Windscale were looking for a Wearside League double when they hosted Washington at the Falcon Complex.
But they were unable to fashion a second win and Washington went home with the points from a 3-2 victory.
The Atoms had won early in the season, thanks to a brace from Matthew Pierce, and they almost got off to a flying start.
Vice-captain Andrew Begbie’s effort fell into the path of Reece Fretwell and after an exquisite touch and clever turn, his shot just missed the top right hand corner.
It would have given the Atoms the perfect start inside three minutes.
The early pressure did not waiver, however, as Lewis Selkirk received a pass in the final third and allowed Ross Leeson to shoot, only for it to be met with a well-timed block.
Washington began to respond after a slow start, stealing the ball from the home backline and beating home keeper Levi McAdam, but skipper Fretwell rescued his side with a goal-line clearance.
The Atoms looked sure to have earned a penalty in their next attack, as centre forward Travis Fyfe was fouled inside the area.
But the man in the middle gave a free-kick on the edge of the penalty area, which was subsequently blasted into the Washington wall.
Unfortunately, another error in the defensive third led to the opening goal on 20 minutes, as slack passing from the Atoms’ defence allowed the Washington forward to shoot.
It produced a fantastic save by McAdam, but was turned home on the rebound.
The Atoms pushed for an equaliser and went close when Fyfe turned his man inside out before whipping in a cross for Harry Hodgson.
He collected and set up Pierce but his shot kept rising over the bar.
However the home side did draw level on 25 minutes as Hodgson produced a defence-splitting pass to find the run of Fyfe, who made no mistake in finishing for his first home goal of the season.
The Atoms continued to produce some good football in pleasing passages of play, as Fretwell, Pierce and Hodgson linked up well.
One build-up produced another chance but Fretwell’s effort curled wide.
They also had a chance from a Fyfe corner, which was met by Leeson, but the angle was too narrow to turn the ball into the target.
Washington again made the Atoms pay on 39 minutes with a goal to put them in front 2-1 going into the half time break.
Windscale kept pushing forward in the second half, trying hard to win back possession but subsequently being punished for it by the official.
Parity was restored on 56 minutes after Fretwell sent a long freekick into the Washington penalty area.
Pierce rose the highest to flick the ball narrowly beyond the keeper, who had come a good 15 yards, to find Leeson who hammered a shot into the top right hand corner.
The introductions of Rob Davidson and Jack Wordsworth were made to provide a shape change, knowing Washington were intent on finding another goal.
Unfortunately, the move did not pay off, as a mistimed header in the middle of the park gave the opportunity for Washington to break forward.
As a result the ball was squared for a tap in at the far post and give the visitors the one-goal lead back.
Windscale almost levelled again when Hodgson took a ball from Fretwell and his shot went between the keeper’s legs, but like the Atoms’ escape in the first half, the ball was cleared off the line.
Davidson also had a go after pouncing on a ball in the middle of the field and striking a shot well, but it was dealt with by the Washington keeper.
Time ran out for the home side and credit to Washington for their excellent game management.
Windscale are next in action travelling to South Moor in the Cup for the third meeting between the sides already this season.
You can hear manager Stephen Fawcett’s round-up below:
