Billingham Town pushed bottom club Newcastle Blue Star closer to the second division with an eight goal thrashing at the Wheatsheaf - but Town manager Allan Robinson didn't think it was their best performance of the season.

Town, who are pushing for a top four finish, ran riot with Carl Chillingsworth scoring his third hat trick of the season to take his tally to 20.

"I don't think we played particularly well," said Robinson. "Maybe we caught Blue Star on a bad day, because they made a couple of mistakes which led to goals.

"But we're still in the pack, and with a good chance of a place in the top four, which would be our best ever finish in the league."

Chillingsworth opened the scoring in the early minutes with a header from Craig Skelton's cross, then Graeme Baverstock slotted in the second from an Andy Swalwell pass.

Turner headed the third from a Skelton assist, before Chillingsworth pounced on a poor clearance by Star keeper Carl King for the fourth. Skelton lobbed the helpless keeper for the fifth just on half-time.

Five minutes after the break, Anthony Lee scored direct from a free kick, then Chillingsworth broke away to complete his hat-trick. George Woodhouse rounded off the scoring from a Chillingsworth pass late in the game.

The title pendulum swung in Bedlington's favour after they won at Chester-le-Street, and Brandon could only draw at Tow Law.

Bedlington won 2-0 to close the gap at the top of the table to one point with a game in hand.

They took the lead after 37 minutes through a Christian Graham shot from an Anthony Chapman pass, but then they had Andy Bowes, on his return to the club from Whitley Bay, sent off for a foul.

Chester nearly levelled through Martin Bowes, but Chapman grabbed a second from close range late in the game.

Tow Law defender Geoff Young scored his first ever goal for the club as they held Brandon to a 1-1 draw at Ironworks Road.

Tow Law missed an early penalty, when Brandon keeper Ben Cole pulled down Paul Richardson, but the keeper saved Scott Nicholson's spot-kick. Tow Law also claimed that an effort from Richardson was over the line before they fell behind after 26 minutes when Richie Pitt was fouled, and Andy Cuthbertson scored from the spot.

Brandon looked as if they would hold on, until Young scored with a right foot shot from the corner of the box.

Former Darlington midfielder Phil Brumwell had an eventful debut for West Auckland at home to Peterlee in their 1-1 draw.

Brumwell, signed from Blyth just before the game, put West into the lead after 15 minutes when he ran on to a long ball from Adrian Swan and scored with a low shot.

West missed a couple of chances to go further into the lead, but Peterlee levelled after 57 minutes. Brumwell deliberately handled on the line, and was red-carded. David Yale scored from the spot.

West could have won the game, but James Lang hit the bar and Dion Raitt had a shot cleared off the line.

Shildon still have hopes of a top four finish after their 3-1 win at Morpeth.

They took the lead after 17 minutes when Lee Ellison scored from a Mark Rutter cross, and a minute later Rutter burst down the left and scored with a low shot.

Ellison missed the chance of a third when he hit the bar with a penalty, and Rutter found the woodwork again in the second half. However, they broke through again after 72 minutes when Bolton scored from Rutter's cross. Steve Walker scored a late consolation for Morpeth.

Durham City bounced back with a 3-0 home win over Washington.

Paul Rowntree put them into the lead with a header from Lee O'Donovan's cross after 17 minutes, then O'Donovan scored with an effort from Craig Lake's cross.

And they made sure of the points in the closing minutes, when Rowntree scored again from a pass by Steve Halliday.

Consett are still four points adrift of safety after they were beaten 2-1 at home by Marske United.

John Woods scored from an early corner to put Marske into a ninth minute lead, but Consett equalised with a header by Colin McLeod, his 12th of the season.

Marske grabbed the winner after 63 minutes, when Andrew Brown headed in a right wing cross.

Dunston now look safe after they won 2-1 at Guisborough.

Darren Sankey put Dunston into the lead with a header from a Kraig Wilkinson cross after 23 minutes, but Guisborough levelled with a 25 yard free kick from Simon Kasonali.

Sankey got the points for Dunston after 76 minutes with a shot from ten yards, and also secured his second brace within a week.

In the second division, Thornaby are the new league leaders after they won 2-1 at Murton, scoring twice in the last 15 minutes through Richie Storr and Nicky Peverell.

Thornaby overtook Washington Nissan, who were without a game.

Horden moved into third with a 2-1 home win over Whickham, Darren Atkinson scoring the winner. Ashington dropped a place after they could only draw 1-1 with Kennek Ryhope CA.

Seaham Red Star are now into sixth after they won 3-1 at Shotton, Paul Taylor scoring twice late in the game.

Easington's promotion challenge now appears to have ended after they could only draw 1-1 with Hebburn.

Norton, who haven't won since December, are now in the relegation zone after they lost 1-0 at home to fellow strugglers Alnwick, for whom Paul McCormack scored.

Bottom club Willington were beaten 4-1 at Northallerton. Willington boss Alan Shoulder came on as a first half sub.

Crook Town collected a valuable point in a 3-3 draw at South Shields.

David Snow scored twice for Crook who are now two points above the relegation zone.