Washington were promoted to the First Division for the first time in their history without kicking a ball in midweek.

Esh Winning, the only team who could catch them, were held 1-1 at Northallerton, handing a promotion place to Washington, who joined the league a decade ago.

The club has enjoyed a remarkable rise to the top of the Second Division, as three years ago there were question marks over their future following arson and vandalism attacks at their Albany Park home.

They can still win the Second Division title, although Ashington can pip them.

Evenwood Town thought for one nasty moment that their 7-1 win over South Shields was going to be wiped out on Monday night.

The Second Division side were all set for their best win of the season, when the lights went out in the last minute. The referee took the teams to the dressing room in darkness, and it was thought that the game was going to be abandoned, and re-arranged for a later date.

But secretary Jim Coates said: "The referee told me that he looked at his watch, and there were ten seconds remaining when suddenly it went dark.

"We spoke with him and South Shields after the game, and everybody agreed that the result should stand."

Evenwood were 5-0 up at half time, with gaols from Andrew Patterson (3), Anthony Hutton, and a Barry Raper penalty. Phil McGuire added two more by the halfway point of the second half, with Chris Robson replying for Shields.

Two nights later, the lights went out again, this time ten minutes from the end of their home game with promotion-chasing Thornaby.

They managed to get them working again after a ten minute delay, but Thornaby snatched a winner for three vital points.

Evenwood player-manager Terry Laffey saved an early penalty and then Phil McGuire and Stuart Murray put them into a two-goal lead by the 48th minute.

Kevin Newall pulled one back with a header for Thornaby and George Woodhouse equalised on the hour.

Woodhouse scored a hotly-disputed penalty with only two minutes left, to put Thornaby within two points of promotion.

Marske United beat Chester-le-Street 2-1 on Monday night to maintain their challenge for a top four place. Chester took the lead after 12 minutes when Damien Maw sprang the offside trap but Ben Thompson levelled from close range after 48 minutes. Thompson got the winner ten minutes later following a long clearance by keeper John Mohun.

Thompson took his tally to nine in four matches when he scored one of the goals in the 2-0 win over Whitley Bay on Wednesday night. Darren Sankey put Marske ahead from a long ball by Simon Kasonali, then Thompson scored from a cross by Mark James before half time.

Seaham Red Star banished their relegation fears when they beat Billingham Town 1-0 on Monday night. Gary Macdonald got the all-important goal after 28 minutes, heading in Lee Adamson's corner.

However, two nights later, Seaham lost 2-0 at home to Consett, Jeff Sugden and Tony Halliday scoring.

League leaders Bedlington suffered a rare defeat - only their sixth of the season - when they lost 2-1 at Tow Law on Monday night.

Bedlington took the lead when Dean Gibb took advantage of a misunderstanding between Andy Sinclair and Jeff hall but Tow Law levelled when Warren Teesdale, under pressure from new signing Brian Wake, lobbed the ball into his own net. Scott Nicholson got the winner with a diving header from Gary Burke's cross.

They also failed to win at Brandon on Wednesday night, John Milner scoring a disputed penalty for a point five minutes from the end.

Brandon took the lead when Bedlington keeper Andrew Sams, under pressure from Micky Cunningham, turned the ball into his own net.

On Tuesday night, Easington could only manage a goalless draw with Newcastle Blue Star to leave them perilously close to the danger zone.

Easington are two points ahead of Morpeth, who have a game in hand.

Morpeth lost 2-1 at home to Brandon on Monday, Dave Robson scoring both Brandon goals.

Billingham Town won 5-2 at West Auckland on Wednesday night.

Roy Allen headed West into the lead after two minutes, but Steve Osbourne levelled from a Carl Chillingsworth free kick after 15 minutes. Neil Bishop made it 2-1 to Billingahm from 25 yards after 34 minutes, then on the hour Stuart Jackson scored from a rebound after Jamie Clark's header was blocked.

Jonathan Milroy pulled a goal back from a Danny Richmond cross, but Chillingsworth headed a fourth, then Paul Rowntree ran through for the fifth.

In Division Two, Northallerton drew 1-1 with Esh Winning. Dave Lawson put Northallerton into the lead, but Mark Drake levelled. Whickham drew 1-1 with Alnwick. Danny Fisher equalised for Whickham with three minutes left after Ross Thompson opened the scoring for Alnwick in the first-half