Durham City manager Billy Cruddas believes his team are out of the race for top spot - and says the title is Dunston's.

City dropped 13 points behind leaders Newcastle Benfield Saints following a 1-0 home defeat by Ashington, and Cruddas said: "Anybody can beat us at home.

"The excellent pitch isn't the problem, it's us. We're difficult to beat away, but we play badly at home.

"We're out of the title race, and they might as well give it to Dunston."

Alan Hogg missed a couple of chances for Ashington and Michael Mackay and Craig Rand went close for Durham, before Durham lost their keeper, Paul Gilmore because of injury and had to be replaced by Kevin Wolfe.

Ashington took the lead on 37 minutes when David Riches scored from a Hogg corner.

Durham tried to get back into the game in the second half, and apart from a shot by Mackay couldn't break through. Ashington missed a couple of chances to increase their lead.

Dunston are now unbeaten in 24 league games after they beat Esh Winning 2-1.

Esh had the edge in the first half hour, but Dunston took the lead just after half time when Graeme Armstrong found David Southern, and the midfielder beat Lenny French with a low shot.

Esh hit back, and levelled on 72 minutes when Craig Marron hit the bar, and Gary Messer forced the ball home.

But Dunston picked up another victory when Southern finished off a good move.

Newcastle Benfield Saints stayed top of the table by beating Brandon 4-0, all of their goals coming from setpieces.

They took the lead through Stephen Young from a corner, and went 2-0 up when Shaun Bell scored from a Dean Fuller corner.

They went further ahead just after half time when Alu Bangura scored direct from a free kick, then Lee Ludlow got another from a short corner.

Saints lead Dunston by one point, but Fed have five games in hand.

Billingham Synthonia appear to have the only realistic chance of overtaking Dunston after they won 3-1 at Bedlington.

Both sides missed good chances early in the game before Synners struck after 22 minutes when Tony Wood's shot was blocked and Lee Flanagan scored from the loose ball.

Bedlington piled on the pressure, but Synners got their second when Andy Fletcher's free kick was parried, and Flanagan tucked in the rebound.

John Milner set up Steve Preen to pull one back with four minutes left, but Andy Fletcher broke out to score the third for Synners.

Horden manager Alan Robinson tasted defeat in his first game in charge, when they lost 3-2 at West Auckland after leading at half time.

Horden led thanks to an Andy McKenna penalty after he had been fouled by Brian Fairhurst, but West levelled after 48 minutes with a Fairhurst penalty for a foul on Colin Lawton.

After Mattie Moffat went close, West went 2-1 up when Lawton crossed from the right for Dale Jardine to head in, but Horden equalised again with a 25 yarder from Craig Stephens.

But Moffat got the winner with a left foot shot from the edge of the area that went in off the post.

Consett are out of the bottom three following a 1-0 derby win over neighbours Tow Law.

Both sides had good chances in the first half, but Consett took a valuable lead ten minutes after half time, when Robbie Blemings scored from a Lee Suddes corner.

Nicky Martin nearly scored an equaliser for Tow Law, while Suddes almost a got a second for Consett.

Jarrow Roofing are also out of immediate danger with a 3-1 win at Chester-le-Street.

Craig Nelson put them into the lead with a shot on the turn, but Paul Richardson equalised with a left foot effort from 20 yards for Chester.

Roofing replied with a shot from the edge of the box by John Kelly on 24 minutes, and then Paul Hodgson headed a third on the hour

Peterlee dropped into the bottom three following a 5-2 defeat at Morpeth, with defender Darren Evans scoring two own goals in the process.

Morpeth raced into a 3-0 half time lead with goals from Lee George, an Evans own goal and Paul Beavers. Peterlee rallied with goals from Chris Hunt from a free kick and Lee Bytheway, but Morpeth finished them off with a strike by Chris Rue and another deflection by Evans.

Peterlee have also been fined £100 for a breach of the league rules on player registrations.

Shildon climbed further away from danger with a 2-1 win at Whitley Bay, whose title hopes also seem to have disappeared.

Whitley took the lead after Shildon keeper John Jackson dropped a corner, and Leon Ryan turned the ball home. Shildon fought back and equalised on 55 minutes when Lee Ellison played a one-two with Garry Barnes before finishing.

The winner came when Jamie Middleton chested down a McGuire cross and fired the ball home. Shildon striker Barnes was dismissed for two bookable offences late in the game.

In the second division, none of the top five clubs played, so Crook are now just five points behind the leading group after an 8-2 home win over Willington, but they will probably be without Danny Mellanby for the rest of the season after the former Darlington striker broke his leg. He'd already scored twice in the game, with Andrew Shaw (4), Jonathan Milroy and David Snow getting the others. Michael Joseph and Sean Joseph scored Willington's goals.

Willington have now conceded a century of goals, and are ten points away from safety.

Washington lost ground on the top five when they were beaten 3-1 at South Shields. Craig Lines scored a hat trick for Shields, with Owen Peterson scoring for Washington.

Easington are now six points above Willington after they drew 2-2 at Penrith, Chris Homer scoring a late equaliser. Wayne Robertson and Ryan Errington put Penrith 2-0 up, before Guy Whatmore pulled one back.

North Shields came from behind to win 4-2 at Evenwood. Gareth McMahon and Martin Houlahan scored either side of a Craig Mendum goal in the first half, but after the break Shields scored through Mendum, David Thompson and Paul Gibbs.

Norton won their third game inside a week, beating Hebburn 3-2 at Station Road thanks to a last minute winner from Steve Roberts. Roberts and Paul Rowntree put Norton two up, but Gary Donaldson and Jamie Elrington cancelled out their goals.

Seaham Red Star won 4-2 at Whickham. Rob Southern and Andrew Middleton put Seaham 2-0 up, and after Paul Cavanagh pulled one back, Michael Hedley put through his own goal. Cavanagh pulled another back, but David Johnson hit the fourth.

Marske won for the first time in eight games when they beat Alnwick 4-3, with Alnwick striker James Swordy scoring a hat trick. Jonathan Stott (2) , Peter Boldison and Michael Wilson (penalty) scored for Marske,.

Prudhoe have announced that Steve Burns and Eric Tait will be joint caretaker managers following last week's resignation of Gavin Liddle.