Tow Law manager Geoff Young believes that his side can climb out of relegation trouble after a battling 0-0 draw with champions Dunston on Saturday.

Lawyers did well to hold Dunston, who are unbeaten in 35 league games this season, and in turn improve their hopes of avoiding the drop into the Second Division.

Young said: "We're all very encouraged by this performance, especially considering that we played a team that has been scoring goals for fun this season.

"People expected us to get nothing, but we dug in when we had to. We need the same sort of performances against other teams now - and if the we can do that, then we can get out of trouble."

Lawyers defended well in the first half. Keeper Andrew Spence made two good saves early in the game, and Carl Beasley cleared another effort off the line. Benn Thompson missed a good chance for Dunston after the break, and Lawyers almost snatched an unlikely victory when Derek Waters volleyed over the top from ten yards out.

Tow Law are now just one point behind fourth bottom Consett, who lost 1-0 at Bedlington.

The home side took the lead after 11 minutes from a John Milner penalty after Tony Shandran had been tripped by Robbie Blemings, but Consett were on top in the second half. They missed a couple of chances, before they nearly snatched a point when Mark Turner hit the bar from a free-kick.

The two clubs at the bottom, Peterlee and Guisborough, drew 2-2.

Peterlee took the lead with a Steve Pitman penalty after Peterlee's Peter Masters was adjudged to have handled, but Paul Wilson levelled for Guisborough from a Simon Kasonali cross before half-time.

Lee Bytheway put Peterlee back into the lead again, but Chris Dunwell clinched a share of the points from close range in a goalmouth scramble.

Durham City lost 2-0 at home to Billingham Town, who didn't have a recognised keeper in goal. Town had to put defender Michael Canavan in goal against his old club, because regular Darren Collier was injured, and after he pulled off a couple of early saves, was barely troubled.

Thomas Jones was denied by City keeper Kevin Wolfe, but he had no chance when Lee Ure fired past him on 82 minutes. Ure then cleverly chipped Wolfe for the second in the closing minutes.

Canavan also played in goal for Town earlier in the season after Collier was dismissed in an FA Cup tie.

Billingham Synthonia had their keeper, John Mohan, dismissed for two bookable offences, but still managed to come back from 2-0 down at West Auckland and draw 2-2.

West, battling against relegation, took the lead on 18 minutes when Dion Raitt hit the post, and Andy Cole scored from the rebound. Synners then had Mohan sent off for two yellow cards inside ten minutes, the first for dissent, and the second for kicking the ball away, so midfielder Paul Campbell replaced him.

West then went 2-0 up when Dale Jardine crossed for Mattie Moffat to score from ten yards.

But the ten men hit back. Craig Perry pulled one back with a header just before half time, and after the break John Alexander beat three men and set up Craig Lake to slot in the equaliser. Both sides had chances after that, the closest when West skipper Brian Fairhurst hit the bar with a free kick.

Newcastle Benfield Saints are sweating on third spot after they were held to a goalless draw at home by Ashington. Benfield's Stephen Young rounded the Ashington keeper but his shot was cleared off the line by defender David Carr, and Benfield keeper Ian Grainger pulled off a good stop from Alan Hogg.

Whitley Bay still have a chance of third after they beat Morpeth 3-1 at Hillheads. Whitley missed some good chances in the first half, and they eventually took the lead on 58 minutes when David Coulson headed in a corner from Lee Bell. Adam Johnston got the second from the spot after Lee Kerr was brought down, and after Paul Beavers pulled a goal back for Morpeth, Kerr raced away and chipped the keeper for the third.

Jarrow Roofing won their third successive game, by 2-1 against Shildon. Both sides had chances in the first half, but Roofing took the lead when Brian Nelson scored with a header from a corner. A poor back pass by Graham Liddle was pounced upon by Nelson to score the second, with Shildon sub Garry Barnes pulling a goal back late in the game.

Esh Winning drew 2-2 with Chester-le-Street after being two goals up with five minutes left.

Esh hit the woodwork twice in the first half, and took the lead just after half time with a shot by Gary Messer. Steve Burns then made it 2-0 direct from a free-kick to make Esh look safe.

Ian Glazinski pulled one back from a deflected free-kick, and in stoppage time Elliott Milburn scored from a corner.

In the second division, West Allotment are now three points clear after they beat Crook Town 1-0, David Potts scoring for them late in the game.

Newcastle Blue Star also won by the same scoreline, when they defeated Penrith 1-0. Michael Fenwick scored a second-half penalty, after missing a previous spot kick in the first-half.

Prudhoe are in third spot after a comfortable 7-0 win at Willington, their eighth straight league win. Steve Mason scored a first half hat-trick, with Micky Cunningham (two) and Mark Drysdale (two) getting the others. Prudhoe were 6-0 up at half-time.

Willington are now facing the drop into the Wearside League, only a year before their centenary.

Washington Nissan lost for the second time in a week, this time surprisingly by 2-1 at home to Alnwick. Jon Cullen fired them into a first-half lead, and they wasted several chances to increase their lead, but Alnwick hit back with two goals by James Swordy.

Northallerton have now dropped to fifth after they were beaten 3-0 at home by Norton, all of the goals coming in the second half. Martin Thompson scored from a free kick to put Norton 1-0 up, then David Abel got another from a corner. Former Northallerton player John Outhwaite scored the third in the last minute.

Hebburn are now five points clear of trouble after they beat Kennek Ryhope CA 3-1. Craig Armstrong took his tally to seven goals in his last four games with a pair, while Paul Clegg got the other. David Christie pulled a goal back for Ryhope.

Second bottom Easington lost 2-0 at Whickham, leaving them in danger of the drop, depending on the standard of the grounds of the clubs wanting promotion from the Northern Alliance. Chris Holmes and Andy Elliott scored for Whickham.

Washington have now lost nine games in a row, their latest setback coming in a 2-0 home defeat by Marske. Peter Boldison and Mark Ward were Marske's scorers.

Seaham Red Star beat Evenwood 4-0, to leave Evenwood looking nervously over their shoulders at the bottom two. Willie Crew (two) Craig Hubbard and Dean Fox scored their goals.

South Shields won the Shields derby by 1-0 against North Shields, Craig Lines scoring for the winners.