The Albany Northern League: With their first win of the season Willington boosted their chances of staying in the league after overcoming third bottom Easington on Saturday - and they also found their scoring touch.

Before Saturday Willington had collected just one point and one goal this season but a first half salvo helped them to the points.

Relieved manager Stan Cummins, who went on as a second half sub because of injuries, said: "If we'd lost we would have been wondering where the next win was going to come from. It was such an important game to win.

"We're still bottom of the table, but at least we're in touching distance of the other teams.

"We've brought a few players to the club in recent weeks, and they've improved the quality of the team. We're also becoming a bit harder to be rolled over.

"Maybe we can climb higher now, but we've got to remember that one swallow doesn't make a summer."

It might have been a familiar story for Willington when Easington took the lead after five minutes through Guy Whatmore, but Willington levelled with a fluke goal. An Easington defender's clearance rebounded off team-mate Gavin Baker into the net - Willington's first goal since August.

Former Guisborough striker Ian Robinson raced clear to put Willington into the lead and then Barry Raper fired a third. Willington's Mark Brischuk hit the bar but Easington responded when Steve Purcifer scored.

However, Brischuk made it 4-2 to calm their nerves and they held on , even though Martin Barwick pulled a goal back.

In the first division, Benfield Saints returned to the top on Friday when they beat Bedlington 3-0 with goals from Stephen Young, Alu Bangura and Shaun Bell.

They are now two points clear of Billingham Synthonia who drew 1-1 with Dunston at Central Avenue. Shaun Hope put a header just wide for Synners early on but then Dunston went close through Danny Shore and Graeme Armstrong.

In the second half, Neil Radigan was denied by a Stuart Dawson save.

Synners took the lead after 71 minutes when Hope's overhead kick was turned in by Lee Flanagan but Dunston levelled three minutes later when Richie Pitt was fouled by Hope in the area, and although Steve Holmes' first penalty was saved, the referee awarded a re-take which Holmes converted.

Durham City are now third after they thumped West Auckland 5-2 at the Archibalds Stadium. Young striker Michael Mackay bagged his second hat-trick of the season to take his tally to 14 league goals.

City took the lead took an early lead when Mark Patterson curled the ball home from 20 yards before West levelled through Colin Lawton. Mackay restored City's lead after 12 minutes when he scored with a left foot shot from a move down the left but West levelled again after 54 minutes when Dion Raitt's corner was turned past the keeper by a Durham defender.

However, Mackay put Durham back into the lead from a Stephen Stewart cross, and then he completed his hat-trick with a low shot. Micky Dunwell made sure when he turned quickly 25 yards out and scored with a shot that went in off the post.

It was West's first defeat in six league games.

Chester-le-Street are still in touch with the leading group after their 2-2 draw with Horden but they had keeper Ian Aitken to thank for saving a last minute penalty.

They took the lead when youngster Ian Glazinski turned in a mis-hit shot by Willie Moat but former Chester player Martin Bowes levelled on the half hour with a 20 yard shot through a crowd of players.

Chester restored their lead within a minute through a long range shot by Paul Richardson but Horden equalised at the start of the second half with a 25 yarder by Lee Dixon.

Both sides could have won the game after that. Horden keeper Steve Tierney pulled off two excellent saves and in the last minute James Huntley was brought down in the Chester box, but Aitken saved Chris Pearson's penalty.

Billingham Town had a last minute goal to thank for a point against Esh Winning who had won their last two encounters in the last fortnight.

Both sides missed chances in the first half and Town took the lead soon after half time when David Turner raced through the Esh defence and fired past Darren Collier. Esh hit back and Andy Cuthbertson fired home the equaliser before the same player he set up David Lee to put them ahead.

That looked enough for Esh to win the game but Town equalised in the last minute when a long ball from Tom Jones fell to Lee Ure who beat Lenny French.

Ashington scored a last minute equaliser to gain a point from a 1-1 draw at Shildon but the hosts were far from happy at the late goal.

Shildon had the better of the early play and took the lead through Scott Emmerson's fourth goal in six games, a ten-yard strike from a pass by Adam Smith.

Shildon did miss further chances through Adam Reid and Steve Huggins but still looked sure of the three points until Ashington's equaliser. Shildon claimed keeper John Jackson was fouled before Dale Telfer scored.

Jarrow Roofing striker Craig Nelson hit four as his team climbed out of the bottom three with a 5-1 home win over Guisborough.

Roofing took the lead after seven minutes when Paul Hodgson's shot was blocked and former Hartlepool player Gus DiLella scored from the rebound. Nelson made it 2-0 when he headed in a Keith Hutchinson cross before Darren Sankey pulled one back for with a header.

But Nelson ran riot in the last 15 minutes. He ran through and beat Adam Vickers for the thir, then scored two more from close range in the last five minutes. Nelson is only the second player from the First Division to score four in a game this season and has scored nine inside a fortnight.

Thornaby, who have signed former Middlesbrough youngster Neil Campbell, are now third bottom after they won 2-0 at Consett. Richie Storr put them in the lead after 25 minutes from the edge of the area, but Consett went close to equalising through Andy Thompson and Craig Tait. Thornaby caught Consett on the break in the last minute when Craig Skelton lobbed the keeper from 25 yards.

Consett stage a fundraising friendly on Wednesday when they face Sunderland at Belle Vue. The original game in August had to be postponed because of bad weather.

In the other second division games, Prudhoe are now six points clear at the top thanks to a 3-1 home win over Marske. Chris Taylor and Kevin Shoulder put them 2-0 up and even though Gary Shardah pulled one back for Marske, Ian Davison gave Prudhoe victory.

Hebburn came back from two goals down with ten minutes left to draw 2-2 with North Shields. Shields led 2-0 with goals from Andy Bowman and Neil Picton but Hebburn recovered with goals from Paul Wilson and Paul Clegg. Norton recovered from their midweek drubbing at Nissan to draw 0-0 with promotion chasing Washington.

South Shields picked up a useful point from a 2-2 draw at Penrith. Craig Lines scored twice to put Shields 2-0 up, but Michael Reed scored twice for Penrith.