Northallerton manager Paul Burton believes that his team can aim for a top two promotion spot after beating Second Division leaders Prudhoe 2-0 on Saturday.

Northallerton have now dropped just two points in their last nine matches, and are part of a breakway group of five clubs at the top of the division.

Burton said: "In the last few weeks, we've been aiming for third spot, but after this performance, I think we can aim for second place. I feel that there is more to come from the players, and not many clubs fancy playing us at the moment.

"The only disappointing thing from the performance was that we didn't score more goals." Northallerton took the lead after 25 minutes, when Ross Diamond headed the ball forward for David Onions to lob over the advancing keeper.

Northallerton then hit the bar through Anthony Roberts and Simon Corrigan, and they made sure near the end when Corrigan set up sub Ross Foreman to score from clsoe range. Northallerton are in fourth place, just six points behind Prudhoe with a game in hand.

In the first division, Newcastle Benfield Saints are now only three points behind leaders Dunston after a 4-2 home win over Shildon, even though they played most of the second half with only ten men.

Alu Bangura put Saints into the lead from a corner after 28 minutes, then Lee Ludlow got the second from a long ball just after half time. Saints then had Tony Ross dismissed for two bookable offences, and Shildon briefly gave themselves hope when Phil Graham headed in a Charlie Walton cross.

But Shaun Bell ran from the halfway line to fire the third into the top corner and Stephen Young added the fourth after Bell hit the post.

Lee Ellison scored a late goal from the spot after Danny Richmond was brought down.

Third placed Billingham Synthonia were held to a 2-2 draw at Whitley Bay. A quiet game burst into life after 65 minutes when Paul Thompson headed in a long throw, but Synners quickly levelled when Dave Connor fired in from the edge of the box.

Synners thought they'd won it when David Wells scored from ten yards, but Peter Kirkham crossed for Steve Leadbitter to head the equaliser in stoppage time.

Durham City's title hopes now appear to be receding after they were beaten 2-0 at Morpeth. The home side took an early lead when Durham keeper Adam Dowell missed a long throw and Chris Rue headed in.

Durham missed chances to equalise, and Morpeth went further ahead when Paul Beavers scored from a Craig Myhill cross after 61 minutes.

Bedlington are now fourth after they won 2-1 at Billingham Town. Bedlington got off to a great start when John Milner chipped Town keeper Darren Collier from the edge of the box following a corner, but Town hit the bar through David Turner as they fought back.

Bedlington went 2-0 up just before half time when Andrew Burton turned a low cross from Tony Chapman into his own goal. Town improved in the second half, but they could only pull one goal back through George Woodhouse, although Craig bishop also hit the bar. Town gave a return debut to midfielder Martin O'Riordan, who has just returned from coaching in the States.

Tow Law collected their first point in six matches in a 2-2 draw at Brandon. Brandon had the better of the early play, and took the lead on 35 minutes through Neil Charlton from a David Fort cross.

However, Tow Law equalised after 48 minutes when Danny Craggs scored from close range, only for Brandon to go back into the lead through a Kevin Hamilton penalty after Fort was fouled.

But Lawyers battled back again and Craggs got another in a goalmouth scramble on 70 minutes.

Guisborough are just one place above the drop zone after a 1-0 defeat at West Auckland. West keeper Jonathan Collinson made several good saves, and his side grabbed the winner in the second half when Dale Jardine picked up a pass from Dion Raitt and fired past Andrew Vickers.

Horden beat Jarrow Roofing 4-0 for the second time in four days, following their League Cup win earlier in the week. Kevin Devine was brought down in the area, and he opened the scoring from the spot.

Just after half time, sub Ian Matthews broke down the right and crossed for Devine to head the second, and then Devine completed his hat-trick from the rebound after a shot from Matthews was blocked. And near the end, Matthews was involved again when Chris Pearson scored from his free kick.

Esh Winning stay in the top ten after a 2-1 home win over Ashington. The visitors dominated the early play, and took the lead after 25 minutes when Alan Hogg hit the bar with a shot from the edge of the box, but he scored from the rebound.

Esh recovered well in the second half. Steve Burns levelled with a right foot shot from 25 yards, then Ross Preston scored from the rebound after Ben Gawthorpe's shot was parried.

Thornaby moved up four places to sixth bottom after a 2-0 home win over Peterlee. Chris Lynch fired Thornaby into the lead after 22 minutes, then Mattie Peverill got the second near the end.

Consett maintained their recent improvement by drawing 0-0 at Chester-le-Street and moved above Peterlee into third bottom. There were plenty of chances in an end to end game. Elliott Milburn and Jonny Wightman both went close for Chester, while Consett's Johnny Brown had a header cleared off the line.

In the other second division matches, Washington Nissan moved into second place after thumping bottom club Willington 7-0. David Tait scored a hat-trick for the second successive game, with Steve Halliday, Paul Terrell and Gavin Cogdon (2) getting the others. Cogdon now has 26 league goals this season.

It was bad day all round for Willington, because next to bottom Easington won 2-0 at Washington, to put a six point gap between the two. Substitute Darren Beattie put Easington into the lead on the hour, then Martin Barwick added another after 74 minutes.

Crook Town revived their promotion hopes with a 1-0 home win over Penrith. Jonathan Milroy scored the winner late in the second half after Jamie Harwood's header was parried. Penrith had Mark Jones dismissed in the first half.

West Allotment easily beat Marske United 5-0, who finished with ten men. Michael Chilton and Dean Douglas scored in the first half, with Mark Rasmussen (2) and Andy Purvis scoring after half time.

Evenwood moved up to fifth bottom after a 2-0 home win over Norton. Ian Lowe's shot was turned into his own net by Lee Tucker for Evenwood's first, and then John Outhwaite put a Paul Bailes shot past his own keeper for the second. Evenwood are above Kennek Ryhope CA, who were beaten 4-0 at Whickham.

Ian Robson scored a hat-trick for the home side, with Chris Ainsley getting the other.

Seaham Red Star had a good 2-1 home win over North Shields. Recent signing Craig Hubbard and Andy Howarth were their scorers, with Anthony Robson pulling a late goal back.