Easington took a giant step towards safety with a 4-2 win over Billingham Synthonia on Saturday.

Easington have won two games inside a week, and are now three points above the relegation zone with games in hand on the teams below them.

Manager Wilf Constantine said: "This week has lifted the gloom around the club, and it has given us some breathing space at the bottom of the table."

They took the lead after 12 minutes, when Aaron Scott fired into the top corner in a goalmouth scramble, then a cross from Gavin Naylor was deflected past Gary Popple for the second.

Chris Fawcett pulled one back for Synners after the interval with a powerful header from a corner, but Ian Matthews scored from the edge of the box to make it 3-1.

Lee Flannigan pulled a goal back again from a Brendan Lowes pass, but Scott broke through for the fourth late in the game.

There was controversy near the top of the table, with late goals involving two of the title chasing sides.

Leaders Durham City increased Seaham's woes with a 2-0 win.

Durham took the lead after ten minutes when Micky Dunwell fired past Joe Thompson, before going further ahead further ahead when Michael Dawson scored from the edge of the box.

Seaham's defeat means that they have lost four matches inside eight days.

Second placed Peterlee just scraped a 1-1 draw with West Auckland.

Both sides had their chances before recent signing Roy Allen continued his impressive record when he headed in a cross from Paul Stout after 39 minutes.

Peterlee equalised in a dramatic twist of events with three minutes left. West thought they should have had a penalty for a foul by Simon Corbett on Allen, but Peterlee broke away and levelled through John Outhwaite.

Dunston were held to a 1-1 draw at Chester-le-Street because of a disputed last minute penalty.

Dunston led after seven minutes when former Hartlepool player Paul Dalton scored from 25 yards, but Chester put the visitors under strong pressure and were given a penalty in the last minute for a foul on Gary Shields, and Martin Bowes converted the spot kick.

Dunston were hoping to sign striker Carl Chillingsworth from Billingham Town, but that deal has fallen through, and instead Chillingsworth was part of the Billingham Town team which crushed Consett 5-1.

Steve Osborne raced through for the first after 25 minutes, then added a second. Jamie Clark headed a third, and Clark returned the favour for Paul Rowntree to make it 4-0. Tony Halliday pulled a goal back for Consett, but Rowntree scored his 44th goal of the season late in the game.

Bedlington beat Tow Law 3-2 and with the visitors taking the game to Bedlington early on, going ahead through Andy McKenna. Bedlington levelled after 30 minutes with Willie Moat heading in but Tow Law regained the lead four minutes later when Micky Bailey scored from the spot following a foul on David Bellamy.

But Bedlington grabbed the points with two goals inside two minutes in the second half. Moat got a second and Dean Gibb opened up the defence for Chapman to run through and score. Brandon beat Guisborough 3-0, with all their goals coming in the first half through Andy Cuthbertson, John Ewart Dave Robson crossed and Andy Purvis.

Marske United had their second 4-1 win inside three days when they beat Hebburn at Mount Pleasant.

Darren Sankey got the first two before Barry Ritson pulled a goal back for Hebburn. Chris Reeve made it 3-1 and midfielder Neil Hodgson got the fourth, before Marske had Michael Robson sent off for swearing.

Crook Town thought they were on their way to only their second win of the season when they led Newcastle Blue Star at half time, but they went down 3-1.

Michael Sutcliffe fired Crook ahead but Lee Suddes (2) and Danny Tobin pulled it back.

Whitley Bay beat Morpeth 2-1 at Hillheads.

The leading two in the Second Division both had good wins.

Leaders Ashington beat Willington 3-1 to virtually end their visitors' promotion hopes, while Washington striker Steve Burns scored four in his side's 6-1 romp over South Shields. Former Spennymoor and Gateshead boss Mattie Pearson is expected to be appointed as Shields new manager.

Horden are in fourth place after an easy 4-0 win over Evenwood, while Esh Winning still have a chance of the third promotion spot after Mark Drake gave them victory at home to Northallerton.