Seaham Red Star sprung a major surprise in the second division when they beat league leaders Team Northumbria 1-0.

Seaham have steadily improved in recent weeks, and they produced their best result of the season when Danny Critchlow dribbled his way through the TN defence and fired home after 50 minutes.

Seaham Red Star manager Steve Cook said; “It was a great team performance from us. We defended resolutely and rode our luck on a couple of occasions but we fully deserved the win. Second half we kept the ball well and controlled the tempo of the game. In the last ten minutes they threw everything at us, but we held firm.”

Horden are off the bottom and up to third bottom after winning 2-1 at Whitehaven. It didn’t look good for Brian Honour’s side when Greg Quayle gave the Cumbrians the lead, but Horden stormed back in the second half with goals by Stephen Jackson and Dan Reeves.

Horden manager Brian Honour said: “It was a massive, massive win, I told the lads before the game that it was a cup final. It wasn’t a pretty game, and the players showed a bit of spirit after being a goal down at half time.”

Troubled Easington finished off a wretched week by going down 3-0 at home to Ryton and Crawcrook, and are now bottom.

The visitors took an early lead through Mark Eccles, and they failed to beat outstanding home keeper Niki Lawson until the second half when Andrew Dobbie and Sean Reid scored.

Easington have had three points deducted by the league, and fined £500 for failing to fulfil the game at Gillford Park, while they have also been fined for other indiscretions.

Ryton and Crawcrook manager Dave Hagan said: “Their keeper pulled off several top drawer saves. When we lost at Crook last Saturday I questioned the commitment of some players, and this week there was much more workrate.”

Esh Winning are now five points behind leaders Team Northumbria after winning 6-1 at Brandon. Craig Mickle scored his second hat trick of the week, with Craig Coates, Darren Kokes and Luke Wilson scoring the others. Marc Costello pulled a late goal back for Brandon. Mickle has now scored 15 league goals for the season, and he has scored 11 goals in his last five appearances.

Esh Winning manager Andrew Soppitt said: “4-0 at half time flattered us a little, but we scored a few good goals. The second half was a little more competitive but in front of goal, everything is going for us at the moment.”

North Shields are level on points with Esh after they beat Northallerton 2-0.

Shields took an early lead through Paul Gordon , But Northallerton missed a great chance to get back into the game but Peter Bulmer’s penalty was saved by Shields’ keeper Michael Robinson, who made two more good saves.

Shields regained control, and made sure of the points when Dean Holmes ran through and scored.

Northallerton manager Mark Fanning said: “The difference between the two sides was that they took their chances, and we didn’t. We created plenty when we were a goal down.”

Whickham are in sixth place after losing 3-1 at Alnwick, for whom Neil MacFarlane, Scott McMullen and Tom MacPherson scored.

Darlington RA had a good 3-1 away win at Birtley to maintain their recent improvement. Graeme Whitehead scored two penalties to put the RA 2-0 up, and then Tony Healer pulled a goal back. However, RA keeper Lee Hutton was injured whilst trying to stop the goal, so striker Paul Freary went in between the posts. Stephen Allison went up front, and raced through to score the third in stoppage time.

Birtley manager Scott Oliver said: “It was a brainless display. We gave them two penalties. There was some bad decision making, and we’re back to square one.”

Darlington RA manager Nick Harrison said: “We won a tight game. It was an even first half, we were the better side in the second, and clung on with our centre forward in goal for the last ten minutes. I’ll take a consistent solid performance like that every week.”

Hebburn almost threw away a four goal lead for the second time in four days on their way to beating Thornaby 4-3.

Hebburn took the lead in the opening minutes through Dean Nicholson, then Liam McBryde quickly made it 2-0 with a header. David Borley hit a 30 yarder for the third midway through the half, and at the start of the second half Paul Gardiner got the fourth.

But after Jeff Forsyth was dismissed for a professional foul, Craig Skelton pulled a goal back from the penalty spot. Graeme Baverstock pulled back another from close range, and with two minutes left he scored another with the help of a deflection. The Hebburn keeper pulled off two good late saves.

Thornaby manager Ray Morton said: “We had a shocking first half, and we paid for some shocking defending. In the end, Hebburn were hanging on for dear life.”

Hebburn manager Paul Bennett said: “I have a feeling of pure relief. A win is a win and it was nearly a repeat performance of midweek. We were 4-0 up and nearly threw it away again. Lucky I have no hair!”

Chester-le-Street lost 3-2 away to Morpeth. They led thanks to a strike by Paul Wardle , but then Morpeth scored three goals in as many minutes through David Hiftle, Michael hall and Michael Robinson. Chester pulled a goal back through Scott Swanston.

Chester manager Anth Smith said: “Morpeth dominated the game in the first half, but we took the lead, and then we were three down to three set plays. We pushed, got a second and then the game went from end to end.”

Washington and West Allotment drew 1-1. Jonathan Hall put through his own goal to give Washington the lead, but Ian Dunn equalised. West Allotment manager Paul Stoneman said: “It was the same story of late. We had all the play and the chances to go with it, but we just couldn’t convert them.”