The Albany Northern League: Ashington must pick up at least a point at Washington Nissan in their final game of the season to collect the Northern League second division championship after a dramatic day on Saturday.

While Ashington came back from a goal down with ten men to defeat Kennek Ryhope CA, challengers Newcastle Benfield Saints thrashed Willington 9-0 to edge ahead of them on goal difference.

Ashington must now win or draw their replayed game at Nissan this Friday for the title.

It's tough luck on Benfield. If Ashington's defeat at Nissan had stood in midweek - instead the league ordered a replay after Nissan had fielded a suspended player - then Benfield would be champions this morning.

General manager Bob Morton said: "We're absolutely devastated. At least we've managed to keep the pressure on Ashington. They're favourites, but they'll be worried about losing again to Nissan."

Ashington trailed at half-time against Kennek, who took the lead through Gareth Hill from a Dean Arkley pass, and then they had Jon Sunderland dismissed for swearing.

But Ashington stormed back. Jeff Pogson equalised, then Alan Hogg put them ahead from clsoe range. And then Hogg scored his 31st goal of the season from just inside the area to seal victory.

Benfield, meanwhile, did all they could by hammering Willington. Stephen Young took his goals tally for the season in the league to 33 by scoring four of them, with Alu Banguera, Gary Forbes, Shaun Bell, Adam Scope and Stephen Baldwin scoring the others. Scope scored in the first minute, and Saints never looked back.

Benfield have now scored a century of goals this season, while Willington have conceded a century.

Consett must be content with third place after they finished their fixtures with a 3-0 home win over Norton. Paul Terrell put them ahead with a volley after 25 minutes, then Michael Pitt fired the second after 31 minutes. Pitt scored the third just on the hour.

"If it hadn't been for our bad patch last month, we would probably have won the league," said assistant manager Paul Bryson.

Newcastle Blue Star warmed up for Tuesday's Craven Cup final by beating Whickham 2-0, their ninth successive win.

Lee Ludlow, with his 32nd in the league this season, and Michael Fenwick scored their goals in the first half. Ludlow has been pipped as the second division's top scorer by Stephen Young of Benfield.

Crook drew 1-1 at fifth placed Washington Nissan. David Snow gave them an early lead, but Neil Jackson equalised for Nissan late in the game. Crook finished fifth bottom, after being in the bottom two at one stage earlier in the season.

Northallerton finished seventh after a 2-2 draw at South Shields. Peter Baldison scored twice to give Northallerton the lead, but Shields levelled with goals from Alan Anderson and then Craig Tate in the last minute.

Murton beat Prudhoe 3-1. Willie Crew, Dean Goodwin and Dean Fox scored for Murton, with Gary McDonald replying for Prudhoe.

Hebburn beat Alnwick 4-2, after trailing 2-0 at half-time to goals from Michael Dixon and Ashley Mallaburn. Hebburn stormed back in the second half through goals from Gary Donaldson (two), Tony Robinson and Robert Marsden.

Shotton finished rock bottom of the Second Division after they lost 4-0 at Seaham Red Star. Paul Taylor scored a hat-trick for Seaham, with Andy Howarth scoring the other.

In the first division, Tow Law finished fifth from bottom by winning 3-1 at Whitley Bay, Danny Craggs scoring a hat-trick. He opened the scoring with a low shot just before half-time, but Seb Anzevui levelled for Whitley Bay from 20 yards after the break.

But Craggs struck again after 66 minutes from a right wing cross, and completed his hat-trick with a shot on the turn near the end.

Billingham Synthonia surprisingly lost 5-4 at home to Penrith, who were 4-0 up at one stage. David Wells scored a hat-trick for Synners, but still finished on the losing side. Gary Harding (two), Willie Paul and Barry Irving scored for Penrith, with Perry and Wells replying. Harding made it 5-2, before Synners launched a late fightback through two Wells goals.

The league cup final takes place between Durham and Dunston this morning at Whitley Bay, kick off 11am.

The league will also announce this week the results of their ground inspections, and there is every possibility that a club could be suspended or even booted out of the league for not having a ground up to standard.