Consett manager Colin Carr has his sights set on survival after his side pulled off a 3-1 win over West Auckland on Saturday.

Consett lifted themselves out of the bottom three with this win - their first in four matches.

"We tend to improve at this time of year ," said Carr.

"November through to March have been our best months in recent seasons. I think we can only get better and move further away from trouble.

"The players worked really hard for each other, and there is a really good spirit at the club."

Consett took the lead after 25 minutes when West keeper Simon Hall mishit a clearance, and Andrew Thompson struck the ball over him from 35 yards.

Consett went two up ten minutes later, when a header by Lee Suddes from a Chris Hodgson cross was parried, and Tony Halliday netted the rebound.

Paul Stout pulled a goal back from 20 yards after 67 minutes, but Consett made sure when Colin McLeod, who is approaching his 500th game for the club, curled the ball in from the edge of the box. Consett sub Gareth McKenna and West's Steven West were both dismissed for fouls late in the game.

Bottom club Prudhoe surprised leaders Bedlington, earning a 1-1 draw.

Prudhoe took the lead after 39 minutes when Gary McDonald was involved in the move which led to Don Warrior beating Jon Egan in the Bedlington goal.

Bedlington missed two good chances before they equalised after 72 minutes when Prudhoe defender Marcelle Lundy handled and John Milner scored from the penalty spot.

Prudhoe are now off the bottom of the table after Newcastle Blue Star were thumped 6-3 at Chester-le-Street.

The visitors took the lead when a long range shot by Andy Cunningham deflected off Chester defender David Anderson, but Chester soon levelled through Steve Cuggy. Anderson lobbed Star keeper Paul Bennett from the edge of the area to make it 2-1, then Cuggy got the third from a right wing cross by Andy Blower. Warren Fisher pulled a goal back, but Cuggy completed his hat trick when he raced clear for the fourth just on half time.

Blower scored a good goal for the fifth on the hour, and even though Chris Herron pulled a goal back, Blower rounded off the scoring near the end.

Brandon failed to take advantage of Bedlington's slip as they were held to a 1-1 draw at Jarrow Roofing.

Brandon, in their first league game for over a month, took the lead with a header by Anth McStea after 13 minutes, but Roofing equalised with a shot from Paul Chow, his 13th goal of the season, from a Craig Nelson pass.

Shildon are still in contention after a 1-0 win at Dunston. Ben Thompson hit the post for Dunston early in the game, but Shildon defended well throughout the rest of the half.

The visitors took the lead after 55 minutes when Danny Richmond scored with a diving header from a move which involved Danny Key, Lee Ellison and Mark Rutter.

Gary Barnes was denied a second near the end by the post.

Billingham Town are also well in contention after they won 2-1 at Marske United.

However, they had keeper Darren Collier to thank for keeping them in the game in the first half with some good saves, and they went ahead after 52 minutes through Graeme Baverstock.

Carl Chillingsworth scored a second after 77 minutes from an Andy Burton pass, and even though Marske pressed heavily in the closing stages, they could only score once through Greg Booth.

Injury hit Tow Law won 2-1 at Peterlee, scoring both their goals around the half hour mark.

They took the lead after 31 minutes when Kraig Wilkinson crossed for Scott Nicholson to score with a diving header, and a few minutes later Andy Allen headed in from a corner.

Peterlee applied the pressure in the second half, but could only pull one back through Lee Fitzgerald after 57 minutes

Lawyers gave a debut to former Peterlee midfielder Gavin Naylor, signed from Seaham Red Star

Washington dropped back into the bottom three after they lost 2-0 at Whitley Bay.

Lee Ludlow put Whitley into the lead after 16 minutes from a left wing cross by Craig Melrose for his tenth league goal of the season, then Washington keeper Micky Norris pulled off some good saves.

Washington's John Robinson went close at the start of the second half before Ludlow scored his second on 63 minutes, with a chip from Andy Hay's pass.

In the second division, Penrith hit the highest score of the season so far when they thrashed Murton 9-0, six of their goals coming before half time. Barry Irvine, Michael Hodgson and Matty Lea all scored two apiece.

Washington Nissan stayed three points clear after they won 2-0 at Crook Town, Adam Johnston, with his 17th goal of the season, and recent signing Jamie Oldroyd getting the goals.

Easington are second following a good 4-1 win at Kennek Ryhope CA, although they trailed at half time. New signing Lee Blackett scored one of the goals.

The top two now have a seven point advantage over the others.

Northallerton have now won seven out of their last eight away games following a 3-0 victory at Evenwood. David Onions scored the third goal, his fourth in the last five matches.

Shotton eased their relegation worries after a 1-0 win at fellow strugglers Eppleton, who have appointed Wilf Constantine as their new manager.

Norton boss Stan Cummins won his first game in charge at the eighth attempt after they won 4-1 at Willington.

Division Two summary : Alnwick v Seaham Red Star postponed, Ashington v Horden postponed, Crook 0 Washington Nissan 2 (Johnston, Oldroyd), Eppleton 0 Shotton 1 (Roberts), Evenwood 0 Northallerton 3 (Diamond, Foreman, Onions), Kennek Ryhope CA 1 (Andrews)Easington 4 (Taylor 2, Salvin, Blackett), Penrith 9 (Irvine 2, Hodgson 2, Lea 2, Paul, Frampton, Robinson) Murton 0, Thornaby v Hebburn postponed, Willington 1 (Spoors) Norton 4 (Davies, O'Brien, Aldridge, Bell.