Durham City manager Billy Cruddas has warned his players that the title race is far from over after they won 2-0 at third-placed Dunston on Saturday.

City are seven points clear at the top of the table after their victory, but Cruddas said afterwards: "I still see the championship as a three-horse race, between ourselves, Bedlington and Dunston. We can't rule out Bedlington because they're back in top form, while Dunston still have games in hand on us, and could overtake us.

"So the players must keep working hard, and maintain our unbeaten run."

Durham took control after just ten minutes, when Glen Robson sidefooted in a free kick by Stephen Stewart, for his seventh league goal since signing two months ago. Dunston keeper Stuart Dawson pulled off a good save from Durham's Micky Dunwell, and at the other end Paul Hogg hit the bar, before Durham went even further ahead after 61 minutes, when Lee O'Donovan picked up a pass from Robson, dribbled past two defenders and fired past Dawson.

Durham held on after that to give themselves some important breathing space at the top of the table.

Bedlington are now in clear second after they ominously defeated Horden 5-0 at Welfare Park. Roy Allen set up Paul Dunn to score from the edge of the box after 15 minutes, then Allen saw a penalty for a foul on Keith Douglas saved by Horden keeper Steve Tierney. However, Allen soon scored a second from a John Milner pass just before half time.

Horden were forced to substitute their keeper at half time, and Paul Pringle was beaten after 57 minutes by a Tony Chapman shot. Dunn fired a fourth after 75 minutes, and in the closing minutes Allen scored his 21st goal of the season from close range.

Horden have now slipped closer to the relegation zone, and are just four points above danger.

Shildon bounced back to form with a 2-0 home win over Washington, who stay third bottom.

Washington defended well in the first half, but fell behind after 52 minutes when Jamie Middleton scored from a rebound, and after Shildon sub Garry Barnes hit the woodwork and Warren Byrne missed a good chance, Shildon scored a second through Lee Ellison from a David Bayles pass. Shildon are now seventh.

Whitley Bay manager Ian Chandler thought his team were on the verge of winning in his first game in charge when they led Billingham Synthonia 2-0, but had to settle for a point.

Andy Fletcher hit the bar for Synners early in the game, but Whitley took the lead after 32 minutes when Ryan Kerr scored from a pass by David McMahon.

Synners had chances to equalise, but Whitley appeared to have won with two minutes left when McMahon scored from close range.

However, Fletcher pulled one back with a left-foot shot, and in the last minute Craig Perry levelled from 20 yards. And there was still time for David Connor to burst through, but his lob scraped the post.

Esh Winning had a good 4-1 home victory over Chester-le-Street to go sixth. Ben Gawthorpe put them into the lead from 20 yards early in the game, but Michael Dawson put through his own goal for Chester's equaliser.

Paul Bellamy restored Esh's lead from a Gary Messer cross, and after Chester's Lee Compton received his second yellow card, Esh scored twice more. Messer scored from a Trevor Hawthorne cross, then Bellamy got his second in the dying minutes.

Jarrow Roofing, in fourth, were held to a 1-1 draw at home by second-bottom Marske United. Craig Price put them into the lead from a cross by Paul Chow - who has a trial with Exeter soon - after 30 minutes, but Marske kept battling away and earned a point when Shaun Howes scored from a right-wing corner.

West Auckland are now in the top half of the table after they won 2-0 at bottom club Penrith.

Both their goals came in the second half. Jonathan Milroy scored from a pass by David Bainbridge just after half time, and after Milroy was fouled in the area, Brian Fairhurst scored from the spot.

Peterlee scored a last-minute equaliser to earn a point in a 3-3 draw against Billingham Town.

Paul Hinton gave Peterlee the lead when he dribbled round a defender and then fired past Town keeper Darren Collier, but Billingham hit back with a header by skipper Richie Ward from a corner.

Carl Chillingsworth then put the visitors in front from a Lee Ure pass, and then Town missed some good chances to increase their lead.

But Peterlee levelled when Hinton scored from the spot following a handball decision. However, Town seemed to have won the points when Jason Ainsley headed in a Ure cross, but in the last minute they failed to clear a free kick, and Peterlee's Michael Savage headed the equaliser.

Tow Law and Thornaby shared the points in a goalless draw at Ironworks Road.

Tow Law had some good chances, but couldn't take them. Jimmy Farrell blazed over an open goal after 20 minutes, and Andy McKenna had a penalty saved by Thornaby keeper Adrian Swan just before half time. Danny Craggs also missed a good chance in the second half.

In the Second Division, bottom club Shotton gave themselves a chance of avoiding the drop by beating Norton 2-0, with goals in the second half from Michael Pittam and Aaron Scott. However, they are still six points away from safety.

Leaders Consett are unbeaten in 22 league matches after they drew 0-0 at Washington Nissan, who stay fourth.

Willington made second-placed Ashington fight all the way before going down 1-0 at Portlands Park. Alan Hogg scored for Ashington, eight minutes before half time, from a Gary Caldow pass..

Benfield Saints, in third, needed a late headed equaliser from Alu Bangura to give them a point at Whickham, for whom Danny Hall scored from the penalty spot in the first half.

Newcastle Blue Star salvaged a point against Kennek Ryhope CA thanks to a hotly-disputed late penalty from Michael Fenwick. Jon Wightman scored earlier for Ryhope, and also missed a good chance for a second..

Evenwood missed an opportunity to go fourth after they lost 3-1 at Alnwick, where three players were sent off. Michael Dixon (2) and James Swordy scored for Alnwick, with Martin Houlahan replying. Ross Young and Paul McCormick of Alnwick, and John-Charles Gott of Evenwood were red-carded in separate incidents.

Seaham Red Star moved five points clear of the drop zone with a 5-2 home win over Hebburn. Recent signing Paul Rowntree scored twice, one a penalty and the other a 35-yarder, Chris Feasey scored two in two minutes, and Trevor Tierney got the other. Gary Donaldson and Rob Marsden scored for Hebburn.

Crook Town also picked up a valuable point when they drew with Murton, who are now unbeaten in nine games. John Shotton scored for Crook, but Crook defender Simon Rogers put through his own goal to give Murton a point. Crook missed three chances in the dying minutes to win it.

Easington are still second bottom after they lost 2-1 at South Shields, for whom Craig Tate scored twice. Gary Ward scored for Easington. The unluckiest team of the day were Northallerton, who led Prudhoe 4-0 but couldn't finish the game because of a floodlight failure. Eddie Hebron, Peter Baldison, Ross Foreman and Andy Roberts all scored to no avail. The First Division game at Brandon was postponed because of a waterlogged pitch.

The draw for the semi finals of the Durham Challenge cup is: Spennymoor v Billingham Town, Jarrow Roofing v Bishop Auckland.