But again, we shouldn’t get too excited, because we have some tough games coming up, and there are other teams who can still catch us.”

The biggest threat to Moors now appears to be from Newcastle Benfield, who came back from 2-0 down to win 4-3 at Bishop Auckland to go 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 for the second.

However, Scott Fenwick pulled one back just before half time at the other end, then Kevin Leighton equalised from close range on 55 minutes. Leighton fired another to make it 3-2, with Chris Feasey quickly adding another. Darren Richardson pulled a goal back in stoppage time for Bishops.

The race to avoid relegation still isn’t over. Fifth bottom Stokesley drew 2-2 with Ashington at Broughton Road.

Ashington took the lead after 25 minutes with a Jonny Wightman penalty, but Stokesley levelled when Karl Liley crossed for Paul Crager to head in just before half time.

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 now just two three points behind third bottom Jarrow Roofing with a game in hand after they beat Norton 1-0, with a goal by Michael Latimer in the second half.

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

After an even first half, 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. However, Dunston levelled when Esh keeper Jake Johnson punched a corner into his own net.

Esh Winning boss Andrew Soppitt said: “Accolades have to go to Gary O'Hara who since we took over has worked hard and set the team up today as I could only make half time. We hit Dunston on the break with a good goal, but they scored a deserved equaliser.”

Furious West Auckland had two men sent off in their 2-1 away defeat at Bedlington, but still nearly managed to snatch a point.

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.

After the break, 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 dugout as tempers flared.

West Auckland manager Peter Dixon said: “If we had Kofi Annan on the field, then he’d have been booked. The officials didn’t have a good day.”

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

Bottom of the table Ryton ended their losing streak that stretches back 36 matches when they drew 2-2 with Billingham Town .

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