West Auckland have now won six games in a row after they held on to a 4-3 home win over Whickham on Saturday.

West have advanced nicely in the league, FA Vase and Durham Challenge Cup in recent weeks, but they nearly dropped points after taking their foot off the pedal.

Manager Gary Forrest said; “They were three points, but we need to be better in both final thirds.

“We managed to concede three goals without Whickham actually having a shot or our keeper making a save.”

West took the lead on 22 minutes when Tom Portas split the Whickham defence for Amar Purewal to run on and beat the Whickham keeper, then Adam Mitchell broke away and fired the second.

Jamie Cobain then put through his own goal to let Whickham back into the game, but before half time Purewal got away again and scored the third.

Whickham hit back at the start of the second half with a header by Stephen Little, but West quickly went 4-2 up when Portas did well to set up Burnicle to fire home.

Whickham once again pulled a goal back through Andy Bulford, who scored when Shane Bland’s clearance rebounded off him and into the net.

West are now up to fourth, five places above Shildon, who were held to a 1-1 draw at home by Ashington.

Zak Atkinson fired Ashington into the lead midway through the first half, but the Railwaymen improved in the second half and levelled thanks to a Nathan Steel penalty.

Shildon manager Danny Moore said; “I asked for a reaction from last week’s defeat by Dunston and we got it. We were average in the first half, but much better in the second half and could have won the game with the chances that we had.”

Newton Aycliffe lost for the second time in a few weeks to Newcastle Benfield, who came out on top by 2-1 at Moore Lane.

Veteran striker Paul Brayson scored both goals for Benfield, with Vinny Gash on target in between.

Newton Aycliffe manager Deano Browne said; “It was a pretty even affair with some quality football from both teams. We were second best for the majority of the first half but grew into the game. A stronger referee would have sent one of their players off in the first half. I think a draw would have been a fair result, but Benfield took their chances at the right time.”

In the other first division games, leaders Consett lost 3-1 at home to Hebburn, which means that they are now three points ahead of Dunston having played three games more. Dunston beat Stockton 1-0 thanks to a first half goal.

Guisborough had a good 2-2 draw at Sunderland RCA to move four points away from the relegation zone, because third bottom Seaham Red Star lost 3-1 at home to Ryhope CW.

Whitley Bay beat bottom club Penrith, who are still without a league win this season, by 4-0.

In the second division, Chester-le-Street lost ground on leaders Billingham Town and Thornaby when they were held to a 3-3 draw at home by Jarrow.

Chester were 3-1 down early in the second half, but they fought back with goals by Josh King on 70 minutes and Connor Lyon with a minute left. Alex Walker scored for them in the first half.

Chester-le-Street manager Colin Wake said; “It was an excellent game for the neutral but not so for the coaches. Jarrow played some excellent football and scored three excellent goals, but we kept at it and with hard work and good set plays into their box we scrambled a draw with a late equaliser. On the balance of play it was possibly unfair on Jarrow who played as good a football as we have seen this year, but credit to our lads for never giving in.”

Chester are now four points behind Thornaby, and just a point ahead of Northallerton, who scored a last-minute winner through Aaron Ramsbottom against Billingham Synthonia.

Crook Town slipped up, by 3-2 at Heaton Stannington and are now sixth from bottom.

Heaton had Lewis Burns dismissed for a foul and Crook went 1-0 up through Liam Jarvie, but the home side hit back to lead 3-1 and also miss a penalty before Phil Caley scored a late consolation.

Durham City are now stuck on the bottom of the table after they were beaten 2-0 by fellow strugglers Brandon, who scored through Jordan Lee and Niall Fingleton in the second half.

Durham are now five points behind second bottom Brandon, and eight behind third bottom Esh Winning, who won 2-0 at Washington thanks to goals by Nick Marley and Reece Brown.

Esh Winning manager Tony Boakes said; “They were a deserved three points. A clean sheet, two good goals , and overall a very good solid performance.”

In the other second division games, Thornaby came from behind to beat Easington 4-2 at Teesdale Park, West Allotment beat Birtley 4-1, and Bedlington came from behind to beat Ryton and Crawcrook 3-2.