Guisborough manager Steve Corden criticised his absent players after his side picked up a useful point in their battle against relegation at Chester-le-Street on Saturday.

Corden, who played for Middlesbrough in the mid eighties, had to play the full ninety minutes of the 1-1 draw after his squad was reduced to 13 just minutes before the game started.

"On Friday night, I had a squad of 19 players," he said. "Two of them pulled out for reasons which I could quite understand and accepted, but then another four failed to appear.

"We waited for them at two different points on our journey to the game, but they never showed. They're letting not only the club down, but their mates as well.

"I had to play, and my assistant, Steve Dowling, had to go on the bench. Twenty years ago I was a box-to-box player - now I'm just a centre circle player!"

They started well when Michael Pennock hit the bar and youngster David Atkinson, making his debut, followed up to score, and then Chester keeper Ian Aitken pulled off three good saves to stop them going further ahead. Jonny Wightman hit the equaliser on the half hour.

A controversial last minute penalty for Esh Winning sentenced West Auckland to their third successive defeat and increased their fears of relegation.

The West defence wasn't too happy when keeper Jonathan Collinson was adjudged to have tripped an Esh forward in the dying seconds, and Craig Marron tucked away the penalty. West are now just four points above the relegation zone.

Consett won their relegation six pointer against Peterlee 2-0 moving out of the bottom three.

Darren Grimes gave Consett the lead on 28 minutes when he scored from 30 yards, and they went further ahead just after half time when Chris Hodgson broke down the right and crossed for Mark Turner to fire home.

Thornaby and Brandon, two other teams looking over their shoulders at the drop, drew 1-1.

Brandon took the lead through Chris Smith but Thornaby salvaged a point with just five minutes left when Jamie Clarke headed home. Thornaby are now unbeaten in 11 league games.

League leaders Dunston overcame their latest hurdle, beating Billingham Town 1-0 to make it 27 games unbeaten, Michael Pitt scoring.

Second placed Benfield Saints slipped up, losing 3-1 at home to Whitley Bay. Adam Johnston put the visitors ahead with a 20th minute penalty after he had been brought down, and Chris Moore made it 2-0 on 70 minutes. Two minutes later, Lee Kerr dribbled through for the third. Alu Bangura pulled one back.

Billingham Synthonia are now two points behind Benfield Saints following a 2-1 home win over Ashington. They took a seventh minute lead through Tony Wood, but Ashington quickly responded through Paul Hogg.

John Mohan kept Synners in the game with a great save from Alan Hogg, and his side grabbed the points on 56 minutes when Wood scored his second.

Managerless Durham City drew 1-1 at Horden. The home side took the lead in the second minute when Andy McKenna was brought down by City keeper Kevin Wolfe and Kevin Devine scored from the spot. City equalised through Paul Chow.

Shildon had an excellent 4-0 away win at Morpeth Town. They took the lead when John Ewart curled home a free kick from the edge of the box, then Phil McGuire ran half the length of the field to score the second. Lee Ellison made it 3-0 in the 55th minute and also hit the fourth.

The top seven all won in the Second Division.

Leaders Newcastle Blue Star trailed to an early goal by recent signing Andy Hay at South Shields, but they hit back before half time with goals from Michael Dixon and David McMahon (penalty) to win 2-1.

Second placed Washington Nissan beat near neighbours Seaham Red Star 2-0 to keep them three points behind. Gavin Cogdon hit his 31st league goal of the season and Anthony Lund scored the second.

Northallerton took their goals tally to thirteen in the last two matches when they thumped Washington 6-1. The two sides were level 1-1 early in the second half, but then Northallerton ran riot. Craig Skelton completed his second hat trick inside four days. John Ryan (2) and Matthew Cooke scored the other goals.

West Allotment won 4-0 at Whickham. David Potts scored a hat trick, with Dean Douglas getting the other.

Fifth placed Prudhoe won their first league game in two months, 2-0 at Norton. George Weatherley and Chris Taylor scoring.

Crook beat Kennek Ryhope CA 3-1 at the Millfield. They had to come from behind after Andrew Beer scored for Ryhope, David Snow and Jonathan Milroy (2) scoring in the second half.

Evenwood had their best win of the season, thrashing bottom club Willington 7-1. Stephen Houlahan scored a hat-trick, with recent signings Tom Orchard, Dean Wilson and John Wainwright all getting on the scoresheet. Debutant Michael Weston also chipped in late in the game. Gareth Wilson scored Willington's consolation.

Third bottom Hebburn had a bad day, losing 5-0 at Penrith.

Second bottom Easington failed to close the three point gap between them and Hebburn going down 2-1 at Marske, Danny Metcalfe scoring a late winner. Michael Wilson put Marske ahead from the penalty spot, with Mike Hardy equalising.

In the other game, North Shields won 1-0 at Alnwick thanks to a goal by Paul Gibbs.