Billingham Town manager Alan Robinson admitted that his side needs some new blood after they were beaten 1-0 at home by Chester-le-Street on Saturday.

Town were hoping to be pushing for a top four place this season, but they have won just once at home, and in midweek lost their grip on the Durham Challenge Cup.

"We're not managing to score goals at the moment," said Robinson.

"We ran the show in the second half, but we didn't have a cutting edge. We need a spark from somewhere."

Lee Ure and Carl Chillingsworth both missed chances to put Town ahead, but they went behind when Elliott Milburn headed in from a corner.

Chester keeper Ian Aitken pulled off two good saves, while his side went close at the other end through Phil Bell and Johnny Wightman.

Second placed Billingham Synthonia kept their unbeaten home record intact when they scored a last minute equaliser to snatch a point from a 2-2 draw with leaders Newcastle Benfield Saints.

Saints took the lead with a shot by Stephen Young, but Synners levelled before half-time when Lee Flanagan scored from a Shaun Hope free-kick.

Saints made it 2-1 early in the second half with another Young effort, but after they had striker Anthony Woodhouse sent off, Synners levelled when Andrew Fletcher set up Tony Wood to slot home.

Tow Law returned to winning ways when they had a good 2-1 win at Ashington, their first in six league games.

With three new signings in the team, Stuart Niven, Stephen Tobin and Stephen Banks, they had a Carl Beasley goal controversially disallowed for offside, and then Lee Innes hit the post.

They took the lead after 52 minutes when Dave Hunter's low shot beat Ashington keeper Paul Simpson but Ashington levelled when Brian Smith headed in from a corner.

But Tow Law battled back, and got the winner when Innes fired home a Beasley cross.

West Auckland and Brandon shared the points in a 3-3 draw, all the goals coming in the first half hour.

Brandon took the lead after four minutes when Scott Bell scored from the spot following a foul on Craig Coates, but West levelled with a curling free-kick by Brian Fairhurst.

Brandon regained the lead after 20 minutes with a diving header by Sean Gregory from a Stephen Flockett cross, but West levelled again when Richard Lattimer beat two men and set up Dale Jardine to head home.

West, who are now unbeaten in seven, then took the lead when Mattie Moffat headed in from a corner, but Brandon quickly levelled when Scott Bell headed his 15th league goal of the season.

Brandon are now off the bottom, and Thornaby now occupy bottom spot.

In the second division, Hebburn won their first game of the season beating Alnwick 3-1 taking them four points clear of bottom club Willington. Paul Clegg (two) and David Stephenson scored for Hebburn, whose consolation goal late in the game came from James Swordy.

Washington Nissan, in third, could only draw 3-3 at North Shields after being 3-1 up at one stage.

Paul Terrell put Nissan into the lead, then Glen Moan quickly headed the second. Shields pulled one back through Paul Gibbs, but Nissan quickly went 3-1 up through Neil Moan. But Neil Picton pulled one back before half-time, and late in the game David Little equalised.

Durham Challenge Cup second round draw: West Auckland v Billingham Synthonia, Chester-le-Street v Crook, Washington v Spennymoor, Birtley v Washington Nissan, Esh Winning v Dunston, Tow Law or Peterlee v Brandon or Cleadon, Gateshead v Durham City, Hartlepool Reserves v Bishop Auckland or Hebburn.

* Ties to be played before Saturday, November 13.