Team Northumbria won promotion from the second division when they beat Seaham 2-0, while fellow promotion chasers Morpeth lost at Chester-le-Street.

Seaham defended well in the first half, but Mark Fenwick broke through for TN just before half time, and when he added a second on 64 minutes, TN had wrapped up the points and their place in the first division.

TN are on for a treble. They’re still in the league cup, and are in the Northumberland Senior Cup final this Thursday.

Team Northumbria manager Paul Johnson said: “We rotated players to make sure we had a strong squad for today’s game and the Morpeth on Monday. We played really well, keeping good possession and created a lot of chances in the first half. The fact that Chester beat Morpeth and with our win sealed promotion, but now it’s about making sure we take the title.”

Hebburn look likely to join them after they came back from a goal down to win 2-1 at Thornaby.

The home side took the lead after 9 minutes through Paul Thorns and missed a good chance for a second before Hebburn improved in the second half, and Dean Nicholson levelled from a few yards after 74 minutes. And in the dying minutes they collected three valuable points when Alex Benjamin scored from the edge of the box, his 36th goal of the season with four different clubs.

Thornaby manager Ray Morton said: “It was a smash and grab. We were 1-0 up until there were a few minutes left. We had a great chance to go 2-0 up, but Hebburn outmuscled us in the second half.”

Hebburn manager Paul Bennett said: “At half time, 1-0 down, a few choice words and a frank discussion galvanised the lads, and in the second half we camped out in Thornaby’s box. There was fantastic resilience shown by the lads and three points from the next two games will see us over the line.”

Gillford Park look good for the third promotion place after they beat Washington 2-0, Gavin Barton and Marc Shiel scoring their goals in the first 25 minutes.

Morpeth are in danger of missing out after they failed to overcome ten man Chester-le-Street and lost 1-0..

The home side had Aaron Croft dismissed for a foul after half an hour, but they more than held their own, and got the winner right at the end when Scott Swanston was fouled in the area and James Fairley scored from the spot.

Chester-le-Street manager Anth Smith said: “It was a difficult game against a competitive Morpeth. We went down to ten men after 30 minutes which made the job hard. Morpeth edged the possession without creating chances in the first half. We upped our game in the second half and closed down better. The game ebbed and flowed before we got a penalty that decided the game.”

Darlington RA are almost assured of a top six finish after they finished Birtley’s promotion chances by 3-1 at Brinkburn Road.

Dan Smith scored one of the fastest second division goals of the season when he netted after just 36 seconds from a free kick, but the RA levelled with a Graeme Whitehead volley on 33 minutes.

Carl Hewitt fired into the top corner and put the RA into the lead on 55 minutes, and Stephen Cheeseman made it 3-1 with a low shot from a Fred Huscroft pass.

Darlington RA manager Nick Harrison said: “For us to finish in the top six would be fantastic, after the state we were in two seasons ago. I was worried about the season petering out, but that’s proved not to be the case.”

Birtley manager Scott Oliver said: “We had one sub and we were down to the bare bones. But no excuses bar the first 20 minutes. We weren’t good enough, credit to the RA, they took advantage. It was the first time we had a bad Saturday for a long time.”

At the bottom, Easington drew 3-3 at Ryton, but a point wasn’t enough, because second bottom Horden won. Easington led 3-2 with five minutes left, but Ryton equalised. Craig Lines (2) and Craig Ellison scored for Easington, with David hall, Paul Kane and Ross Atkinson scoring for Ryton.

Easington manager Paul Adamson said: “We had 13 players missing, so just to get a team out was an achievement in itself. Overall we were very unlucky not to get all three points.”

Horden almost ensured safety by beating Whitehaven with the only goal of the game in their clash, but their goalscorer had to leave the field at half time in order to go to a wedding. Darren Atkinson scored the winner midway through the first half before taking his leave. Horden only had one sub, and three players carried on even though they were injured in the second half.

Horden manager Peter Mulcaster said: “We only had 12 players to choose from, some players who didn’t turn out were a disgrace, because they said they had cricket practice. We only had eleven for the second half because Darren had to go, and three players carried injuries but played on.”

Northallerton threw away a two goal lead against North Shields in the last five minutes, and had to settle for a 2-2 draw. Northallerton took the lead through a Peter Bulmer goal early in the first half, and Craig Winter added a second after half time. But Shields hit back with late goals by James Luccock and John Grey.

Northallerton manager Mark Fanning said: “We were 2-0 up having dominated the game for 80 minutes, and then we threw it away. Naïve to say the least.”

Brandon got off to a good start against neighbours Esh Winning, and won 3-2. They took the lead after 8 minutes with a 30 yarder by Phil Robinson, then leading scorer Mark Brischuk added the second after 22 minutes. Darren Kokes pulled a goal back for Esh, but Michael Nichol scored a third before the break. David Harrison pulled a goal back for Esh in the second half.

Easington manager Paul Adamson said: “We had 13 players missing, so just to get a team out was an achievement in itself. Overall we were very unlucky not to get all three points.”

In the other game, Whickham lost their keeper, Scott Cresswell with a possible fracture of the jaw in the 1-1 draw with Alnwick and that could leave Whickham without a recognised keeper for the rest of the season. Stephen Aiston scored for Whickham, but a defender put through his own goal for Alnwick’s equaliser.