Tow Law are in the thick of the relegation dogfight after they lost 4-3 at Jarrow Roofing on Saturday, even though they led 3-1 with just eight minutes left.

Roofing, who were bottom of the table at the start of the game, had Craig Nelson to thank, because the striker scored a hat-trick to send Lawyers home pointless.

Tow Law player-manager Geoff Young said: "At 3-1 we thought we'd won it and switched off. When they scored for 3-2, we just couldn't get going again.

"But for 30 minutes of the second half, it was the old Tow Law again, and we played some good football. We can take a lot of positives, but we must learn something from the last ten minutes."

Tow Law keeper Andrew Spence saved a first-half penalty from Roofing's Justin Perry, but Nelson beat him after 50 minutes to put Roofing into the lead.

But Lawyers came storming back, and seemed on the brink of their first win in five league games. Young scored with a shot from the right to equalise, then Carl Beasley made it 2-1 with a header. Scott Richards made it 3-1 from 20 yards.

However, with eight minutes left, Roofing dug deep and hit back to clinch the points with goals from Perry and Nelson (2).

Three points now cover the top six teams.

The morning's leaders, Newcastle Benfield Saints, could only draw 1-1 at Consett.

Saints took the lead after 19 minutes when Anthony Errington set up Lee Errington to score from a few yards, but Consett equalised just before half-time when Craig Tate scored from a Gary Price cross.

Billingham Synthonia are now second after they won 3-1 at Guisborough, scoring all their goals in the last 14 minutes.

Guisborough took the lead after 47 minutes when Simon Kasonali scored from the edge of the box, but Synners levelled after 76 minutes when David Wells scored from the spot after Steve Ritchie handled. Wells crossed for Andrew Fletcher to head Synners into the lead, and then in stoppage time Lee Flanagan fired a third.

Durham City lost 3-0 at home to Dunston, who are still unbeaten in the league.

Dunston took the lead on 30 minutes when Stephen Pickering scored in a goalmouth scramble, and after Stuart Niven hit the post for Durham in the second half, Dunston made sure.

David Southern scored direct from a 40 yard free kick from the left, then Steve Holmes headed in a right wing free kick.

Bedlington are fifth after drawing 1-1 at Shildon.

Bedlington had most of the chances in the first half, and they took the lead after 33 minutes when John Milner scored from a Tony Shandran pass. They could have gone further ahead before half time, but Milner and Ian Dixon both missed good chances, while Shandran had a goal disallowed.

But Shildon fought back and levelled six minutes from the end when a right wing move ended with a shot from Scott Emmerson into the top corner of the net.

Whitley Bay are in sixth place after they beat Brandon 4-2 at Hillheads, with new signing Paul Thompson on the scoresheet.

Thompson was involved in the early action when he set up Adam Johnston to fire home after just seven minutes, and then he put Whitley 2-0 up with a diving header from a Paddy Little free-kick. Ian Kirkpatrick made it three with a shot from just outside the box.

Brandon pulled a goal back through Scott Bell with a header from a corner, but Thompson scored his second and Whitley's fourth from a Johnston pass. Brandon kept going and pulled one back in the second half through Bell.

West Auckland are now unbeaten in five games after a useful 0-0 draw at Chester-le-Street. There weren't many chances in the game, but West keeper Jonathan Collinson pulled off two excellent saves from Jonny Wightman and Elliott Milburn in the second half.

Esh Winning moved further away from trouble when they beat Billingham Town 1-0 at Waterhouses, Steve Burns getting the winner in stoppage time. Esh had the better chances in the game.

Peterlee's slide down the table continued when they lost 4-2 at home to Ashington.

They took an early lead when Paul Hinton scored from a right wing cross, but Ashington equalised when Alan Hogg scored from a long clearance by keeper Paul Simpson.

Michael Cunningham put Ashington ahead from a David Bibby cross on 12 minutes, then Brian Smith made it three from a Jon Sunderland cross. Sunderland supplied the cross for Hogg to head the fourth in the second half, before Hinton pulled one back for Peterlee in the closing minutes.

Thornaby are still second bottom after they were beaten 2-1 at Morpeth. Jamie Clark gave Thornaby the lead, but Morpeth hit back with goals from Gary Cook and Stephen Sinclair in the second half.

In the second division, Kennek Ryhope CA have appointed Tony Metcalf as their new manager, and his new team are now fourth bottom after they were beaten by a last minute goal that sealed a 3-2 win for Evenwood. Paul Bailes scored a last minute winner for the visitors. Darren Curry and then Bailes had in turn put Evenwood into the lead, with Cameron Marshall and Phil Thompson equalising for Ryhope.

At the top, Prudhoe are now three points clear of the others after they beat Penrith 3-2, Kevin Shoulder scoring their winner in the last minute. Simon Reay and Mark Drysdale put Prudhoe 2-0 up, but Penrith came storming back with two goals by Ryan Errington.

Prudhoe's nearest pursuers, West Allotment and Washington Nissan, had their game called off because of a waterlogged pitch.

Crook Town failed to close the gap because they lost 4-3 at home to Whickham, Paul Cavanagh scoring for the visitors in the last minute. Crook led through an early goal from John Shotton, but Whickham hit back to lead 3-1 with goals by Kevin Hay (two) and Ian Robson. Lee Ellison and Jamie Harwood hit back for Crook, but then they had David Bayles sent off for two bookable offences.

South Shields striker Craig Lines became the third player inside a week to score four goals in a game when he did the trick in their 5-4 win at Norton. Shields were 4-0 up at half time, with Lines scoring three and Graham Mathison scoring the other, and at 5-2 Norton had their keeper red-carded for swearing. Norton's scorers were John Wainwright, David Abel and Paul Dougherty (two).

North Shields won their second game of the season by winning 2-1 at third-bottom Easington, sub Tony Colquhoun scoring the winner in the last minute. Darren Whinfield put Easington into the lead, but Andy Bowman equalised.

Willington are still bottom after losing 1-0 at home to Alnwick, James Swordy scoring.

Marske United still haven't conceded a goal in three league matches after they won 1-0 at Hebburn, Gary Shardah's second half cross being turned into his own net by a defender.

Northallerton ended a run of three games without a win when they won 2-1 at Seaham Red Star. Ross Diamond put Northallerton into the lead, with Anthony Howarth equalising, but Jamie Corrigan netted the winner.

The game between Newcastle Blue Star and Washington was also postponed.