A last minute twice-taken penalty from Kevin Hamilton lifted nervous Brandon's hopes of avoiding the drop in a 4-3 win over Whitley Bay on Saturday.

Brandon gained three precious points the hard way, because they led 3-0 at one point before ten man Whitley launched a second half revival.

Manager Vince Kirkup said: "Kevin was coolness itself. He's scored a lot of penalties wherever he's played, because he isn't one of these players who closes his eyes and belts it. He tends to try and place the ball."

Hamilton put his first penalty into the bottom right corner, but the referee ordered it to be retaken, so he placed it into the opposite corner for the winner.

Brandon took the lead after 15 minutes when Chris Smith scored with a free-kick from 25 yards, and they went 2-0 up when Craig Coates fired in through a crowd of players.

Whitley then had midfielder David Turner dismissed for violent conduct, and Brandon took advantage to go 3-0 up on 48 minutes when Coates scored from a flick on by Stephen Flockett.

But Whitley hit back when Adam Johnston scored from the spot after Wayne Phillips had been fouled. Leon Ryan set up Phillips to make it 3-2 from a few yards, and Whitley seemed to have earned a point when Ryan's 20 yarder was deflected past Brandon keeper Danny Yates after 73 minutes.

Brandon are now six points above the relegation zone, as most of the other results near the bottom went in their favour.

The title is almost Dunston's after nearest rivals Billingham Synthonia were surprisingly beaten 1-0 at home by bottom club Guisborough, who are now just one point behind second bottom Tow Law.

Both sides had their chances, but it was Guisborough who broke through on 25 minutes when Darren Sankey headed in a cross from Peter Masters.

Guisborough keeper Andrew Vickers made a couple of good saves in the second half, but Guisborough were never really stretched.

Dunston, meanwhile, are now 30 league games unbeaten after a 3-0 home win over Durham City, striker Graeme Armstrong scoring all their goals.

He gave them the lead after 20 minutes when scored from a pass by Benn Thompson, and four minutes later he added another from a long ball by Micky Farrey.

Durham couldn't find a way back into the game, and they were finished off on the hour when Armstrong charged down a clearance by Durham keeper Kevin Wolfe and ran the ball into the empty net.

Newcastle Benfield stay third after a 2-0 home win over fourth-bottom Consett, but they had to wait until late in the game before clinching victory.

There were few chances in the game until Adam Scope set up Anthony Errington to score after 65 minutes, then Errington was involved in the second goal when he provided the pass for Lee Ludlow to score his 15th league goal of the season.

West Auckland still haven't won in six league games after they were held to a 3-3 draw at home by Chester-le-Street.

They were 2-0 down at one point. Chester striker Jonny Wightman raced clear to put them ahead after 18 minutes, and then his cross from the left deceived West keeper Alan Wilkinson for the second.

West pulled one back when Dale Jardine scored from a Michael Lattimer pass, and they equalised just before the break when Mattie Moffat raced away and rounded the keeper.

West took the lead just nine seconds after the resumption when Jardine's shot was parried, and Moffat scored from the loose ball. But Chester levelled on 69 minutes when Phil Bell headed in Wightman's left wing cross. Jardine just missed a chance for the winner late in the game.

Peterlee, who are third bottom, were hammered 6-0 at Ashington. Lee Bytheway missed a good chance for Peterlee, and after that it was all Ashington, who took the lead on 25 minutes when Alex Lawson scored from a Jon Sunderland cross.

Ian Herron cracked in a second just before half-time, then he got another from a Paul Hogg cross on the hour. Hogg charged through for the fourth shortly after, and then Ross Atkinson scored from a Hogg assist. Hogg wrapped things up with another right at the end.

Thornaby were beaten 4-1 at home by Morpeth. The visitors took the lead when Chris Rue was fouled inside the area, and Ben Keenan scored from the spot.

Thornaby levelled when Shane Elliott lobbed the keeper from the edge of the box, but then Morpeth took control.

Ian Nickalls headed in a Steve Walker free-kick to make it 2-1, then Gareth Rees scored with another header from a Chris Rue free kick. Paul Beavers fired a fourth late in the game.

FA Vase semi finalists Bedlington beat Shildon 3-0 at Welfare Park.

They took the lead on 12 minutes when Tony Shandran scored from a Kevin Walton corner, then skipper John Milner headed the second from another Walton corner just before half time.

Bedlington substituted three players at half-time, but that didn't stop them scoring a third goal, with a strike by Shandran.

Bedlington's home semi-final leg with Sudbury will kick off at 3pm on Easter Saturday, even though it clashes with the England v Northern Ireland game.

Horden boss Alan Robinson put one over his old club Billingham Town when his new side won 2-0 in their game.

Town nearly took the lead when George Woodhouse broke through, but Horden keeper Phil Naisbett pulled off a good save. Horden took the lead when Chris Pearson crossed for Kevin Devine to head home, and even though Town fought back in the second half, Devine sealed the points late in the game after Martin O'Riordan and Chris I'Anson set him up.

The game between Tow Law and Esh Winning was postponed because of a waterlogged pitch.

Second Division leaders Northallerton lost 2-1 at home to third placed Newcastle Blue Star.

The visitors took the lead with a strike by Michael Fenwick, and they went 2-0 up when Stuart Jackson sliced a clearance into his own goal. Northallerton's Craig Skelton then had a penalty saved, before Dom Gamble pulled a goal back with a header five minutes into the second half.

Northallerton are now just four points clear at the top because Washington Nissan drew 3-3 at home with Crook, who scored a late equaliser. David Tait put Nissan in the lead, but Crook hit back to lead with goals by Andrew Shaw and Jonathan Milroy. Gavin Cogdon then scored twice to take his league tally for the season to 34, but Ray Stanger levelled for Crook near the end.

West Allotment are still well in touch in fourth place after they thumped Seaham Red Star 5-1, three of their goals coming in the last 15 minutes. Dean Fox put Seaham ahead, but Allotment replied with goals from Paul Willary, Andy Purvis (two), Michael Chilton and Dean Douglas. Chilton has now scored 37 in the league this season.

Prudhoe are hanging on to fifth place, after they won 4-3 at Marske United after being 3-1 down at half-time. Michael Cunningham (two), Chris Taylor and Steve Mason scored for Prudhoe, with Peter Boldison (two) and Jonathan Stott scoring for Marske. Marske's Paul Wilson was sent off just before half time for a foul.

Willington are now stranded at the bottom after they lost their basement clash 1-0 against Easington, Martin Barwick scoring with ten minutes left.

Hebburn are still in trouble in third bottom, after they were beaten 2-0 at North Shields, for whom Neil Picton and Mark Cass scored.

Norton won their fourth league game in a row when they strolled to a 5-0 away win at Washington. Marcus Laing and Steve Roberts scored in the first half, then Liam Aldridge, Paul Rowntree and Tyson Masters scored after the break.

Evenwood lost for the second time in four days to Whickham, this time losing 3-2. Whickham led 2-0 with goals from Michael Hedley before Stephen Houlahan pulled one back from the spot. Ian Robson made it 3-1 before a late goal by Ian Lowes set up a tense finish.

Kennek Ryhope CA drew 2-2 at Alnwick. Gary Patterson and James Jeffrey scored for Alnwick, with Dean Arkley and Jamie Routledge replying for Ryhope.

In the other game, Penrith won 1-0 at South Shields, thanks to a goal from Lee Hoolickin.