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ESH WINNING celebrated promotion for only the second time in their history when they easily beat bottom club Thornaby on Saturday – and manager Geoff Young dedicated their elevation to the club committee.

Young has been in charge at Esh for two full seasons, and said: “We’ve been backed really well by the club committee, who have worked very hard behind the scenes and together with the players, have been part of a real team effort.

“It made a big difference when people like Alan Morton cleared snow off our pitch, and played when other clubs couldn’t.

“When I took over we were second bottom but we’ve steadily improved. I would have settled for a top six place at the start of the season, but we overcame our bad patch well. Now, we need to build a team to stay in the First Division.”

Esh took the lead when Tony Hanson broke through and fired past the Thornaby keeper on 15 minutes, and just on half time Nicky Gibson slotted a free kick into the bottom corner.

Nicky Martin finished off a good move for the third on 54 minutes, and Jamie Dawson headed the fourth. Darryl Tomlinson scored a late consolation from the spot for Thornaby.

Esh have only one game left, and can’t win the title.

Current leaders Norton, who were promoted a fortnight ago, beat Birtley 2-0 at Station Road in their final game of the season. Sonny Andrews scored twice in three minutes around the hour mark.

Horden, who are third, need one more point to clinch promotion, and need a hatful of goals and two wins to win the title. Mark Stephenson scored the only goal of the game to beat a stubborn Darlington RA.

Sunderland RCA are the only club that can overtake Horden after they beat Team Northumbria 3-2.

The race for the first division championship is still wide open. Consett have a three point advantage at the top after they scored a late winner to beat Billingham Synthonia 3-2 at Belle Vue.

Jamie Magowan headed in a Michael Jameson cross to put Synners in front, but Andy Cuthbertson levelled on the hour. Magowan headed his 20th league goal of the season from a Simon Shaw corner, but Gary Ormston levelled. In the last minute Steve Johnson grabbed the winner.

Spennymoor have three games in hand on Consett in second after they won 2-0 at Chester-le-Street, both goals coming in the first 20 minutes from Leon Carling and a Craig Gott penalty.

Newcastle Benfield are looking strong in third after they beat fifth bottom Billingham Town 2-0 at Bedford Terrace, while Dunston beat Tow Law 2-0 at Federation Park.

FA Vase finalists Whitley Bay can’t be ruled out of the title running after they easily beat bottom club West Auckland 4-1 at Hillheads, Lee Kerr scoring a hat-trick.

Shildon striker Warren Byrne is in line to lift the league’s Golden Boot award after he scored all four in the win over Ashington.

His first came after 40 minutes after being set up by Stuart Niven, and then he made it 2-0 with a header from Chris Bell’s cross. Simon Ord cleverly set him up to score his hat-trick on 65 minutes, and he completed the scoring from a rebound after Justin Keegan’s effort was blocked.

Byrne, who has signed for next season with the Railwaymen, has scored 38 league goals for the season, eight more than his other rivals.

In the scrap to avoid relegation, fourth bottom Bishop Auckland lost 2-0 at home to Sunderland Nissan, with both sides having a man sent off.

Bishops’ Gavin Barton was red carded for elbowing on 52 minutes with Nissan’s Paul Collins also sent off later.

Northallerton were beaten 3-2 at Bedlington, but believed there was a handball in the build up to Bedlington’s late winner. They led after just two minutes when Stephen Allison pounced on a mistake and scored from a tight angle, but Alex Lawson levelled after 6 minutes.

Carl Chillingsworth scored from 12 yards to put Northallerton back into the lead, but again Bedlington levelled through Gareth McAlindon before half time.

But with the game in the balance, Shaun Nicholson ran through and scored the winner after 74 minutes.

Bottom club Seaham Red Star were beaten 2-1 at Morpeth.

In the other first division games, Penrith moved up to eighth with a 2-0 home win over West Allotment, while Ryton won 4-0 at South Shields.

In the other second division games, Washington sprang a surprise when they won 3-1 at Marske United. The victory means Prudhoe and Thornaby will now occupy the bottom two places, and sweat it out the possibility of being relegated.

Prudhoe lost 2-1 at home to Guisborough, who scored through David Onions and Liam McPhillips Crook can still finish fifth after they won 3-2 at North Shields. They were 2-0 up at half time with goals by Darren Kokes and Matthew Coad from a free kick, but Shields pulled one back through Colin McKenzie. Kokes made it 3-1 from the rebound after his penalty was saved, with Anthony Lowther pulling a late goal back.

Crook are hoping that former Newcastle full back Robbie Elliott will confirm that he will play in the fundraising game for injured defender Martyn Quinn on Friday night.

A last minute goal by Paul Dixon kept Brandon’s hopes of a top five place alive with a 2-2 draw at Hebburn. Dixon put Brandon in front on nine minutes, before Joe Donaghie and Daniel Gray put Hebburn in front before half time.

Jarrow Roofing won 3-1 at Whitehaven while Stokesley and Whickham drew 2-2.

■ The club that finishes third bottom of the first division might be reprieved if the FA decide Morpeth should be given dispensation from relegation while a new ground is built at Craik Park. The Northern League has decided to allow Morpeth to groundshare at Bedlington next season but a decision hasn’t been made yet about which division they’ll be playing in.

■ The Northern League management committee has recommended Newton Aycliffe and Easington for promotion to the Northern League, with a decision to be made later on Teesside Athletic.