Teenage Consett substitute Richard Parkin scored on debut with his first touch of the ball to give his side hope of avoiding relegation in a dramatic 4-3 win at West Auckland on Saturday.

Seventeen-year-old Parkin came on with just two minutes remaining, dribbled past two men and lobbed West keeper Alan Wilkinson to earn his side three valuable points, after they threw away a three goal lead.

Consett caretaker manager Jeff Sugden said: "Richard only phoned me up the day before the game, and asked if he could come along with us.

"He missed two years of football, because he's had a bad knee injury.

"It was an amazing goal, especially the way he nonchalantly lifted the ball over their keeper. We would have been devastated to draw after leading 3-0, and it's a massive win for us."

Consett took the lead when Michael Ford converted a low cross from Neil Hood, and then Ford volleyed the second into the top corner.

Early in the second half, it was 3-0 when Mark Turner dribbled though and beat Wilkinson.

But West battled back. Debutant Dale Robinson pulled one back from the edge of the area, then Brian Fairhurst nodded in a free kick from Dion Raitt. And Mattie Moffat seemed to have rescued a point when he scored from a Colin Lawton cross - but young Parkin had other ideas.

League leaders Dunston are now two points clear at the top following a 3-1 home win over Horden, who hope to unveil a new manager this week.

Horden took the lead after 21 minutes when Darren Atkinson's shot was parried, Kevin Devine scoring from the rebound. Dunston levelled ten minutes later when Michael Pitt crossed for Ben Thompson to score from close range, and they went into the lead on the hour when Graeme Armstrong cut in from the right and beat the Dunston keeper with a right foot shot.

Then new signing Scott Robson opened up the defence for Michael Pitt to run through and score.

Previous joint leaders Newcastle Benfield Saints were held to a 1-1 draw at home by battling Thornaby.

The visitors went close twice and then took the lead with a long range free kick by Nicky Mohan which caught Saints' keeper Ian Grainger napping.

Craig Skelton hit the post for Thornaby before Saints equalised when Anthony Errington fired home. However, it wasn't all good news with new signing Johnny Brown red-carded for Saints following a foul.

Bedlington are now in the top three after they won 2-1 at Durham City.

The home side had much the better of the first half but missed several chances, and it was Bedlington who took the lead.

Tony Shandran was the goalscorer, firing home right footed from just inside the penalty area.

New signing Steve Preen then made it 2-0, getting on the end of a pass from Tony Chapman, before Durham pulled a goal back when Michael Mackay headed in a Jamie Howe cross.

Shildon won 3-0 on manager Kenny Lindoe's return to his old club Brandon.

Brandon had a couple of chances early in the game with Craig Coates hitting the bar, but Shildon took the lead after 25 minutes when Charlie Walton scored from a Danny Key pass.

Shildon stamped their authority in the second half. Garry Barnes turned quickly on the edge of the box and beat Brandon keeper Danny Yates, then he curled a right foot shot into the top corner of the net. Brandon are now just one point above the relegation zone.

Peterlee's John Charlton, another manager returning to his old club, won 1-0 at Whitley Bay, who included new signing Wayne Phillips from Blyth.

The only goal of the game was scored by Peterlee striker Paul Hinton from a cross by Stephen Winspear.

Guisborough are still second bottom after they lost to a late goal at Esh Winning in a seven-goal thriller, despite leading twice.

Esh took the lead with a left foot shot from Steve Burns, but Stephen Bell equalised with a header. Paul Wilson fired Guisborough into the lead, only for Andrew Potter to level from a corner.

Simon Kasonali put Guisborough 3-2 up from the spot after David Anderson deliberately handled, but Anderson went up the other end and equalised from a corner. Andy Cuthbertson got the winner late in the game direct from a free kick.

Chester-le-Street moved above Whitley Bay into sixth with a 3-2 home win over Ashington. Paul Richardson put them in front in the early minutes after Jonny Wightman's shot was blocked, but Alan Hogg equalised with a header.

Wightman restored Chester's lead from twelve yards on the half hour, and they went 3-1 up when Gary Andison and Robbie Draper set up Richardson to fire home. Paul Hogg crossed for Alan Hogg to pull one back for Ashington late in the game.

Billingham Town warmed up for this Saturday's FA Vase tie with a 4-1 home win over Jarrow Roofing.

Town took the lead when Stuart Brightwell scored from close range, and they went further ahead when Carl Chillingsworth headed in. Chillingsworth got another on the half hour from a Lee Ure cross, and matters got even worse for Roofing when Craig Nelson was dismissed for swearing.

Paul Hodgson pulled a goal back with a header from a free kick, but Chillingsworth completed his hat trick with a tap in from a Mark Turner cross.

Only one point covers the top five in the second division.

West Allotment striker Michael Chilton is now the second division's leading scorer with 31 goals after he scored a hat trick in his side's 8-0 romp over bottom club Willington. David Potts (2), Paul Wilary (2) and David Malone got the others.

Washington Nissan striker Gavin Cogdon took his tally for the season to 30 as he scored his side's third goal in their 3-2 win at Whickham. David Tate scored the other two for Nissan, who led 2-0 and then 3-1, with Ian Robson scoring twice for Whickham.

Washington's Trevor Ball scored a last minute equaliser for his side to give them a deserved draw against league leaders Prudhoe, who took an early lead through Scott Wilson. Ball has scored in the last three games for Washington.

Northallerton are in joint third after they came from behind to beat South Shields 2-1. Shields took the lead with a shot by David Hague, but David Onions levelled from a rebound after Anthony Roberts' header was blocked. Roberts then volleyed the winner with a few minutes left.

There could be another new leader tonight, as Northallerton are at Newcastle Blue Star.

Crook Town's promotion hopes are fading after they were held to a 2-2 draw at home by North Shields. Shields led with an early goal by Martin Lamb, but Crook hit back with efforts by Jonathan Milroy and Andrew Shaw. Andy Stokes equalised for Shields.

Kennek Ryhope CA pulled themselves further away from the bottom two with a 2-0 victory at Seaham Red Star, thanks to goals from David Christie and recent signing David Taylor.

Ken Houlahan's return to Evenwood as manager saw them beat Marske United 1-0, Darren Kerry scoring for them.

Second bottom Easington are losing touch with the teams above them after losing 1-0 at Norton, Graeme Baverstock scoring for the home side early in the game.

Penrith beat Alnwick 2-1, Ryan Errington and Dan Broadley scoring for the Cumbrians, with James Swordy replying.

The draw for the semi finals of the Durham Challenge cup: Dunston v Spennymoor, Hartlepool Reserves v Gateshead. The final is at Durham on Easter Monday March 28th.