Bishop Auckland manager Colin Myers praised the “outstanding commitment” of his players after battling back to draw with nine men for a 2-2 draw in their stormy local derby at Shildon on Saturday.

Shildon thought they’d won this controversial encounter until Bishops levelled with a last gasp equaliser.

Myers, who was sent from the dugout by the referee in the second half, said: “It was a fantastic achievement by our players, considering that we played with two men short for 35 minutes. I’ve never seen nine players work as hard as that, and to fight back for a draw was superb, they showed outstanding commitment. Obviously, we’re not happy with the referee. There have been comments recently about them being inconsistent, and I would agree with them.”

Bishops took the lead when Shildon defender Justin Keegan put a Chris Bell cross into his own net midway through the first half, but it all kicked off in the second half.

Bishops’ Adam McLane was shown his second yellow following a foul, and then on 57 minutes Dion Raitt was shown a straight red for a high challenge.

The referee incurred Bishops’ wrath by awarding Shildon a penalty for handball that Warren Byrne converted, and then Byrne fired his side into the lead with nine minutes left with Bishops claiming a foul in the build up.

But Bishops stunned the Railwaymen when Darren Richardson levelled in a goalmouth scramble.

Shildon manager Gary Forrest said; “I’m disappointed that we only managed to draw. We were great in many areas of the pitch, but we can’t put our chances away.”

League leaders Sunderland RCA suffered their first league defeat of the season when they were beaten 3-2 at home by West Auckland.

West took the lead after four minutes when Alex Francis beat two defenders and scored with a low shot, but Andy Jennings levelled for the RCA after 38 minutes following a mistake in the West defence.

West regained the lead soon after with a free kick into the bottom corner by Stephen Brown, and on the hour Brown put them 3-1 up with a 20 yarder.

The RCA didn’t give up, and pulled a goal back with a penalty by Lee Owens, and in the closing minutes West keeper Kyle Barlow pulled off a couple of good saves to protect a point.

Sunderland RCA manager Neil Hixon said: “We played a very good team today who I expect to challenge for the title. We were the better team and created twice as many goalscoring opportunities and really should have won the game.”

West Auckland manager Peter Dixon said: “We’re delighted with the three points, because Sunderland RCA are a hard side to play against. We took our chances really well.”

Dunston are now just two points off the pace with a game in hand after they won 3-2 at Norton, with Andy Bulford leading the way.

He put Dunston into the lead from close range after 26 minutes, and then he converted a penalty six minutes later after he was fouled.

New signing Andy Campbell pulled a goal back for Norton, but Bulford completed his hat trick with a header on 81 minutes. Darren Mowbray pulled a late goal back for Dunston. Bulford has now scored ten league goals this season.

Dunston manager Billy Irwin said: “It was a hard earned three points, Norton is always a tough place to win.”

Norton manager Conrad Hillerby said: “We played well today in spells, but gave away some soft goals that cost us. I’m not too disappointed.”

Spennymoor played some of their best football of the season to defeat Whitley Bay 2-0, with both sides having a man sent off in a stormy first half.

Both keepers pulled off some good saves, before Moors took the lead after 37 minutes when Gavin Cogdon was brought down by Whitley keeper Kyle Hayes, and Adam Johnston scored from the spot.

Whitley defender Callum Anderson was then dismissed for a challenge on Steve Capper, in a clash that also saw the Spennymoor player dismissed for an incident in the Whitley dugout.

Moors went 2-0 up on 53 minutes when Lewis Dodds mishit a shot, but Cogdon reacted first to the loose ball and beat Hayes. Sonny Andrews missed a couple of chances for the third late in the game.

Whitley have now lost their last two matches, after going unbeaten in their first eight games.

Spennymoor manager Jason Ainsley said: “I thought we passed Whitley Bay off the park, and the attitude of our players was worthy of champions.”

Whitley Bay manager Ian Chandler said: “Spennymoor ran out winners and they are an excellent team and will take some stopping. We were comfortable up until the penalty, and we had a couple of chances that we should have scored from. The referee was indifferent for both teams.”

Consett seem to be over their recent bad form, following their second 2-0 win of the week, this time against Billingham Town.

With new signing Harrison Davies in their side, they took the lead with a header by dale Burrell from a Michael Mackay cross, and on 42 minutes they made it 2-0 with a strike by Marc Walton. Town were better in the second half, and Jamie Owens hit the post Town have now dropped into the bottom three.

Consett manager Kenny Lindoe said: “I thought we dominated the first half, and took our foot off the pedal in the second.”

Billingham Town manager Carl Jarrett said: “We didn’t start well again. I think we need 25 minutes to get started. We played much better in the second half and had some great chances to score but wasn’t our day.”

Marske came back from two goals down to snatch a draw at Billingham Synthonia.

It looked good for Synners when Marske midfielder Anthony Ormerod beat his own keeper wit ha bullet header from a corner, and then Phil Horsman headed the second from a free kick by Chay Liddle.

But Marske pulled a goal back before half time through Chris McGill from a Jonathan Burton cross, and in the second half Danny Brunskill levelled with a left foot shot on the turn.

Billingham Synthonia assistant manager Lee Tucker said: “We dominated the first half and should have been well ahead. However, Marske were much better than us in the second half and we both deserved a point.”

Marske manager Paul Burton said: “We need to stop conceding early goals, but we’re competing better. We’re showing signs of improvement.”

Newton Aycliffe lost 2-1 at home to Newcastle Benfield. Phil Gray, on loan from Darlington, gave Aycliffe the lead from a setpiece move, but after Aycliffe keeper Scott Pocklington pulled off two good saves, Benfield levelled before half time when Shaun McAvoy headed in at the near post from a Brian Dodsworth corner.

Aycliffe had a better second half and hit the post, before Micky Chilton got the winner for Benfield from ten yards with eight minutes left.

Newton Aycliffe manager Alan Oliver said: “We played well in the second half, but the ball didn’t run for us.”

Ashington suffered yet another injury to one of their players when Stephen Young was carried off in their 5-1 home win over Jarrow Roofing. For the third Saturday running, an ambulance was called to Woodhorn Lane, in previous weeks Darren Lough and Gareth Bainbridge have both been rushed to hospital.

Roofing took the lead when Michael McCaffery scored from a rebound, but Ashington levelled just before half time through an Andy Dugdale header.

Ashington took control after that, with Jonny Godsmark, veteran Jamie Clarke (2) on target, as well as an own goal.

Jarrow Roofing manager Richie McLoughlin said: “I thought we played well, and the score had no reflection on the game. We hammered them first half, but then had a man sent off and no luck after that.”

Tow Law lost their relegation zone clash against Guisborough by a single goal to leave them firmly in the bottom two. Guisborough skipper David Onions scored the only goal from the penalty spot in the first half after a foul on Chris I’Anson. Lewis Harrison hit the Guisborough bar as Lawyers played better than recently but couldn’t score.

Tow Law manager Ian Davison said: “We should have won easily. The ref missed a blatant handball which led to the penalty, There were loads of positives in our display.”

Guisborough manager Chris Hardy said: “Great reaction today from the lads after a mid week nightmare, in what was a hard fought and much needed three points. Lots of positives that we can hopefully take into Tuesday’s game with the league leaders.”

South Shields climbed out of the bottom three by beating Stokesley 5-2. Alex Benjamin and Jamie Scope put Shields 2-0 up in the first half, then after the break David Southern, Benjamin and Stephen Ramsey added further goals. Stokesley scored late consolations through Nathan Porritt and Matthew Robinson.