The Albany Northern League

Naylor signed for Easington from Bishop Auckland at the start of the season, but was rumoured to be on his way to another club in the middle of October.

As a consequence, Constantine left him out of the FA Cup tie with Chester City, but he believes that Naylor is back to his old self.

"Gavin is no longer in dispute with the club," said Constantine.

"He came back last week, and turned in a really good performance for us against Crook. He will be a big help over the rest of the season."

West Auckland manager Alan Oliver was naturally delighted with his side's victory at Bedlington on Saturday.

West produced one of the best performances in their league campaign so far to inflict Bedlington's first league defeat of the season, and Oliver said; "we have our strengths, which we try and play to. We battled our hearts out right the way through the game.

"Mind you, the last five minutes seemed like a week and a half!

"But I didn't think it was our best performance of the season. I think that was at Durham when we won there in the Vase."

Oliver thinks that goalscorer Jonathan Milroy and fellow striker Paul Nozedar are forming a good partnership. "They are bringing the best out of each other at the moment," said Oliver.

Billingham Town manager Alan Robinson believes that his side has added some extra determination this season.

Town have been one of the most improved teams in the league this season, having reached the final qualifying round of the FA cup, as well as the next round of the Vase, in which they'll play Tow Law on December 9.

And last Saturday, they defeated Guisborough 2-1, to move them into mid-table. They have still only played nine league games this season, after the midweek game with Crook Town was postponed. They have at least three games in hand on some of the teams above them.

"We don't give in this season, where as we did a little bit last year," said Robinson.

"I think we have a decent squad now. There are four or five lads on the bench who are capable of starting a game, and everybody knows they have to play well to get a shirt."

Bedlington have been told that they must re-register defender Graham Hogg. Blyth complained to the FA that Bedlington made an illegal approach for the player, and the Northern League club have been told that he must return to Blyth and re-sign for Bedlington next month.

Ironically, Blyth were found guilty of an illegal approach for Billingham Town midfielder Craig Perry two months ago, but were able to re-register him immediately without the player returning to play for Billingham.

Tow Law's Durham Challenge Cup tie against Durham City was abandoned after 41 minutes on Tuesday because of fog, with the score 1-1. Marc Eccles put Tow Law ahead after 15 minutes, and Stuart Brightwell levelled for Durham just before half time, with the Tow Law defence appealing in vain for offside in the fog. The match was abandoned shortly after.

Durham keeper Marc Riches made his comeback from injury during the game, but had to go off injured early on. Riches was injured in Durham's defeat Peterlee a fortnight ago, and new keeper Adam Clementson was unable to play because he wasn't signed seven days before the date of the original tie.

If Riches is unfit for the rearranged game, then Terry Hird will step in.

Tow Law are still hopeful that they can persuade Chris Waddle to play for them in the near future.

Lawyers had pencilled in a possible return to Ironworks Road this week, but their plans were dashed by Waddle's appearance for the UniBond League against the FA XI, and Lawyers' Durham Challenge Cup tie with Durham City.

Manager Graeme Forster said; "It is still something we are very keen on. We'll be holding talks with Chris in the near future."

The revised quarter final draw is: Nissan v Bishop Auckland, Darlington v West Auckland, Tow Law or Durham v South Shields, Brandon v Billingham Town.

The Tow Law-Durham tie is now expected to be played on Tuesday.

In the second division South Shields won 3-2 at Prudhoe on Tuesday night. Peter Ould put the strugglers ahead after 25 minutes, but Jamie Elrington and Paul Thompson put Shields ahead before half time, with Colin Nesbitt putting them 3-1 up in the second half. Jeff Pogson pulled a late goal back for Prudhoe.

Bedlington bounced back from their first league when they won 1-0 at Dunston on Tuesday in the league cup, Dunston's first defeat in the competition for three years. The only goal of the game was after 14 minutes, when John Milner pounced on a mistake by Elliott Milburn.

Dunston defender Derek Ord was dismissed for a second bookable offence after 77 minutes, and striker Andrew Fletcher nearly got an equaliser late in the game, but his header struck the post.

The game was ordered to be played by the league after Bedlington failed to field a side for the original game back in September.

Meanwhile, Oldham Athletic have failed to follow up their interest in prolific striker John Milner, and he looks set to stay at Bedlington for the remainder of the season.

However, Crook Town's youngsters created such a good impression in their FA Youth Cup tie at Oldham that the League club could be sending a team for a friendly next pre-season.

And two of Crook's youngsters have been invited to the Boundary Park club for summer training and trial - striker Paul Freary and sweeper John Guy who had an outstanding game in the first-round tie.

On Wednesday night, Consett beat Second Division leaders Esh Winning 3-0. Tony Halliday scored twice for them in the first half, the first from 18 yards and the second a header, then Colin McLeod celebrated his return from injury when he rounded the keeper after 69 minutes.

The First Division games between Billingham Town and Crook, and Brandon against Easington, were both postponed because of waterlogged pitches on Wednesday night.

Richie and Rose McLoughlin were the subjects of a fly on the wall TV documentary about Jarrow Roofing on Tuesday night. The popular couple - who founded the club over a decade ago in local parks football - were featured in a Tyne Tees programme entitled "Obsessions," which as the title suggests, showed how much work goes into running an Albany Northern League club.

Division One

P W D L F A Pts

Bedlington 13 10 2 1 44 8 32

Durham City 17 9 5 3 39 19 32

Peterlee 15 8 4 3 22 18 28

Billingham Syn 14 8 3 3 32 27 27

Guisborough 16 7 4 5 29 25 25

Dunston 12 7 3 2 24 14 24

Marske 12 6 4 2 22 9 22

Brandon 15 6 3 6 27 27 21

Whitley Bay 13 5 3 5 24 18 18

Consett 15 5 3 7 23 24 18

West Auckland 11 5 2 4 17 18 17

Tow Law 12 5 1 6 25 18 16

Jarrow Roofing 15 4 4 7 22 33 16

Morpeth 15 4 4 7 18 29 16

Billingham Town 9 5 0 4 20 16 15

Newcastle Bl Star 12 4 3 5 21 25 15

Seaham 11 5 0 6 21 29 15

Chester-le-Street 11 4 1 6 19 17 13

Easington 10 3 0 7 17 26 9

Hebburn 14 2 1 11 15 37 7

Crook Town 14 0 2 12 7 56 2

Division Two

Esh Winning 14 8 3 3 31 18 27

Willington 14 7 5 2 30 14 26

Washington 14 7 5 2 27 12 26

Thornaby 13 7 5 1 32 18 26

Ashington 12 7 2 2 39 21 23

Horden 14 6 4 4 14 10 22

Alnwick 15 5 6 4 24 22 21

Shildon 14 6 3 5 21 22 21

Norton 14 5 5 4 19 21 20

South Shields 13 5 4 4 31 24 19

Murton 12 5 3 4 25 27 18

Northallerton 10 4 5 1 29 13 17

Penrith 8 3 5 0 12 6 14

Shotton 12 3 5 4 22 21 14

Kennek Ryhope CA 15 3 5 7 18 27 14

Whickham 16 3 5 8 21 31 14

Evenwood 15 2 3 10 11 47 9

Prudhoe 13 2 1 10 13 36 7

Eppleton 14 0 2 12 17 45 2