West Auckland used three keepers but still managed to win 3-1 at Peterlee.

West had keeper Jonathan Collinson red-carded after 18 minutes for bringing down Paul Hinton - who scored from the resulting penalty - so they put midfielder Dion Raitt between the posts until the break.

Manager Alan Shoulder then put defender Richard Lattimer in goal for the second half, but the disruption didn't seem to cause any problems as West took command.

Shoulder said: "Dion went in goal, but we wanted him to play outfield in the second half. Richard then volunteered to go in, because he'd played in goal before."

West scored from the spot on 46 minutes when Dale Jardine was brought down and Brian Fairhurst scored from the penalty.

Two minutes later Jardine outran the home defence to put his side in the lead, and with ten minutes left Mattie Moffat scored from a Max Applegarth pass.

Peterlee are now in the relegation zone.

Leaders Dunston are six points clear after a 4-1 win at Shildon.

They took the lead when Graeme Armstrong set up Steve Pickering, who chipped Shildon keeper John Jackson, but Shildon equalised when Danny Richmond ran forward and fired in from 25 yards.

David Southern restored Dunston's lead and they went further ahead when Jackson missed a backpass from Jamie Middleton and the ball ran into the net.

Dunston wrapped up the points near the end when Kane Young scored from Armstrong's cross.

Chester-le-Street came back from 3-1 down to draw 3-3 at Whitley Bay.

Whitley took the lead after six minutes through Lee Kerr from a Paul Thompson pass, but Chester levelled with a header by Jonny Wightman.

Both sides missed good chances before Kerr dribbled past two defenders and fired past Ian Aitken to restore Whitley's lead on 44 minutes, and in the second half he lobbed the keeper from another Thompson pass.

But Chester hit back in the last 20 minutes. Wightman scored from the spot and Phil Bell headed the equaliser at the second attempt.

Consett ended a run of ten games without a win when they beat Morpeth 2-0 at Belle Vue, Rod Butler and recent signing Mark Turner scored their goals.

Consett are now third bottom, level on points with Thornaby who have a better goal difference.

Thornaby are out of the relegation zone after a goalless draw at Esh Winning, who finished the game with nine men after Craig Marron and Gareth McKenna were both sent off around the hour mark.

David Lee missed a good chance to win the game for Esh when they had 11 men on the field.

Managerless Ashington beat Brandon 3-0 at Portland Park.

Alan Hogg scored in the second minute with a low shot, then he got the second from the spot after he had been brought down. He completed his hat trick inside 20 minutes, turning in a shot from Mark Campbell.

In the second division, leaders Prudhoe salvaged a point against Kennek Ryhope in 2-2 draw. Ryhope led with early goals from Barry Turton and Paul Wardle, but Chris Baxter and Simon Reay equalised.

Washington Nissan are now on their own in second after thumping second bottom Easington 7-3.

David Tait (3), Kevin Bruce (2), Gavin Cogdon and Jon Cullen were their scorers. Cogdon has now scored 24 league goals this season. Martin Barwick (2) and Mike Hardy replied for Easington, who are eight points adrift of safety.

Third placed Newcastle Blue Star were held to a 1-1 draw at Marske, Michael Fenwick scoring for them in the last minute after Greg Booth had put Marske ahead.

Northallerton are level on points with Blue Star after winning 1-0 at Crook. Northallerton keeper Sam Dobbs pulled off three good saves, and team-mate David Onions missed a penalty before Mattie Cooke scored the winner from the edge of the box with ten minutes left.

New signing Sam Vernalls scored a late equaliser for Seaham to rescue a point for them in a 1-1 draw at Alnwick, for whom James Swordy scored.

Willington scored for the first time in six matches against South Shields when they took an early lead through Craig Thorn at Hall Lane but they went down 4-1. Phil Makel, David Graham, Jimmy Farrell and Chris Bell all scored for Shields.

Third bottom Hebburn did themselves a power of good by beating Whickham 2-1. Hebburn took the lead with an own goal, and after Graham Jackson levelled for Whickham, Paul Clegg got the winner with five minutes left.

Penrith are now seventh after a 4-1 home win over Norton. John Wainwright scoring for the visitors. Washington failed to make ground on the leaders because they lost 1-0 at North Shields, who have now lost just once in ten league games. Ray Gordon scored winner.