Darlington RA player-manager Nick Harrison headed a late winner against Washington to put his side into fourth place with seven games remaining.

Garry Barnes showed why he has played at a higher level with an excellent goal from 25 yards to put the RA into the lead, but Washington levelled early in the second half when Chris Tate pounced on a defensive mistake. Graeme Whitehead put the RA back in front with a cross that went through a crowd of bodies into the net, and Washington levelled again through Lee Hamilton. But right at the end, Fred Huscroft crossed perfectly for Harrison to head in at the far post.

Darlington RA manager Nick Harrison said: “We’ve had to work really hard in our last two matches to win them. We’re showing bits of quality that are helping us win matches.”

Birtley dropped from fourth to sixth when they were held to a 1-1 draw by Alnwick, who took the lead just after half time with a goal by Tony Brown. Ben Johnson levelled for Birtley in the second half.

Birtley manager Scott Oliver said: “We missed chances in the first half, but they got a goal against the run of play. Then we huffed and puffed, it was a bad day for us.”

Bottom club Easington drew 1-1 with third placed Gillford Park last month, but they lost 4-0 at home to them on Saturday. Gavin Barton took his goals tally to ten in just a handful of games for the Cumbrians with a couple, with Dean Douglas scoring the other two.

Easington manager Paul Adamson said: “We gave some poor goals away. A lack of concentration cost us badly. We move on to Wednesday for another big game.”

Brandon failed to stop second placed Morpeth, going down 3-0 at the Welfare Ground, all of the visitors goals coming in the second half through Steven Anderson (2) and Michael Hall.

Hebburn won for the second time at Whitehaven this season – their first was in the FA Cup -- beating them 3-2 to put them into fifth. They took the lead on 12 minutes through Tony Stephenson, but the Cumbrians levelled on the hour through Leigh Dunn. But Hebburn instantly responded through Liam McBryde’s 27th league goal of the season, and within four minutes went 3-1 up through Paul Gardiner. Jonathan Donat scored a late consolation.

Hebburn manager Paul Bennett said: “It was a very hard working performance. We travelled with 19 players and every one of them played a part. It was important we picked up three points as everyone else around us won.”

Esh Winning are still hanging on to the promotion race after beating West Allotment 1-0, Stuart Thompson scoring the only goal of the game from an Ian Ward pass in the second half.

Esh Winning manager Andrew Soppitt said: “Confidence is low at the moment. It was a very tight game, but we should have had a couple more than we scored.”

North Shields kept their promotion hopes alive with a 2-0 away win at Seaham Red Star, their first win in six matches. Both goals came in the dying minutes, sub Keith Douglas scoring with headers. Seaham have lost their last six league matches.

Seaham manager Steve Cook said: “It was heartbreaking because the attitude and workrate of the lads was first class. Keith Douglas showed the little bit of promotion contender quality that we need to aspire to.

Crook’s slender promotion hopes were extinguished by a 1-1 draw at the Millfield against Whickham. Kyle Davis gave Crook a great start with a 35 yarder from a Chris Pearson pass, and after Crook had strong penalty appeals turned down, Whickham levelled five minutes into the second half with a header by Scott Robson.

Crook manager Gary Pearson said: “It was a hard-earned point in difficult conditions, but we had more than enough chances and had two penalty decisions turned down. I was disappointed with the equaliser as we gave a silly free kick away when the ball was going out of play.”

Thornaby and Chester-le-Street drew 2-2 at Teesdale Park. After a goalless first half , Chester took the lead with a diving header by Luke Proctor, only for Danny Lofts to equalise. Daniel Smith scored direct from a corner to put Chester back into the lead, but Mark Lilley levelled from the edge of the box right at the end.

Thornaby manager Ray Morton said: “It was a good point even though we missed a penalty in the first half. We battled away to the end with a good performance and should have won.”

Ryton and Crawcrook beat Northallerton 4-1. The home side weren’t really extended, and went 3-0 up through Paul Henderson-Reay, Paul Kane and Andrew Dobbie. Peter Bulmer pulled a goal back, but Henderson-Reay made sure.

Northallerton manager Mark Fanning said: “We got exactly what we deserved, nothing. We were terrible in the first half, and even worse in the second.”