Hebburn almost caused a major shock in the Durham Challenge Cup at Darlington on Monday night.

They lost 4-3, but they were leading 3-2 with two minutes left, after being two gaols down at one stage. Hebburn were forced to use defender Stuart Pattison in goal because regular Danny Yates is cup-tied, and went behind after five minutes through Michael Bond after a free-kick was blocked.

Hebburn missed a couple of chances to get back into the game, but they fell further behind after 52 minutes when Lee Trainer broke down the left and crossed for Bond to score the second.

But after Mark Laidler hit a Darlington post, Hebburn launched a spirited fight back.

Laidler made it 2-1 with a left-foot shot, then player-manager Tony Robinson scored from the spot after Laidler was tripped. And after 75 minutes, Hebburn were in the lead when Gary Attwell sneaked in as the Darlington defence hesitated.

But Hebburn's defence cracked in the dying minutes.

Darlington manager Gary Bennett, who came on as a substitute, got the last touch to a left-wing corner and then Kevin Bromley headed the winner.

However, Hebburn nearly forced extra time, but missed two chances in stoppage time.

West Auckland won 3-0 at Shotton. Carl Beesley put them into the lead from a Ray Stanger corner, then David Bainbridge fired home from 25 yards for the second. Steve West got the third from a corner in the second half.

Billingham Town had a 3-1 home win over Dunston Federation. After the visitors took an early lead through Billy Irwin, Town levelled when Rowntree scored from ten yards with his left foot, then he used his other to score the second from a Steve Osborne pass before half-time.

Jamie Clarke made it 3-1 from a Rowntree pass in the second half. Brandon won 4-3 on penalties at Chester-le-Street, the second time they have won a tie on penalties after beating Easington in the previous round.

The two sides were level at 1-1 after extra time, Gary Clark scoring for Brandon from a 20 yard free-kick in the first half, then Gary McDonald levelled for Chester with five minutes remaining of normal time. However, McDonald's penalty was saved by Brandon keeper Ben Cole to put the visitors into the next round.

Shildon lost 4-0 at home to South Shields on Wednesday night. Shields took the lead after 27 minutes with a header by Paul Thompson from a Jamie Errington cross, then Shildon keeper Drew Inglis turned a Colin Nesbitt corner into his own net.

Two quick goals at the start of the second half from Neil Maddison and Chris Thompson settled the issue. Easington run of defeats continues. They haven't won since their FA Cup game against Chester City, and on Tuesday night they lost 3-2 in the league at Billingham Synthonia.

They took the lead when Ian Matthews scored from a rebound after Dominic Rice's shot was blocked. Synners levelled when Charlie Butler set up Tony Wood to beat the Easington keeper.

Butler chipped the second from an acute angle, then Chris Fawcett made it 3-1 from a rebound following David Baker's shot. Paul Pitman pulled a late goal back for Easington.

Whitley Bay won 2-1 at Morpeth.

Derek Middleton and Dennis Livermore scored their goals, with Robbie Trainor replying for Morpeth. In the league cup,

Newcastle Blue Star beat Ashington 2-1. Dean Fuller gave them the lead after 45 minutes, with recent signing Graeme MacDonald running through for the second after 72 minutes. Wayne Rigg pulled a goal back for Ashington with two minutes remaining, but Star's Andy Hurst was dismissed for an off the ball incident late in the game.

In the Craven Cup, Alnwick were easy winners over Murton, scoring five times without reply. James Lang and Darren Coxford (2) put them well in control before half time, with Jason Belisle and Robert Cockburn scoring further goals in the second half.

Whickham came from behind to beat Willington 3-2. Trevor Ball put Willington in front after 18 minutes, with Steve Hamil making it 2-0 from the edge of the area after 35 minutes.

Richard Lee pulled one back with a low shot on the hour, and in the last five minutes Scott Lamb scored with a free kick, then he chipped the keeper for the winner.

Seaham Red Star are out of the FA Carlsberg Vase after losing 5-2 in extra time at Prescot on Wednesday night. Seaham struggled to field their strongest team because of work commitments, but managed to force extra time with a late goal.

l Northern League chairman Mike Amos has revealed that it is unlikely that Second Division club Murton will be playing on their own pitch before the end of the season.

Murton were forced to switch their home games to nearby Peterlee only weeks before the start of the new season, after a huge hole appeared in the middle of their pitch,

And when the club discovered that it would cost around £100,000 to fill in the hole, then a big question mark was raised over the future.

Amos said: "We were hoping that they would return by the end of this month, but so far as we are concerned, they will be playing at Peterlee for the foreseeable future."

l Newcastle Blue Star are hoping to open their new £80,000 clubhouse before Christmas.

l Marske United's FA Vase tie with Pickering, which was postponed on Saturday and again on Tuesday, will probably be played next Tuesday.

l Tow Law's Durham Challenge Cup tie with Durham City, which was postponed earlier this week, has been rearranged for Tuesday night.

P W D L F A Pts

Bedlington 12 10 2 0 44 7 32

Durham City 16 8 5 3 37 18 29

Peterlee 15 8 4 3 22 18 28

Guisborough 15 7 4 4 27 22 25

Billingham Syn 13 7 3 3 30 20 24

Dunston 11 6 3 2 17 14 21

Brandon 14 6 3 5 25 24 21

Marske 11 5 4 2 21 9 19

Whitley Bay 12 5 3 4 23 16 18

Consett 14 5 3 6 22 21 18

Tow Law 11 5 1 5 25 17 16

Seaham 10 5 0 5 21 22 15

West Auckland 10 4 2 4 16 18 14

Chester-le-Street 10 4 1 5 18 15 13

Morpeth 14 3 4 7 15 27 13

Jarrow Roofing 14 3 4 7 19 31 13

Billingham Town 8 4 0 4 17 14 12

Newcastle BS 11 3 3 5 18 24 12

Hebburn 13 2 1 10 13 34 7

Easington 9 2 0 7 11 26 6

Crook Town 13 0 2 11 7 50 2

Division Two

Esh Winning 13 7 3 3 27 18 24

Ashington 12 7 2 2 39 21 23

Washington 13 6 5 2 26 12 23

Thornaby 12 6 5 1 29 16 23

Willington 13 6 5 2 25 12 23

Shildon 13 6 3 4 21 21 21

Norton 13 5 5 3 18 19 20

Horden 13 5 4 4 12 10 19

South Shields 12 5 3 4 29 22 18

Alnwick 14 4 6 4 22 21 18

Northallerton 10 4 5 1 29 13 17

Murton 11 5 2 4 23 25 17

Penrith 8 3 5 0 12 6 14

Shotton 11 3 5 3 20 18 14

Ryhope CA 14 3 5 6 18 25 14

Whickham 15 3 5 7 19 26 14

Evenwood 14 2 3 9 11 43 9

Prudhoe 13 2 1 10 13 36 7

Eppleton 14 0 2 12 17 45 2