Northern League: Washington hit for six as safety advantage is cut to seven points

Benfield took the lead after just three minutes, when Paul Brayson fired in direct from a free-kick and Brayson scored his second when he turned and finished well in the box.

John Campbell made it 3-0 when his shot somehow went through the arms of keeper Daniel Gladstone, before Scott McCarthy added a fourth on 65 minutes.

The Mechanics pulled a goal back through Alex White in the 74th minute, but Benfield were not finished and Campbell scored his second from close range.

Two minutes from time, substitute Matty Parker brilliantly lobbed the keeper to make it 6-1.

Bottom club Chester-le-Street have to win games now, after their 3-1 home loss to sixth-top Consett kept them nine points from safety, with only five games left.

Consett opened the scoring when Luke Sullivan scored after 27 minutes, but Chester soon equalised, when Joe Hailes burst through the Consett defence to equalise.

Jordan Nellis restored the Steelmen’s advantage on 58 minutes, before, with eight minutes to go, Sullivan scored his second to clinch all three points.

Seaham Red Star remain in 10th place after a 2-0 defeat away to defending championsShildon, who cannot now catch table-toppers North Shields.

The Railwaymen took the lead on 28 minutes, when Lewis Wing found Amar Purewal with a great pass and his low shot found the corner of the net, past goalkeeper Shaun Newbrook.

In reply, David Palmer had an effort well saved by Nick Liversedge, gayer a smart one-two with Craig Lynch.

Shildon made it 2-0 on 39 minutes, when Wing’s free-kick into the somehow managed to elude everyone and found the net.

Red Star improved in the closing stages of the second half, with Luke Proctor having a shot blocked in the six-yard box and then missing out with a close-range effort before Lee Hetherington’s shot was tipped over by Liversedge.

Sunderland RCA dropped a place to 12th after fighting out a goalless drew with Newton Aycliffe in a drab affair at Meadow Park.

In the first half, RCA dominated most of the play without creating many chances, as Aycliffe defended well.

On the restart, James Cassidy went closest to breaking the deadlock when he hit the bar. Visiting goalkeeper Phillip Pentony made a great save from Colin Larkin’s free-kick to preserve his clean sheet in the 89th minute.

Bishop Auckland lost 2-0 at home to leaders North Shields, who march on towards the title and are now 17 points clear at the top.

Dan Wilson opened the scoring after 15 minutes, when his effort beat goalkeeper Thomas Dawson.

Ryan Carr added a second from close range, following a goalmouth scramble midway through the second half.

West Auckland were beaten 4-2 at home to Guisborough Town, who rose to third-bottom spot and are now just seven points from safety, albeit with only six games to go.

Louis Goldsack gave the Priorymen a seventh-minute lead, when he lobbed goalkeeper Lewis Graham, and Steven Roberts burst through to make it 2-0, slotting past Graham on 38 minutes.

Four minutes later, West keeper Graham was shown a straight red card for hand ball outside the box.

The hosts shrugged off the setback to quickly get a goal back, when Craig Ruddy converted from the penalty spot.

David Onions restored the visitprs’ two-goal advantage with a 52nd-minute penalty and though Kerry Hedley scored a superb goal to make it 3-2, Roberts’ second goal instantly clinched Guisborough’s win.

Hat-tricks from Chris Winn and Dennis Knight steered on-song Jarrow Roofing to a resounding 7-0 victory at Penrith, with Michael Mackay also on target.

Veteran Michael Chilton’s treble and a Sean Taylor brace led the way as Morpeth Town mauled West Allotment Celtic 8-0, with Keith Graydon, Mark Davison and Ben Sayer also on target.

Dale Burrell struck for Dunston UTS in a 1-1 draw with Ashington, for whom Wayne Buchanan netted.