Albany Northern League

For the first time since the Northern League joined the pyramid, there will be promotion and relegation with the Northern Alliance and Wearside League at the end of the season, as long as the grounds of the clubs who have applied are up to Northern League standard, and they finish in the top two.

And while it looks as if either Benfield Saints or West Allotment, who have both applied for the Northern League, will be promoted from the Alliance, it looks as if North Shields, the only applicant from the Wearside League, will miss out. Shields are currently third, but Stokesley and Birtley look good for the top two places.

It will be tough on Shields, because they won the Wearside League last year, but failed to win a place in the Northern League.

If Shields do miss out, then only one club will probably be promoted - and that means only one will be relegated. The relegation place appears to be between Crook, Willington, Eppleton and Norton, who have the worst form of all the teams in trouble - they haven't won in the league this year.

Bedlington joint manager Tony Lowery has paid tribute to central defender Warren Teasdale, who has left the club.

Teasdale has been part of the championship winning team for the last five seasons, but suddenly quit and is now playing for West Allotment in the Northern Alliance.

"Warren has been a tremendous player for us," said Lowery. "He's shown over the years that he is one of the best centre halves in the area.

"Unfortunately, he couldn't get his place back in the team after he went away on holiday."

Lowery meanwhile, is focusing on trying to pip Brandon for the title.

"Second place is no good for us," he said.

"We're more determined than ever to win the league. It's all or nothing for us."

Washington will be without striker Ben Chambers for the rest of the season.

Chambers, who is amongst the leading scorers in the league, has gone to New Zealand for six months, and won't return until September.

"He's gone with our best wishes," said manager John Oliver. "It was a great opportunity for him to play there. He's a really popular lad in the changing room, and he's done well for us this season."

Chambers' replacement is new signing Paul Freeman who signed from Stanley United and got the winner at West Auckland last Saturday.

Eppleton's home game with Horden had to be postponed last week because of a damaged floodlight cable.

Construction work on a new clubhouse at the Second Division club is being carried out, and the fault was discovered when Eppleton's junior team played the previous night.

Eppleton, meanwhile, have signed striker Simon Middlemiss from local football in Darlington.

Ashington have turned down Washington Nissan's request to bring forward their league game on April 26 to the previous night to avoid a clash with Sunderland v Newcastle the following day.

"Ashington have told us that they can't get a team out on the Friday night," said Nissan manager Gavin Liddle, who admits that his team are outsiders for promotion now.

"We've got to carry loads of luck to finish in the top three," he said.

"And other clubs have got to have a nightmare run like we have in the last few weeks."

The Northern League Second Division title might not be decided until after the May Bank Holiday.

Because of their heavy fixture backlog, Penrith's last league game of the season has been arranged for Tuesday, May 6 against Hebburn.

The two League Cup semi-finals have been pencilled in for April 22 and 23. The draw was due to be made last night at the Northern League management committee meeting. Tow Law, Billingham Synthonia, Brandon and Shildon are the teams left in the competition.

Crook Town manager Les Langley has stood down as the club fights against relegation.

Langley was appointed as manager before Christmas when Dave Buchanan resigned, but he has decided to become a player only as they try to avoid the dreaded drop.

The club has now appointed the ever faithful Dennis Pinkney, who has already had one spell in charge. Pinkney holds the club appearance record for the club, and recently started playing for them again.

Dennis Dolphin will be Pinkney's assistant for the rest of the season.

Chairman Steve Buddle said: "We felt that we needed somebody on the touchline to organise things while Les continues to play."

The Billingham derby between Synners and Town, which was scheduled for May 3, has been brought forward to April 14.

Town manager Alan Robinson said: "We're not happy about it, because that means we've got two games in three days, because we also have to play at Esh Winning on the Wednesday night."

Brandon have signed four players to strengthen their squad over the last few weeks of the season.

They have signed keeper Chris Anthony, who played at Blue Star last Saturday, and outfield players Kevin Garrigan, Christopher Crowe and Kevin Churnside.

Tow Law defender Carl Beasley might have the dubious distinction of being the quickest sending off this season. Beasley was dismissed less than two minutes into Lawyers 2-1 League cup win at Marske United last week.

His manager Graeme Forster said: "I can't comment on it, because I honestly didn't see it."

Ironically, Lawyers won the game when they had nine men on the field, because Scott Nicholson was receiving treatment when Paul Richardson scored the winner.

Peterlee manager Andy Toman isn't hanging up his boots just yet.

The former Darlington and Hartlepool midfielder, who is now in his 40s, was thinking of packing in, but he said: "I'm going to keep playing for as long as I can.

"I don't want to pack in playing if I can help it.

"I seem to have been picking up a few knocks lately, but I feel that I can still play another season."

A missed penalty helped Brandon into a four point lead at the top of the League on Tuesday night.

Bedlington striker John Milner, normally so reliable from the spot, had a last minute penalty saved by Morpeth keeper Neil Fairbairn, so the champions had to settle for a 1-1 draw. Robbie Cockburn gave them the lead after 72 minutes, but Steve Walker equalised just three minutes later.

Brandon, meanwhile, used the wind to their advantage to build up a 3-0 lead at home to Whitley Bay in the first half. Former Bay defender Chris Neil scored from a Dave Robson free kick after 23 minutes, then Robson scored with a dipping volley from the corner of the box three minutes later.

John Ewart then scored with a wind-assisted shot from 40 yards.

Whitley pushed forward in the second half, but didn't seriously trouble Brandon keeper Ben Cole, but the home side had Andy Purvis dismissed for two bookable offences after 75 minutes.

Billingham Synthonia's chances of finishing third were hit when they lost 1-0 at home to Durham City in a game of few chances.

Durham got the winner after 57 minutes when Lee O'Donovan scored with a right foot shot from the edge of the box.

Consett missed a chance to climb out of the relegation zone when they lost 2-0 at home to Jarrow Roofing.

Colin McLeod missed an early penalty for Consett, and Jarrow took advantage to take the lead after 28 minutes through Chris Coates from a free kick.

The league's leading scorer, Paul Chow, then ran through to score the second after 39 minutes, his 30th of the season.

Dunston beat Esh Winning 1-0 at Federation Park thanks to a 43rd minute penalty by Ben Thompson following a foul on Kraig Wilkinson, who hit the post in the second half.

Gary Shields put Chester-le-Street into the lead after 24 minutes, but Tow Law's Dean Fuller equalised direct from a corner after 34 minutes.

Andy Blower put Chester back into the lead from the spot, with John Heggarty adding the third after 71 minutes.

Shildon's chances of a top four place were badly hit when they lost 4-1 at Guisborough. Mark Sunley put Guisborough into the lead, with David Bayles equalising. But then Darren Mowbray (2) and Simon Kasonali with a penalty made sure of victory for Guisborough, their first in six matches.

Thornaby are back on top of the Second Division after they beat South Shields 2-0 at Teesdale Park. Andy Banks put them in front after 18 minutes, with Mark Wheldon scoring the second after 36 minutes.

Horden, who were third, lost 2-0 at home to Seaham Red Star in their local derby. Mark Swindell and Stuart Morris scored for Seaham who are now just three points off a promotion spot. They have lost only twice in the league since Neil Hixon took over as manager.

Penrith are still unbeaten in the league - 26 games - after they drew 1-1 with Easington, Tony Hanson scored for Easington, with Simon Parry for Penrith. The two teams meet again tomorrow.

Alan Hogg scored twice for Ashington to take his tally for the season to 24 in their 4-1 win at Evenwood.

On Wednesday night, Crook Town moved away from immediate danger with a 4-0 home win over bottom club Willington. Craig Armstrong, Andy Burgess and David Snow (2) scored for Crook, who are now five points above the relegation zone.

Willington are still level on points with Norton, who lost 3-1 at Hebburn.

Eppleton are three points off the bottom after they lost 2-0 at home to Kennek Ryhope CA.