Willington are refusing to pay an £85 compensation payment imposed by the League after the abandoned of their game at Newcastle Benfield Saints four months ago.

Referee Ian Kavanagh abandoned the game after Willington manager Alan Shoulder refused to move according to the referee's instructions, but Willington chairman John Phelan claims the league's decision to ask them to pay £85 compensation is premature.

Durham FA have already decided Shoulder's earlier dismissal in the match shouldn't stand, and a further hearing to discuss the abandonment last week had to be adjourned because the referee didn't turn up.

In the meantime, the league's management committee has decided Willington should reimburse £85 expenses to Benfield Saints.

Phelan said: "We're not giving any money to anybody until we present our case to the Northern League management committee. Durham FA and the league have looked at the referee's report without consulting us.

"Alan was falsely accused of swearing at officials, and he did comply with the referee's request to move from the technical area.

"The referee never spoke to Alan after that until the incident in the second half when the referee abandoned the game. The referee didn't tell Alan that he was sent off, he asked me to tell him.

"We're going to seek advice from the FA and other bodies over this."

However, league chairman Mike Amos said: "The committee had to look at who was responsible for the match being abandoned. Clearly it wasn't Benfield. Was it the ref? Or was it an act of God which no one could have foreseen?

"We took the view that even when the referee may be wrong - I'm not saying he was - his authority must at all times be respected. There is no argument that Alan Shoulder refused to do what the ref told him, that neither the Willington chairman nor anyone else from the club instructed him to do so, and that after the ref had several times warned what he would do if things persisted, he abandoned the game.

"It doesn't matter whether the ref was right or wrong, John Phelan and Alan Shoulder have both been around long enough to know that the time for argument is on appeal, not by refusing to comply."

Benfield Saints' general manager Bob Morton believes that the non-league should think about changing its season.

Instead of playing the traditional season of August to May, Morton believes that the time has perhaps come for the season to run from March to November.

"Running from March to November would be more spectator friendly," said Morton.

"The pitches would be better, more fans would come along, and it would cost clubs less in terms of having to find training facilities and postponed matches.

"For example, it costs us £36 for a training pitch, and sometimes those aren't available - Blyth couldn't find anywhere last Thursday night. We have to compete with a hockey team for an artificial pitch, whereas if the season ran from March to November, we could use our own facilities.

"Some people have said what about cricket - but there aren't many people who play both sports nowadays.

"We've had six games postponed already this season and because of the recent bad weather, we might have to play something like ten games in April.

"The time has come when we have to think of the way forward."

However, Amos is completely against any change.

"It's wholly and hugely impractical," he said.

"The league's followers would go barmy at the thought of three to four months without football in the winter. They're quite hardy, and used to football in all weathers.

"Players, administrators and match officials would all be so much harder to find because of holidays.

"At least three ANL clubs, Hebburn, Whickham and Evenwood, share facilities with cricket clubs and would be unable to continue.

"Not only do many footballers play cricket in the summer, but there are many other diversions both for players and supporters."

Tow Law manager Steve Smith is looking for some much needed victories in the near future.

After Tuesday's game at Chester-le-Street, Lawyers moved above Horden into seventh from bottom, and Smith said: "We need two or three wins pretty quickly.

"I think we're playing really well, but we're getting punished for our mistakes at the back.

"We could do with one or two new players, but we have to move them out before we can bring them in."

Washington manager John Oliver says it's crucial his team avoids defeat in their next two matches. They are just three points above the relegation zone, and in the next week are due to play at fellow strugglers Tow Law and Guisborough.

"We have to build on our win at Penrith last week," he said. "The win gave all the players a real boost, and they're buzzing now. We've got two tough games coming up now, and must get something out of them."

First Division title chasers Shildon have been hit by the news that skipper Danny Key will be ruled out for two months because of a hernia problem.

Crook Town have received a boost by signing midfielder Lee Suddes from Consett and defender John Webster from Washington Nissan. Manager Alan Oliver said: "We need experienced players like them. We have been naive at times in recent weeks."

UniBond League Gateshead are understood to be interested in Esh youngster Paul Bellamy, who has been impressive this season.

Billingham Town manager Alan Robinson is worried about fixture congestion for his team over the rest of the season.

Town's postponed game at Jarrow Roofing on Saturday means they still have half their league fixtures to play in three months, which means a heavy schedule of two games nearly every week.

Town's backlog hasn't been helped by their floodlight problems, but Robinson said: "The league have re-assured me the fixtures have all been re-arranged.

"But I find it strange that in some weeks we have been without a game, and other clubs who were well behind us in terms of catching up with games, have now overtaken us."

Chester-le-Street general manager Joe Burlison is refusing to press the panic button, despite being fourth bottom.

They ended a run of four defeats with a dramatic 4-4 draw against Tow Law in midweek, and Burlison said: "If we had been really poor I would be worried.

"But we can see a chink of light at the end of the tunnel. We've played well in our last three or four games, even though we've lost most of them."

Shotton manager Vince Kirkup says tomorrow's basement clash against fellow strugglers Easington is vital to both sides - and neither dares lose.

With Shotton four points behind Easington and nine behind third bottom Norton.

"I watched Easington lose 8-0 at Whickham a fortnight ago, but I think they're better than that," he said.

"We must take all three points, and I'm sure that's what they'll be thinking as well.

"We must show plenty of spirit."

Horden manager Eddie Freeman is confident his team's home games will keep them out of relegation trouble.

They are just four points above the drop zone after failing to win any of their last six games, but Freeman said: "We've played all the top teams home and away now.

"Because of the work on the dressing rooms, we've been playing most of our games away from home.

"That means we've only got two away games left, and 11 at home.

"However, I'm looking for a couple of defenders, because we're conceding too many goals."

league cup: Revised draw for the quarter finals: Esh Winning v Billingham Synthonia, Penrith or Marske v Alnwick or South Shields, Morpeth v Dunston or Whickham, Brandon v Durham.

Craven Cup: Third round draw: Newcastle Benfield or Washington Nissan v South Shields or Newcastle Blue Star, Crook v Seaham Red Star or Northallerton, Evenwood or Shotton v Willington or Norton, Whickham or Ashington v Alnwick or Consett.