Stephen Thomas's stoppage-time goal at Ryton earned Horden CW three crucial points and eased their position at the bottom of Division One.
Rival relegation strugglers Ryton looked to have secured a point from a lacklustre game at Welfare Park until Thomas struck in the 91st minute with a free-kick from outside the penalty area.
The Colliers leap-frogged Ryton and are fourth bottom, w
hile Chester-le-Street are just a point and one place better off after losing to Consett.
The Cestrians led with Nathan Fisher's third-minute goal,but Gavin Parkin quickly equalised.
Andy Cuthbertson fired the Steelmen ahead on 70 minutes before Mattie Moffatt made certain of victory in the last minute.
Esh Winning are out of the relegation zone after recording an excellent 1-0 victory over Dunston UTS, Andrew Middlemiss scoring in the fifth minute.
Leaders Spennymoor hit West Allotment for six, with striker Gavin Cogden rifling a hat-trick in the opening 26 minutes. Michael Rae (2)
and Chris Lawther struck in the final 20.
Whitley Bay are three points behind after four-goal Paul Chow sparked a 5-1 rout of Penrith.
Scott Blandford's last-gasp strike enabled third-placed Ashington to defeat Norton 2-1, with Joe Race also netting.
Jonny Wightman bagged four as in-form South Shields crushed Billingham Town 5-2, with Stephen Ramsey also netting.
Tyson Masters (2), Adam Emson (2) and Ryhope cricketer Arjun Purewal swept Bishop Auckland to an emphatic 5-0 win at Morpeth, while Stuart Irvine netted West Auckland's consolation in a 6-1 drubbing from Newcastle Benfield.
