Billingham Synthonia manager Stuart Coleby thought that his side finally got the breaks with a 3-0 win at leaders Benfield Saints to put them just two points off the top of the table.

Synners had drawn their previous three matches, but one of their best performances of the season kept their title challenge on course.

Coleby said: "I felt that we weren't getting the breaks in our recent matches, for example Dunston scored from a twice-taken penalty last week.

"But on Saturday we did well, and we scored the important first goal.

"Benfield are different on their own pitch, and everybody clicked for us. All we can do now is to keep on winning, and hope that the others drop points."

Synners went close through Andy Fletcher before they took the lead after 33 minutes when Neil Radigan crossed for Fletcher to set up David Wells who scored from close range.

Lee Flanagan nearly made it two, before Craig Lake broke through again, scoring from the rebound after Tony Wood's shot was parried.

And it was all over after 63 minutes when Flanagan was brought down, and Fletcher scored from the spot.

Dunston are now just a point behind Saints after they won 2-0 at home to Ashington, keeping their unbeaten record against Northern League opposition this season intact.

Ashington's Jon Sunderland was denied before Dunston took the lead after 31 minutes when Danny Shore fired home from the edge of the area. They went further ahead just on half-time when Michael Pitt curled the ball past the Ashington keeper from twelve yards.

Dunston nearly added further goals in the second half, but were denied by some good saves from Andrew Clark in the Ashington goal.

Durham City are in fourth but only two points off the leaders after a 2-1 away win at Thornaby, with youngster Michael Mackay taking his scoring record for the season to 16 in the league.

Thornaby stunned Durham by taking an early lead, when Jamie Clark scored from a Simon Shaw free-kick, but Durham levelled after 17 minutes when Mackay diverted a shot from Steve Walklate past Paul Clementson in the Thornaby goal.

And a few minutes later, Mackay got the winner when he finished off a left wing move from just inside the penalty area.

Chester-le-Street, in fifth, were held to a 2-2 draw at second bottom Brandon.

The home side took the lead after just two minutes when John Harrison scored from a David Fort pass, but Paul Richardson levelled with a header from a free kick.

Jonny Wightman put Chester 2-1 up before half-time from ten yards, but Brandon battled back and levelled when Marc Irwin headed in from a corner.

Shildon won their first game under manager Kenny Lindoe when they thumped Tow Law 5-0, Scott Emmerson scoring four times.

Danny Richmond gave Shildon an early lead, after former Shildon centre-half Steve Tobin misjudged a headed back pass. Emmerson then added a second, finishing off a good move involving several players.

He made it 3-0 on the hour, scoring with a shot into the top corner of the net, then completed his personal hat-trick after 80 minutes with a diagonal shot. He became only the third player from the First Division to score four in a game this season when he scored from a rebound in the last minute.

West Auckland had a good 2-1 home win over Bedlington, who have now failed to win any of their last five league matches.

West were gifted the lead after 12 minutes, when Bedlington keeper Andrew Robinson sliced a clearance straight to Chase McMullen, who scored a simple goal. Bedlington levelled ten minutes later when Kevin Walton headed in a cross from Stephen Shaw.

But battling West got the winner after 75 minutes when Mattie Moffat dispossessed a defender and lobbed Robinson from the edge of the area.

Esh Winning striker Steve Burns scored his second hat-trick of the season as they beat Morpeth 4-0.

After a goalless first half, Burns put Esh into the lead when he dribbled past two defenders and fired home, then David Mawson scored the second from 20 yards.

Burns added a third with a low shot into the bottom corner of the net, and in the dying minutes completed his hat-trick direct from a free kick.

A last minute goal gave Billingham Town a 3-2 away win at Peterlee. Lee Ure gave Town the lead from a Stuart Brightwell pass, but Peterlee levelled through Lee Bytheway from a few yards out.

Town missed a couple of chances to increase their lead before Carl Chillingsworth made it 2-1 from another Brightwell cross. However, Bytheway levelled again from a corner, but in the last minute Tom Jones made a run down the right and crossed for David Turner to head in.

Guisborough lost for the second time inside a week to Jarrow Roofing, this time by 1-0. Jarrow had the better of the game and grabbed the winner with a couple of minutes left when Martin Thompson scored in a goalmouth scramble.

Consett dropped a place to fourth bottom with a 3-1 defeat at Horden.

The home side took the lead with a header by Martin Bowes, but Gary Price levelled for the visitors just after half-time.

But Horden regained the lead when Andy McKenna scored from a quickly taken free kick, and late in the game James Huntley scored from close range.

In the second division, Prudhoe are now six points clear after they won 3-1 at Alnwick. They recovered from an early goal by Alnwick's James Swordy, with goals by Chris Batey, Danny Reay and Mark Drysdale.

Second placed Washington Nissan's game with Penrith was postponed because of a fireworks display, so West Allotment went level with them on points after they won 3-2 at Newcastle Blue Star, who had to play an outfield player, Jeff Pogson, in goal because of injuries.

The home side led through a goal by Michael Fenwick, but Micky Chilton equalised, and after Allotment keeper Ian Archbold saved a penalty, Ian Grainger put Allotment into the lead. Mark Fenwick equalised, but Chilton scored the winner, his 16th goal of the season.

Willington's brief revival ended when they lost 7-1 at Northallerton, who now go fourth. Northallerton led 2-0 at half-time, but ran riot in the second half, also hitting the woodwork three times. Ross Diamond scored a hat-trick, with Stuart Jackson, Ross Foreman, Craig Winter and Steve Cochrane getting the others. Ian Robinson replied for Willington when the score was 6-0.

After winning their first six league games, Crook have now lost their last four, the latest of them a 2-1 reverse at Washington. Tony Hanson gave Washington the lead, but new signing David Bainbridge levelled just after half-time. However, after Crook missed several chances, Gary McCartney scored the winner for Washington, who are now sixth.

Norton had a good 2-1 away win at Seaham Red Star. Willie Crew gave Seaham the lead, but Norton levelled with a 25-yarder from Liam Aldridge, and Andrew Middleton got the winner from a John Outhwaite assist.

Evenwood are now unbeaten in their last five matches after they drew 1-1 at South Shields. Gareth McMahon scored for Evenwood after 40 minutes, but Lee O'Donovan equalised.

Marske lost their fourth game in a row when they were beaten 4-0 at Whickham, for whom Tommy Scott (two), Danny Hall and James Ramshaw scored.

North Shields are unbeaten in their last five league games after a 1-1 draw with Kennek Ryhope CA. David Borley put Shields into the lead after 11 minutes, but Cameron Marshall levelled in the second half.

Easington are now three points adrift of safety after they lost 3-2 at home to fellow strugglers Hebburn.

Martin Barwick gave Easington an early lead, but Hebburn hit back with goals from Craig Armstrong, player-manager Tony Robinson and Paul Clegg, before David Hill responded for Easington.