Tow Law might have to be play all their remaining home games away from Ironworks Road after their scheduled match with Peterlee was postponed on Saturday.

The match referee refused to start the game because the recently repaired goalmouth was unplayable because of waterlogging.

The latest problem came to light on Friday afternoon when a small tractor rolling the pitch got stuck in the goalmouth, and after it was removed, club officials discovered that water just below the surface hadn't drained away.

The goalmouth was hit by subsidence in October, and the Coal Board used concrete in an attempt to solve the problem. Despite the use of three tonnes of sand and intensive work on Saturday morning, the referee decided to call the game off putting a question mark over Lawyers' ten remaining home games.

Chairman Harry Hodgson said: "We're going to contact the Coal Board to see what can be done, because we can't put that right ourselves.

"We don't know how to get rid of the water, but we will do our best to honour our commitment to the league. We're at our wits' end over this, because it's all out of our control."

League secretary Tony Golightly said: "We have to finish the season, and we're prepared to allow them to groundshare with one club, then review the position as we go along."

The situation doesn't help Lawyers because they are bottom of the First Division, and are due to meet Morpeth at Ironworks Road on tomorrow night.

West Auckland won for the first time in eight games, 3-2 at Consett, to lift themselves eight points above the relegation zone. Consett took the lead through Jeff Sugden, but West hit back after the break.

Brian Nelson scored his first goal for the club then Max Applegarth and Mattie Moffat combined for Dale Jardine to fire home for the second. Jardine set up Moffat for the third. Wayne Edgcumbe pulled a goal back but West held on.

Durham City boss Andy Toman won his first game in charge, 1-0 at Benfield Saints. New signings David Goodchild and Andrew Lambert were in the side and Durham won with a Paul Stephenson effort. City were forced to use five centre halves during the game because of injuries.

Toman has appointed former Hartlepool defender Ian McGuckin, Paul Bryson and Paddy Kelly to his coaching staff.

Billingham Synthonia are looking good for second place following a 3-1 win at Shildon. The home side took the lead after 11 minutes with a free kick by Steve Huggins, but Synners levelled through Craig Perry.

Shaun Hope then scored from a Radigan corner to put Synners back in front on 35 minutes and David Wells got the third just after the hour.

Guisborough are still battling the drop after coming from behind to draw 2-2 with Ashington. Paul Hogg scored from an Ian Herron corner to give Ashington the lead on 30 minutes and on 51 minutes Lee Anderson added a second.

But Guisborough pulled a goal back when Paul Wilson headed in a left wing cross, and after Ashington's David Bibby was dismissed for deliberate handball, Michael Jamieson fired the equaliser from 20 yards.

Brandon suffered a setback, when they were thumped 5-0 at Billingham Town. The home side took the lead through a Carl Chillingsworth penalty following a foul on Andy Burton, and then just before half time David Turner finished off a good move for the second.

Lee Ure raced through to score the third just after half time, and late in the game Chillingsworth scored twice more to complete his hat trick and reach 17 league goals for the season. Brandon are seven points above the relegation zone, but all the teams around them have games in hand.

Thornaby are still hovering above the danger zone after they were beaten 2-1 at Chester-le-Street.

Chester took the lead when Phil Bell headed in a cross from Paul Richardson after 16 minutes, but Chester equalised with a shot by Richie Storr.

However, Chester got the winner just after half time when Phil Bell scored from a penalty after Rob Draper was fouled.

Whitley Bay are fifth after they beat Esh Winning 2-1. Whitley took the lead in the opening minutes when Adam Johnston headed in Ben Ryan's cross, then Chris Moore chipped home the second after half an hour.

Esh hit back, and after Paul Brown hit the bar, Steve Burns pulled a goal back. The two sides meet again on Friday.

Horden returned to form with a 2-0 away win at Morpeth. After a goalless first half, Lee Dixon scored from close range when a corner was flicked on by Rob Huntley, and they made the game safe with ten minutes left when Kevin Devine ran through, and even though he fell to the ground, he managed to steer the ball into the net.

Second Division leaders Northallerton are now four points clear after they won 4-1 at bottom club Willington. John Ryan and Craig Skelton, with his 11th league goal for the club, put them 2-0 up, and even though Michael Hillary pulled a goal back, Dom Gamble and Andy Swalwell made sure.

Newcastle Blue Star dropped two places from second to fourth after they lost 2-0 at West Allotment. Allotment took the lead through John Fiztpatrick from a corner, then Ben Dawson scored from a free kick near the end.

Washington Nissan are now second after a last minute goal from Gavin Cogdon gave them a 3-2 win at Penrith.

Prudhoe are still in with a chance of promotion after they beat Alnwick 1-0, their fifth straight win. Steve Mason scored late in the game.

Norton have now won five league games in a row after a last minute goal from Lewis Powell gave them a 2-1 home win over Seaham Red Star. John Outhwaite scored early in the second half for Norton, then put one into his own net.

Crook beat Washington 2-1 at the Millfield. Andrew Shaw and Jonathan Milroy, with his 19th league goal of the season, scored for Crook in the first half, with Tony Hanson replying for Washington after the break.

Evenwood came back to earth after their midweek League Cup heroics when they were thumped 5-0 at home by South Shields, for whom Andy Hay (3), David Hague and Chris Bell were the scorers.

Marske lost 3-0 at home to Whickham, Paul Cavanagh, Ian Robson and Andy Elliott scoring the goals. Third bottom Hebburn drew 2-2 with second bottom Easington, who equalised late in the game through Martin McGill.

Martin Barwick put Easington ahead, with Craig Armstrong scoring twice for Hebburn.

Kennek Ryhope CA, who are fourth bottom, drew 1-1 with North Shields. Ryhope's Ian Watson cancelled out Roy Gordon's opener for Shields.