Billingham Synthonia were knocked out of the FA Vase in highly controversial circumstances at Congleton on Saturday, on a day when all the North-East representatives crashed out.

Synners lost to a hotly disputed penalty just five minutes from the end of extra time at Congleton - defender Dave O'Gorman was adjudged to have handled on the line.

Manager Stuart Coleby said: "Dave went full length to head a shot off the line. The crowd behind the goal, which had been baying for blood throughout the game, were looking for the corner, and the referee also signalled a corner.

"But the assistant referee had his flag raised, motioned the referee over, and told him that Dave had handled on the line.

"Nobody could believe it, because there was no appeal for a penalty, either from crowd or players. I must admit, we thought we'd done enough to draw, because we fancied our chances of beating them in the replay."

Synners went behind after 29 minutes with a long range shot by Brian Hatton, but they levelled after 41 minutes when David Wells scored from a pass by Andy Ripley.

Synners nearly got a second but Wells couldn't find the target after picking up the pieces when Tony Wood's shot rebounded to him. But they more than held their own until the late drama. O'Gorman was red-carded for hand-ball, and Michael Scully scored from the spot.

Billingham Town are also out after they lost 4-2 at home to Bideford. Billingham had the better of the opening stages and forced three good saves out of the Bideford keeper, but they went behind after 16 minutes when Ben Rowe scored with a left foot shot, then Ellis Laight scored from 25 yards.

Carl Chillingsworth opened up the defence for Craig Skelton to pull a goal back before half-time, but then Town made life difficult for themselves in the second half.

Laight scored the third for Bideford as Town pushed forward, and then they had defender Stuart Jackson dismissed in an off the ball incident.

Jason Ainsley scored the goal of the game from 35 yards to pull one back, but Bideford were given a hotly disputed penalty with five minutes left following a harmless-looking tackle by Andy Burton. Mike Southgate scored from the spot.

Town manager Alan Robinson said: "The missed chances, and our lack of discipline cost us.

"We were starting to get back into the game, when we had Stuart sent off, but I've got to praise the spirit of the lads because they kept going.

"The difference in the game was that Bideford had reasonable chances and scored them. We had reasonable chances and missed them."

Town could also hear more about an incident involving keeper Darren Collier in the tunnel after the final whistle.

West Allotment from the Northern Alliance went out after they lost 1-0 at home to Kent side Cray Wanderers, the only goal coming after 29 minutes from Jamie Wood.

The miserable weekend for North-East non-league football means there are no representatives in the last 16.