Durham City missed a chance to go top of the table because of a second half collapse that led to a 5-2 defeat at Bedlington on Saturday.

Manager Billy Cruddas said: "Before Saturday, we'd only conceded five goals all season, but now we've doubled that.

"But I can't complain too much because up to now the defence has played well."

Durham took the lead in the early minutes with a 25 yard curling shot from Robbie Herbert, but Bedlington were soon level when Keith Douglas crossed for John Milner to head home.

Bedlington went 2-1 up when a shot by Keith Douglas deceived Durham keeper Adam Dowell, but City hit back before half time when Herbert scored from a rebound.

After the break, however, Bedlington took over.

Kevin Walton fired Bedlington into the lead, Stephen Shaw added a fourth, and Robbie Cockburn ran through for the fifth.

Billingham Town won their first league game for more than a month when they hammered second bottom West Auckland 4-0.

Town were 3-0 up by half time and never looked like letting their advantage slip.

They took a fifth minute lead when Carl Chillingsworth scored from a Stuart Brightwell cross, then Chillingsworth set up Tom Jones to fire the second.

Lee Ure scored the third from a Jason Ainsley pass before half time, then Chillingsworth completed the scoring when he cleverly flicked the ball over a defender before expertly volleying home.

Chillingsworth had a glorious chance to complete his hat trick from the penalty spot, but he was denied by West keeper Jonathan Collinson.

Dunston and Billingham Synthonia drew 0-0 at Federation Park in a game that was interrupted for twenty minutes because of an injury to referee Paul Nicholson.

In the only Second Division game to be played, West Allotment went back on top after a 4-1 win at Hebburn.

Dean Douglas, Andy Purvis, Ben Dawson and Michael Chilton scored for Allotment, with Paul Clegg scoring first for Hebburn, whose veteran keeper Barry Goodwin had to go off injured in the first half.