Bottom-of-the-table Morpeth Town led through Marc Walton for an hour at fourth-placed Dunston, who eventually claimed a deserved 86th-minute equaliser by Terry Galbraith.

West Auckland Town, just above Morpeth at the bottom, will be encouraged they can avoid the drop following a morale-boosting victory over Consett.

However, Seaton Burn triumphed 4-1 at Morpeth. Dave Hewitt and Stu Taylor bagged a brace apiece for the Burn, with Ashley McAlpine replying for Wallington.

Mitford play in the Alnwick and District League and the North East Midweek League and have also entered a team into the West Tyne League for 2010.

Any interested players should go along to the nets or e-mail richardiainrobinson@hotmail.co.uk.

And it proved to be a profitable journey, with many making it on to the rostrum.

Morpeth's Jonathan Taylor led the medal charge with an impressive performance over 3,000 metres, dipping inside his own championship record of 8min 13.66secs by nearly three seconds to lift the gold medal in a time of 8:10.77.

Chasing him home in second place was Elswick's Phil Hurst, who shaved over two seconds off his best to finish in 8:22.63.

However, they were taken to the wire by the struggling Northumbrians before finally clinching victory.

A stunning 25-yard free-kick by Derek Atwell inspired the home side but the Colliers quickly equalised through Gareth Bainbridge.

With time running out, Ashington clinched three crucial points with an 81st-minute effort from Glen Taylor following good work by David Colvin and Keith Douglas.

The office worker, who grew up near the Northumberland coast, swapped his desk for the deck to take part in the world's most dangerous yachting contest.

The Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race is notorious for the danger waters of the Bass Strait streaming between the Australian mainland and Tasmania, claiming the lives of six sailors in 1998 alone.

Matt Bell, 20, will drive for the newly created UK arm of the United Autosports team, a US-owned, UK-based team and motorsports development business.

The Morpeth-born driver will be the single Ginetta Cup entry for the new team.

He has already tested the G50 at Silverstone, Snetterton and Brands Hatch where he clocked up times under the lap record and pole positions of 2009.

In a rescheduled tie at home to Red Star Benwell they secured a 5-2 success.

John Paxton claimed a hat-trick for Morpeth, their other marksmen Chris Tate and Karl Snowden.

Elsewhere, Ashington continued to enjoy their most successful season in years after overcoming Bishop Auckland, and Bedlington Terriers drew in their encounter with Shildon.

Former golf professional, teacher and club manufacturer Reg Davidson, 60, passed away at his home in Morpeth last weekend after more than two years fighting throat cancer.

During a 40-year career in which he ran his own business and also worked in golf shops, he made bespoke golf clubs for hundreds if not thousands of players in the region.

Mr Davidson's love affair with golf started when he was nine and his uncle, Billy Long, started taking him to Morpeth golf club, where he was the resident professional.

The Northumbrians suffered a 4-2 defeat at Shildon, who were in front after just three minutes with a header by Daniel Moore.

Mark Grant levelled 11 minutes later, but Shildon hurried into a 4-1 lead with a hat-trick from Andy Johnson.

Darren Donnelly pulled a goal back for Morpeth, but they never seriously threatened to get back into the game.

Heavy rain had made the intended finishing area too dangerous, so the course, which covered three laps of the Ambulance Track, had to be adjusted at a late stage from the measured five-mile distance.

Seasoned middle distance international McCormick soon headed the 180-strong field, with Elswick junior Philip Hurst offering the only real challenge. McCormick, who held a four-second advantage after lap one, had increased the lead to 11 seconds after the second circuit.

The margin of victory at the finish was 26 seconds. Matthew Nicholson, of Morpeth, finished another 59 seconds adrift in third place. Morpeth easily won the team event.

They won 5-2 at Morpeth Sporting Club who, as Red Row Welfare, were finalists last season.

Morpeth had Chris Ridgway and John Paxton on target, but Wallington took the tie with finishes from Michael Freathy (2), Ben Lavender, Ashley McAlpine and Jack Palmer.

West Auckland Town prop up the table and Morpeth are just above them.

Elsewhere, Horden CW moved out of the relegation zone with a last-gasp victory over Ryton, and the goals continue to flow for the two leading sides. Although Whitley Bay are the top marksmen, it's Spennymoor Town who lead the table.

For good measure Terry Wall, running from the Slow Pack, gained a hard-fought victory, passing early leader Philip Sanderson of Elvet on the second lap and holding off the late challenge of Sunderland's Jason Waite.

Morpeth also provided the fastest Medium Pack runner, Ross Floyd in fifth place and the fastest overall runner, Matthew Nicholson (27th).