Bedlington joint manager Tony Lowery slammed his players after they finished the game with just eight men at West Auckland on Saturday.

West scored a last minute equaliser to grab a point in a 2-2 draw, but by the end Bedlington trio Graham Hogg, Paul Symons and Steve Boon had all been shown the red card.

"If we had kept 11 players on the field, then we would have won the game," said Lowery. "We all get frustrated by the referee at times, but you have to keep your mouth shut and get on with it.

"The players let themselves and the club down. I'm very unhappy about their lack of self-discipline."

Bedlington took the lead just after half-time when Chris Blackwell put the ball into his own net, then Warren Teasdale added the second from the spot after Robbie Cockburn was fouled

The game boiled over when West were awarded a penalty kick for a foul by Teasdale on Ray Stanger, and Roy Allen scored from the spot after Hogg was sent off for swearing.

Paul Symons was dismissed for a bad foul, and near the end, Neil Johnson levelled from a rebound. Boon became the third player to be red carded for swearing.

Whitley Bay edged closer to the leaders by defeating Jarrow Roofing 3-0.

They took the lead through Steve Cuggy from an Ian Chandler pass after 20 minutes, and he lobbed the second just before the break from the edge of the area. Derek Middleton added the third in the second half from a pass by Cuggy. Whitley are now three points behind Bedlington with a game in hand.

Guisborough went on the rampage at Ashington, winning 7-2 to put them in sixth place.

Chris Dunwell put them in front in a goalmouth scramble, then Darren Mowbray added a second from a Wayne Osborne corner.

Kevin Newall fired the third from 30 yards, then Jamie Clarke curled in a fourth from similar distance.

A bad mistake by Chris Simpson allowed Newell to score an easy fifth by half-time, and even though Gareth McGhie pulled a goal back for Ashington, Mowbray got the sixth from a pass by Clarke, who also provided the ball for Newell to complete his hat-trick on the hour. Alan Hogg pulled a late goal back for Ashington. Tow Law scored twice in the last 12 minutes to pick up a point at Billingham Synthonia, but they dropped to fourth.

Lee Flannigan opened the scoring with his 22nd goal of the season from a free-kick by Dean McGee, and they went further ahead when Ben Walker headed in a cross by Glen Corkain.

Lawyers launched a late revival, and pulled a goal back when Peter Maughan headed in. Former Synner Kraig Wilkinson levelled from a Paul Richardson free-kick in the dying minutes.

Dunston are third after they won 3-0 at Washington. They opened the scoring when Mark Nesbitt crossed for Gary Forbes to head home after 22 minutes, then Nesbitt added the second from an Andy Elliott cross.

Andy Fletcher raced through to score the third midway through the second half.

Marske United beat Durham City 3-1 at Mount Pleasant.

After Stuart Irvine had a goal disallowed for Durham, Marske took the lead after 17 minutes when Ben Thompson was fouled, and Greg Booth scored from the spot. They added a second when John Woods headed in a Micky Ward cross, but Durham pulled one back when a free kick from Keith Douglas hit the bar and Micky Taylor scored from the rebound.

Durham piled men forward for the equaliser, but it was Marske who scored at the other end through Booth from the edge of the area. Billingham Town eased their worries at the bottom with a 5-2 win at Newcastle Blue Star.

Paul Rowntree, who has been transfer listed at his own request, put Town ahead from a rebound after 12 minutes for his 15th league goal of the season, then Robbie Hutchinson made it 2-0 from a David Gallagher pass.

Mike Cowan pulled a goal back for Star, but Town went 3-1 up when Gallagher dribbled past three players and scored with a low shot.

Chris Knox lobbed Chris Simpson to give Star hope, but Richie Storr made it 4-2 from a cross by Paul Dalton, who dribbled through for the fifth late in the game. Seaham's revival came to an end when they were crushed 5-0 at home by Peterlee, all the goals coming in the second half after Seaham's Paul Brown was dismissed for two bookable offences.

Peterlee took the lead when Lee Crosby scored from 30 yards, and he added the second from the penalty spot after Ben Hall was fouled. Andrew Lowe got the third from the edge of the box from a pass by Paul Hinton, who dribbled through to score the fourth himself after 83 minutes. Sub Anthony Dobell chipped the keeper for the fifth late in the game.

Brandon ended their recent poor run with a 3-0 win at Thornaby.

They took the lead after eight minutes through an Andy Cuthbertson goal, and David Fort made it 2-0 from close range. Fort set up the third from Robbie Marsden late in the game.

Chester-le-Street and Morpeth drew 0-0 in the other game, the closest either side came to scoring was when Morpeth striker Paul Beavers hit the bar.

In the second division, Shildon took over at the top of the table after previous leaders Penrith surprisingly lost 3-2 at Alnwick, for whom James Swordy scored a hat-trick.

Shildon, meanwhile, scored five times in the second half to beat Willington 6-2, new signing David Bayles amongst the scorers. Prudhoe stay third after beating Hebburn 4-1, although they were a goal down at half time.

Easington overtook Northallerton in the table after beating their visitors 3-0, Ian Matthews scoring two of the goals.

Former Shildon striker Gary MacDonald scored on his debut for Esh Winning in their 3-0 home win over Kennek Ryhope CA. Crook drew 1-1 at Horden, while Eppleton won 2-1 at Murton despite finishing the game with just nine men.