West Auckland have appointed former Newcastle and Ipswich striker Alex Mathie as their new manager.

Mathie, who was manager of UniBond League Spennymoor until the end of September, takes over from caretaker manager Graeme Forster next Monday. He is bringing his assistant from Spennymoor, Dave Hodgson, with him.

West general manager Stuart Alderson said: "The pair of them have got some good ideas, and they can be a big help both on and off the field."

Mathie's first task will be to bring in some new players, because West only had 12 players in their squad when they won 3-1 at Washington on Saturday.

Washington took the lead when Tony Hanson scored his third goal of the week from a Trevor Ball pass, but West hit back after the break.

Phil McGuire fired home from 12 yards for the equaliser after 54 minutes, then Paul Coleby put West into the lead from a long ball a few minutes later.

And Brian Fairhurst completed West's first win in five games when he rifled the ball home from 20 yards.

Graeme Forster, who is in caretaker charge at the moment, will run the team in their next two matches before Mathie takes over. Meanwhile, four Northern League clubs have submitted applications for the UniBond League, which needs 13 new clubs next season. Billingham Town, Jarrow Roofing, Whitley Bay and Horden have all contacted the UniBond and informed them of their interest.

However, much will depend on ground standards and league position at the end of the season, as well as whether the clubs have the finance to make the move.

FA Cup hopefuls Shildon, who take on Guisborough in a league game tonight at Dean Street, scored a last-minute equaliser to draw 2-2 at Brandon.

"The performance was much better than in midweek against Bedlington," said manager Ray Gowan. However, Shildon needed a last-minute goal from top scorer Garry Barnes to earn them a point.

They took the lead after nine minutes when Barnes scored his 26th goal of the season from a Lee Ellison pass, but Brandon levelled through a Steve Huggins shot. A header from Andy Purvis gave the home side the lead, but then they were reduced to ten men when Purvis was dismissed for violent conduct.

And when Barnes was tripped in the last minute, he made no mistake from the penalty spot.

Shildon are taking bookings for their Notts County trip tonight. They are also selling replica shirts and scarves.

Speculation that the game is being shown on live television next Sunday is entirely wrong, but it is being covered by Radio Cleveland. Durham City stayed four points clear at the top after they came from behind to win 3-2 at Jarrow Roofing.

The home side got off to a great start when Gavin Cogden fired into the top corner from 25 yards, and after Paul Chow headed against the post, Roofing made it two when Ged Quinn headed in a corner.

But Durham sub Gavin Mudd changed the game in the second half. He pulled one back from a Lee O'Donovan corner, and then Micky Dunwell levelled with a tremendous 30 yarder.

And in the closing minutes, Mudd got the winner from a right-wing cross.

Durham manager Billy Cruddas said: "The players showed lots of character again to come back from two goals down."

Durham are still four points clear at the top. The league's last unbeaten record, belonging to Dunston, went at Whitley Bay, where they lost 2-1, and they also had two men sent off.

Second-placed Whitley Bay took the lead after 34 minutes when Andy Hay scored from a cross by Craig Myhill, and after more pressure, added a second after 58 minutes when Hay headed in Graham Pepper's cross.

Dunston pulled a goal back when Ray Booth pounced on a mistake and beat Phil Naisbett, but in the closing minutes they had Michael Robson and Paul Hollier dismissed for second bookable offences

Bedlington are third after they won 1-0 at Penrith, their third successive win.

Penrith had a couple of chances before Bedlington took the lead after 31 minutes when Chris Rue, who scored a hat-trick against Shildon in midweek, slotted home a pass from Roy Allen.

Ryan Errington and Willie Paul nearly got an equaliser for the home side, while James Harmison and Allen also went close for Bedlington.

Morpeth have now won five games in a row after their 2-0 win at Billingham Town.

Town, playing only their second home game of the season because of floodlight problems, went behind when Ian Johnston was left unmarked to score from a corner.

George Woodhouse hit the bar for Town, but then a mix up between keeper Darren Collier and defender Richie Ward presented Paul Beevers with the second. Billingham Synthonia are out of the bottom three following their 2-1 home win over Chester-le-Street.

Synners took the lead after 19 minutes when Dave Connor volleyed home a cross from Lee Flanagan, but Chester top scorer Martin Bowes equalised from a Lee Adamson cross. But Chris Fawcett got the winner from a Neil Radigan corner. Tow Law won their second game inside a week by beating Peterlee 2-0 at Ironworks Road.

They took the lead just before half-time when Lee Innes crossed from the left for David Taylor to head home from eight yards.

And they sealed the points just before the end when Scott Richards beat four men and set up youngster Danny Craggs to score.

Guisborough won their third game of the season by beating Esh Winning 3-1. After a goalless first half, Guisborough scored twice in as many minutes through Craig Fishlock and Greg Booth, and even though Craig Marron pulled a goal back, Lee Atkinson made sure of the points.

Marske dropped into the bottom four after they lost 1-0 at home to Thornaby, and missed two penalties in the process.

Dave Lawson missed the first spot kick for handball on the half hour, Adrian Swan saving, and after Jamie Clark scored for Thornaby, Dean McGee put another spot-kick wide.

Leading scorer Paul Terrell scored a last-minute winner for second division leaders Consett in their 3-2 away win at Prudhoe.

Consett stay two points clear of Washington Nissan, for whom new signing Andrew Watt was on target as they eased to a 5-1 win at Willington.

Anthony Roberts, who starts a two month suspension today, scored twice as Northallerton beat Whickham 3-1 to put them fourth.

South Shields striker Craig Tait also scored twice for his side in a 3-1 win at Crook as they moved up the table into third.

Ashington are now fifth after they won 2-0 at Hebburn, new signing Gareth McGie scoring one of the goals.

Newcastle Benfield Saints scored four times in the first half to set up a 5-1 home win over Norton.

Saints have scored fourteen times in their last three matches. New signing Carl Heiniger, who made a name for himself at Team Bath last season, scored one of the goals in Seaham Red Star's 2-0 win at Alnwick.

Another new signing, John-Charles Gott, scored the second goal for Evenwood in their 2-0 away win at Easington, to end their five match losing run.

Simon Andrews grabbed a second half winner for Kennek Ryhope CA in their 2-1 home win over Murton. Newcastle Blue Star won at Shotton for the second time this season, this time by 2-1. Lee Ludlow scored twice in the first 20 minutes.