Seaham Red Star were made to settle for a point against Whickham as the two sides drew 3-3 at the Ferguson Motor Repairs Stadium.

Michael Chilton headed the hosts into the lead on 22 minutes, but the visitors responded and were ahead at half-time after Dan Lowther and Andrew Bulford found the net.

Seaham equalised six minutes after the break, through Dan Wilson, and went back ahead when Darryll Donnelly fired home on 69 minutes.

However, Whickham responded well and drew level when Lowther lashed home. The two sides battled it out in the remaining minutes, but they couldn’t be separated come the final whistle.

Mark Collingwood’s side were still in search of their first home win of the season, going into the game with Whickham, and started on the front foot.

Nick Allen’s corner made its way to the back post before Liam Gillesphey headed down and wide on four minutes.

The visitors went close on eight minutes when former South Africa international Matty Pattison curled a free-kick over the wall and just over the crossbar.

The blustery conditions were playing a huge factor in the game, but despite kicking into the wind during the first-half, Red Star broke the deadlock on 22 minutes.

Allen floated a free-kick up to the Whickham penalty area, Chilton flicked the ball past the approaching ‘keeper and into the net.

The visitors responded well, Kyle Oliver and Dale Burrell went close before Brett Wilson was forced into making a great save on 35 minutes.

Ritchie Paxton’s cross-come-shot almost caught the ‘keeper off his line, but Wilson scampered back before tipping the ball over his crossbar.

From the resulting corner, Whickham drew level in the game. Lowther’s corner, from the left, was taken by the wind and went into the net without a touch from anyone else.

Two minutes later, the visitors were awarded a penalty, but Seaham’s ‘keeper made a tremendous save, with his legs, to keep out Bulford’s spot-kick.

Whickham continued to press to go ahead before half-time and after Kelvin Thear’s strike was kept out, the visitors did manage to take the lead for the first time.

The ball was worked back inside to Bulford, who noticed the approaching defender, so dummied a shot before drilling home from inside the area.

Seaham were rejuvenated after half-time though and drew level on 51 minutes. Donnelly floated the ball up to the penalty area, Wilson leapt above his marker and glanced the ball over the ‘keeper and into the net.

Allen went close after the hour mark with a good effort, but Red Star did fire themselves back ahead when Anthony Myers’ long ball forward was struck, on the turn, by Donnelly into the bottom corner.

Moments after losing debutant Allen to, what appeared to be, a nasty injury, the visitors took advantage of some questionable defending at the back and drew level again.

After a scramble in the Seaham box, the ball broke in front of Lowther, who swept the ball into the bottom corner. With 15 minutes remaining, both sides continued to press for a winner 

It was the hosts that closed out strongly though, Myers and Chilton both headed off target before the hosts had their heads in their hands after two chances went begging.

Wilson dug out a cross from the left on 90 minutes, which found an unmarked Liam Hodgson at the back post, but the substitute couldn’t guide his header goalwards.

Hodgson had a chance to redeem himself three minutes into additional time, but his sweet strike, from the edge of the area, was saved brilliantly by Whickham’s ‘keeper.

Seaham have a week to prepare for their next match as they travel to face last season’s FA Vase finalists Stockton Town next Saturday afternoon.

Seaham Red Star: Brett Wilson, Lowrie, Weldon, Allen (Hodgson, 74), Myers, Donnelly, Henderson (Rundle, 70), Gillesphey, Dan Wilson, Robinson, Chilton

Subs Not Used: Hetherington, Scott, Jackson

Whickham: Lister, Oliver (Martin, 78), Hedley, Paxton, Grieve, Scroggins, Burrell, Lowther, Bulford, Pattison (Cowburn, 30), Thear

Subs Not Used: Doninger, Aiston, Orrell

Goals: 1-0, 22 min, Chilton; 1-1, 36 min, Lowther; 1-2, 45+3 min, Bulford; 2-2, 51 min, Dan Wilson; 3-2, 69 min, Donnelly; 3-3, 75 min, Lowther

Referee: Steven Lawson

Assistants: Karl Barron and Sam Parnaby

Attendance: 60