Brandon came back from two goals down to revive their title challenge at Billingham Synthonia, thanks to what manager Kenny Lindoe called "the goal of the season."

Brandon had dropped five points in their previous two games, but they overcame a bad start to win 3-2 and go joint top with Bedlington.

"We were absolutely rubbish in the first half hour," said Lindoe. "I was fearing the worst because we were in disarray. But then Mark Patterson scored the goal of the season to lift us, and we ran the game in the second half."

Synners, in second place at the start of the game, seemed to be well in control. Tony Wood scored from a Neil Radigan pass to put them into the lead, then he added the second from a corner.

But the game turned when Patterson cut in from the right, beat a couple of defenders, and then curled the ball into the top corner of the net.

Brandon levelled after 56 minutes when Andy Purvis turned his marker and set up Kris Leighton to score from ten yards, and then got the winner after 67 minutes when John Ewart made a good run down the left and crossed for Patterson to score from close range. Synners had Wood sent off in the last minute.

Brandon join Bedlington at the top, because the champions could only draw 2-2 with Shildon.

The visitors took the lead after just two minutes, when Danny Richmond scored with a left-foot shot, but Bedlington levelled when Robbie Cockburn scored from an Alex Lawson free-kick.

Bedlington then went in front from another set-piece, Phil Coxall heading in from a Nicky Scaife free-kick.

Mark Rutter and Lee Ellison both missed chances for Shildon, before they levelled in the dying minutes when Jamie Middleton scored from a left-wing cross.

Durham City's title hopes are fading after they were held to a 1-1 draw at home by second bottom Peterlee.

Durham took the lead when Tony Healer scored from a cross by Tom Jones, but soon after midfielder David McTiernan scored with a low shot.

Despite Durham's pressure, Peterlee only allowed them a couple of chances in the second half.

Billingham Town, in fourth place, were held to a 2-2 draw at Morpeth, who played most of the second half with ten men after Darryl Leach was sent off for a second bookable offence.

Mark Scott volleyed home from the edge of the box to put Billingham in the lead, but Morpeth fought back. Former Hartlepool player Jon Cullen found the top corner from a free-kick after 75 minutes, then Anthony Lowery scored from a Michael Fenwick pass.

But Billingham levelled with three minutes left, when Carl Chillingsworth scored with an overhead kick. West Auckland were held to a 2-2 draw at home by Jarrow Roofing.

Visiting striker Paul Chow put his side into the lead when he raced clear to score his 26th league goal of the season after 23 minutes, but West levelled when Paul Stout headed in a Ray Stanger free-kick.

Roofing went in front again when a free-kick from Craig Coates deceived everybody and went in, but Stanger levelled on the hour from a David Southern cross.

West hit the woodwork twice late on.

Esh Winning eased their relegation fears when they beat Marske 2-1 at Waterhouses despite finishing the game with only nine men.

Both sides had a man sent off early in the game, Craig Marron and Stephen Murphy respectively, and Esh took the lead when Steve Burns hit the post and David Mawson scored from the rebound.

Gary Messer raced clear and scored the second after 53 minutes, but then Esh had another man sent off, Jamie Carfoot, for his second yellow. But Marske could only pull one goal back, a 25-yarder by Lee Alexander.

Chester-le-Street climbed further away from trouble with a 1-0 home win over Dunston.

Danny Shore went close for Dunston, before Chester took the lead on 44 minutes when David Turner headed in a rebound.

Chester are now unbeaten in their last five matches.

Whitley Bay won 1-0 at Tow Law thanks to a late winner in a drab game.

Whitley had to put striker Ian Chandler in goal in the second half after regular Terry Burke went off injured, but he was hardly tested.

The only goal of the game arrived near the end when sub Chris Taylor scored from a cross by Jon Sunderland.

Third bottom Consett have now lost two games in a row against their relegation rivals after they were defeated 2-1 at Newcastle Blue Star.

Poor defending allowed Blue Star's Kris Heron to put his side in the lead after just four minutes, and he added the second when he broke through and beat James Platten with a low shot.

Colin McLeod pulled one back from the penalty spot after 28 minutes after he had been upended, but it was Star who almost added further goals.

Fourth bottom Prudhoe failed to take advantage because they lost 3-1 at Guisborough.

The home side took the lead when Simon Kasonali lobbed Prudhoe keeper Ian Clark after 35 minutes, and on the hour John Ryan made it two after Darren Mowbray's shot was blocked.

Steve McLean opened up the Prudhoe defence for Ryan to score the third five minutes from the end. Mark Sunley put through his own goal for Prudhoe's reply late in the game.

However, Star gained only their third league win of the season

In the second division, leaders Washington Nissan are now only four points clear after they slipped up at Shotton, who scored a last-minute equaliser through Chris Baxter to earn a 3-3 draw.

Penrith are second after they won 5-1 at bottom club Willington, even though they played most of the game with just ten men after Willie Paul was dismissed. Mattie Lea scored twice for Penrith.

Thornaby striker Richie Storr scored a hat-trick in their 4-1 away win at Evenwood to keep them in third.

Ashington striker Alan Hogg scored his 19th league goal of the season as his side beat Hebburn 3-1 and put them into fourth place. Easington dropped a place because they lost 3-0 at Murton, allowing Horden to overtake them with a 2-1 home win over Crook Town.

At the bottom, Eppleton were denied three points by a late equaliser at South Shields.