Sunderland Nissan boss Wilf Constantine blasted the referee for dismissing three of his players in the 5-0 FA Vase first round defeat to Durham City.

Nissan played for most of the second half with nine men and then all of extra time with just eight after Gavin Cogden, Stuart Dixon and Chris Scott were all red-carded, and their dogged resistance was only broken by a hotly-disputed penalty.

"That was the worst display of refereeing I've seen in 35 years of grassroots football," fumed Constantine. "Gavin went up for the ball with his elbows up, and never touched their lad. He tried to protect himself and got sent off. Stuart intervened to stop players from squaring up to each other, and Chris got a second yellow for clapping the referee.

"In extra time, he awarded them a penalty when our defender Leon Ryan, clashed heads with one of their players.

"I have never witnessed anything like that before. We don't want this ref in charge of any of our games again."

Cogden and Dixon went before half time, with Scott following later. Durham broke through with a Tommy English penalty, then Steve Richardson scored with a left foot shot.

Andy Appleby made it 3-0 after Richardson hit the post, then English provided the passes for former Nissan player Jamie Clarke to score two more.

One of the surprises of the day was Billingham Town's 1-0 home defeat to Hebburn. Despite having most of the possession. Town couldn't find a way past Hebburn keeper Gary Rogers and were beaten two minutes from the end of extra-time when Anthony Myers scored from a few yards.

Consett ran riot in the second half of their tie at 1999 finalists Bedlington, winning 7-1.

David Pounder put them into the lead after he pounced on a defensive mistake, but then Consett raised their game in the second half. Mattie Moffat made it 2-0 from close range, then Mark Gaffney scored the third with a header. Stephen Brown scored the fourth from the penalty spot after Moffat was fouled, then Steve Johnson scored two more within a few minutes. Moffat rounded the keeper late in the game for the seventh. Alex Benjamin scored Bedlington's consolation.

Tow Law threw away a two goal lead and lost 3-2 at home to Pickering.

Lawyers were looking good for a win when Peter Watling scored from close range early on, then Gavin Mudd added the second from a flick on by Lee Innes. But Pickering pulled one back from a free kick by Micky McNaughton, Ricky Greening ran through the Lawyers defence to equalise and McNaughton got the winner early in the second half.

Stokesley were leading 2-0 at Dunston, but lost 4-2.

Former Dunston player Andy Fletcher put the second division side into the lead, then John Newton scored the second on 39. But Dunston striker Kevin Devine ran through to pull a goal back, and Steve Preen equalised with a header, Dunston hit the woodwork twice before Preen headed a third on 68 minutes and Lee Ludlow fired the fourth.

Shildon scored three second half goals to win at Washington. They took the lead on 58 minutes when Danny Moore headed in a cross from Andy Howarth.

He quickly headed another for the second, and in stopage time Adam Emson latched on to a through ball and beat Washington keeper Lenny French.

Spennymoor saw off Marske United 3-1. Karl Richards made a good run down the left and crossed for Adam Johnston to put Moors into the lead, but Marske equalised when Moors lost possession and Anthony Roberts headed in.

New signing Shaun Ross was brought down after 52 minutes and Johnston converted the penalty, and in stoppage time Chris Lowther sent Richards away to score the third.

Northallerton scored three goals in 15 minutes to put them through against Pontefract at Ainderby Road, Paul Hinton and Craif Toman were on target.

Seaham Red Star edged out Selby 2-1. John Toft put Seaham into the lead from a Chris Bell pass with a chip over the keeper, but Selby equalised before half time. However, Warren Byrne finished off a good move to put Seaham into the next round midway through the second half. Toft missed a penalty in the last minute.

Jarrow Roofing came away from Arnthorpe with a 1-0 win, Andrew Johnston netting a late penalty.

Thornaby lost to Winterton Rangers, going down to a disputed penalty in the last minute.

The second round draw is being made today, with Billingham Synthonia, West Auckland, Whitley Bay and Newcastle Benfield all coming into the competition.