Arngrove Northern League: Consett's winning start to the season was ended on Saturday in the 2-2 draw at home to Washington - by one of their old players.

Consett looked on course to make it 20 games without dropping a league point leading 2-1 going into the last ten minutes of their clash only for former striker Gary Forbes to bag an equaliser.

Manager Kenny Lindoe said: "It's a big disappointment that the winning run has ended because we weren't at our best for the whole of the game.

"We're contemplating changes now, because we need a lift again. We might have a big lead at the top, but it can all change quickly if we're not careful. We need to bounce back, because we have some tough games ahead in the next few weeks."

The Steelmen took an early lead when Michael Mackay finished off a good move, but Washington levelled when Richie Paxton beat the offside trap to set up Forbes to equalise.

Consett went 2-1 up midway through the second half when Mackay got his second from Colin McKenzie pass.But Washington levelled again when the referee gave a penalty and Forbes converted.

In the first division, Brandon pulled off a surprise beating fourth placed Billingham Town at the Welfare Ground.

Town had most of the pressure in the game but Brandon keeper Kris Carr kept his side in the game with three good saves. The home side eventually broke the deadlock ten minutes from time when Lee Coldridge rounded Town keeper Darren Collier.

Second placed Bedlington were thumped 5-1 at West Auckland.

West took an early lead when Mattie Moffat tapped home. Ellison added a second before Moffat to fire home a third just before half-time.

Ellison added number four just after the break before Tony Shandran pulled one back. A mazy dribble from Moffat set up Ellison to complete his hat-trick.

There was some good news for Bedlington: the club won't have three points deducted by the league for fielding an ineligible player at Billingham Synthonia last month.

Tow Law gave themselves some breathing space over the relegation zone when they beat second-placed Billingham Synthonia 3-0 at Ironworks Road.

Lawyers scored inside the first minute when Michael Coulthard headed in a free-kick from Stuart Niven. Derek Waters made it 2-0 after ten minutes and Andrew Thompson got the third after 35 minutes with a shot from just outside the box.

Defeats for Bedlington and Billingham Synthonia mean that Newcastle Blue Star are now 11 points clear following their 3-1 home win over Morpeth.

However, it took Blue Star, who are now unbeaten in their last 17 matches, until early in the second half to break the deadlock when Dave Colvin scored.

Southern made it 2-0 with a 25 yard free-kick, but Kevin Henderson pulled a goal back with a header. Southern made the game safe when he lobbed keeper Barry Poskitt in the last minute for his 20th league goal this season.

Graeme Armstrong scored twice in Dunston's 3-0 win at Jarrow Roofing.

Steve Pickering fired Dunston into the lead with a low shot, then Armstrong got the second from the spot just before half-time. Armstrong completed the scoring on the hour.

Shildon were on the verge of their second win inside a week before West Allotment scored an injury-time equaliser to earn a 3-3 draw at Dean Street.

Shildon took the lead with an overhead effort by Andy Howarth before Simon Ord raced away to score a second. Allotment hit back through Paul Wilary and Michael Dixon to make the score 2-2 at half-time.

John Ryan fired Shildon into the lead but David Potts scrambled an equaliser in stoppage time.

Esh Winning picked up a good point at Durham City but went bottom because of Brandon's win.

Ashington are now eight points adrift of safety in third bottom after they were beaten 2-0 at home by Whitley Bay, for whom Mark Minto and Robbie Livermore netted.

Sunderland Nissan are out of danger thanks to a 2-1 win at Horden. Gavin Cogdon put Nissan into the lead after 37 minutes, before Anthony Dobell levelled from 25 yards.

But Nissan got the winner when Cogden crossed for substitute David Tait to volley the winner.

Thornaby dropped to sixth after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Chester-le-Street.

Thornaby looked to have won it when Steve Larkin fired them ahead after 79 minutes, but Chester equalised with a strike by veteran Willie Moat deep into stoppage time.

Guisborough's improvement continued in the second division when they drew 2-2 at Norton, stretching their unbeaten run to three games, but they had striker Lee Alexander sent off and manager Andy Toman sent from the dugout.

Norton took the lead with a third minute Steve Roberts penalty, but Guisborough levelled with a 20 yarder from Alexander. Roberts made it 2-1 with another penalty, but David Campbell equalised again midway though the second half.

Guisborough made ground on second bottom Peterlee, who are close to conceding a century of goals after they were hammered 8-0 at third-placed Whickham.

Ian Robson (3), Michael Hedley (2), Richard Brodie, Kenny Boyle and Kevin Hay were the scorers for Whickham, who have netted 19 goals in their last four home games.

Northallerton are now second with a 1-0 away win at Prudhoe when Dave Wilson finished off a good move after 15 minutes.

Darlington RA moved up to fourth after a 2-0 home win over Kennek Ryhope.

The visitors kept the RA at bay until Chris Creamer pounced on a mistake by the visiting keeper. Steve Johnson got the second from a long ball by Neil Jackson.

Crook Town had to settle for a 1-1 draw at Hebburn. Jonathan Milroy gave Crook a half-time lead, but Hebburn's Joe Fulcher equalised from long range on the hour.

Spennymoor are without a win in nine league games after a goalless draw at Marske. Two more promotion chasing teams, Ryton and Seaham Red Star, drew 3-3.

Seaham came from behind twice with goals by Phil Makel and Andy Jennings to cancel out goals by David Henderson and David McMahon for Ryton. Jennings then fired Seaham into the lead with 20 minutes left, but John Ludlow scored a late equaliser.

Troubled South Shields dropped into the bottom three after they lost 2-1 at North Shields in the cross-Tyne derby. Graham Wilson put North in front, with Graham Irving equalising. However, Eddie Miller got a late winner for North Shields.

Alnwick are now out of the bottom three after they surprisingly beat Penrith 2-1, thanks to a late winner from Stuart Marshall. James Jeffrey put Alnwick ahead, with Anthony Wright equalising for the Cumbrians who drop to ninth.

The draw for the semi-finals of the Durham Challenge Cup: Billingham Synthonia v Chester-le-Street or Darlington RA, Whickham v West Auckland.