Billingham Town moved to just one point away from safety at the bottom of the ENL first division with an excellent 2-0 win at Bedlington last night.

Town took the lead with an effort by Glen Butterworth midway through the first half, and then James Risborough grabbed a second after half time. Town are now just one point behind Newcastle Benfield.

Second bottom South Shields moved closer to the second division after they were beaten 4-0 at home by Dunston UTS.

The first half was goalless, and after half time Shields keeper James Winter saved a Lewis Teasdale penalty. Steve Shaw scored just a few minutes later, however, to put Dunston in the lead. Shields’ Barrie Smith was then sent off, and Dunston took full advantage and scored through Teasdale with two goals in seven minutes, and Steve Preen. Shields had another man sent off near the end.

Sunderland RCA won for the first time in seven matches when they beat Hebburn 1-0, the only goal coming after 51 minutes through Gary Shaw from a lay off by Jamie Shaw.

The match between Bishop Auckland and Guisborough was postponed an hour before kick off because of a waterlogged pitch.

In the second division, Ryhope CW are now eight points behind leaders Crook with three games in hand after they beat Stokesley 5-0. The match was fairly even until Stokesley’s Phil King was dismissed for a professional foul, and in the space of five minutes Michael Metcalfe and Chris Trewick put Ryhope 2-0 up. Michael Charlton added two more in the second half, with Jonny Butler scoring the fifth, and his own personal 42nd league goal of the season.

In the Ernest Armstrong Memorial Cup, Darlington RA easily beat Esh Winning 4-0 to reach the semi finals, with goals by Steve Allison (2), James Muir and Adam Wilson.

West Allotment won 3-1 at Washington after being an early goal down to Michael Turner’s effort, but they hit back with goals by Tony Lancaster, Glenn Ford and Dean Lee.

Horden manager Darren Atkinson has stood down from the job because of family and work commitments, and so his assistant, Phil Naisbett, has taken over, with Chris Cain as his number two.