The Albany Northern League Today

Morton's suggestion comes following the abandonment of the first game between his club and Thornaby, when one of the assistant referees had to leave the field because of a hamstring injury, and no suitable replacement could be found.

There was the possibility that Peter Morris, the Thornaby secretary, could run the line, but he was persuaded not to by fellow club officials, so the game had to be abandoned.

It was played again last Saturday, with Morton saying: "We've written to the FA, saying that for a flagship competition like the FA Vase, a fourth official should be provided to avoid such an occurrence.

"Through no fault of ours, we had the extra expense of staging the game, and paying extra travel costs.

"Fortunately, the two clubs aren't that far apart, but what would have happened if long distances were involved?

"The rules say that if one of the officials fails to turn up or is incapacitated, then we must find a volunteer who is agreed by both clubs. The FA asked us if there was somebody suitable in the ground, but there was a gate of less than 100, and it was a Saturday afternoon when the vast majority of referees and assistant referees were officiating anyway.

"To avoid any similar problems in the future, we feel the best way round it is to appoint a fourth official."

However, whether the FA will go ahead with the idea remains to be seen, because refereeing resources are stretched to the limit.

Northern League chairman Mike Amos fears some leagues will be short of clubs next season.

The new Conference North is due to start next season, and will draw clubs from the UniBond League and Doctor Martens League.

In turn, the UniBond will probably take applications from its three feeder leagues, the Northern League, the Northern Counties East and Northern Counties West Leagues.

And while it's looking unlikely that any club from the ANL will want to join the new set up, there is a good chance that there will be plenty of interest from the other two leagues.

Amos said: "I know that Level 1 and 2 leagues will be sorted out for the new season, but Level 3, where we play, won't be.

"The effect is that some leagues will be in some sort of wretched limbo, because they would have lost clubs to a higher level, but not been able to take any back. Some leagues would be operating with 15 in a division, instead of 20.

"I've been told that it's top of the agenda at the next FA meeting."

However, even though it's only October, time is against the FA being able to sort out the situation before the end of this season.

Evenwood are hoping to play their first match under their new lights when they play Shildon in the Durham Challenge cup on Tuesday.

By coincidence, Shildon provided the opposition for the first game under Evenwood's original set in 1993.

The game was due to take place last Tuesday, but was re-arranged because of Shildon's involvement in the FA Cup against Frickley.

Tow Law have landed a £5,000 sponsorship deal with league sponsor Brooks Mileson.

Tow Law midfielder Marc Eccles moved to Scottish club Gretna last month on a three year deal, and at first Lawyers thought that they wouldn't receive a penny, because the player wasn't on contract with them.

However, Mileson, who during the summer announced a sponsorship deal in perpetuity with the league, instead handed a deal to the club.

Chairman John Flynn said: "We desperately need the money to keep the club going. Last year we made over £8,000 in the FA Cup, this year we didn't make anything. It's brilliant to have got something for the player, and it's very generous of Brooks."

Tow Law made very little out of Brian Wake's move to Carlisle last year, while famously they got nothing at all for the transfer of Chris Waddle to Newcastle.

West Auckland caretaker manager Graeme Forster is disappointed with the departure of striker Jonathan Milroy to Spennymoor.

Milroy has decided to leave the Northern League and join former boss from his Bishop Auckland days, Tony Lee, at Spennymoor.

"It's sad that he's gone, because he's been here so long at the club, that we hoped that he would see it through," said Forster.

"We're a bit short on numbers at the moment, and we could have done with him in the side."

Peterlee striker Anthony Dobell is being watched by several clubs.

Dobell scored a hat trick last Saturday against Billingham Synthonia to take his league tally for the season to seven, and become the third highest scorer in the league this season.

"His workrate is 110 per cent," said his manager Andy Toman.

"He's worked very hard recently, and it's paying off for him. He chases lost causes, and he would run through a brick wall."

Willington beat Prudhoe 2-1 last Saturday - and none of their players scored. Prudhoe defender Brian Nelson put two through his own goal to give Willington the points, only their third win of the season.

Horden will be playing all their games away from home for the next six weeks as the club is rebuilding its main stand and there will be no facilities for players.

Manager Tommy Garside said: "It's going to be tough and a test of character for the players."

Jarrow Roofing and Bedlington will be seeing enough of each other over the next few weeks.

The two teams have been drawn against each other in the first round proper of the Vase, in the first round of the League Cup, and have a league game to play.

But Roofing aren't too worried, as they beat the Terriers twice last season in the league.

Shildon manager Ray Gowan, believes new keeper, John Jackson, is the best in the league.

Signed from Marske during the summer, Jackson has turned in some sparkling displays, particularly against Salford in the FA Vase when he saved a penalty.

Gowan said: "He's head and shoulders above everybody else. He's been excellent."

Meanwhile, defender Jamie Middleton has turned down an approach from Spennymoor.

The draw for the next round of the Durham Challenge Cup will be made on Radio Cleveland on Saturday at 5.30pm.

Fixtures

TODAY: Division Two: Newcastle Blue Star v South Shields

TOMORROW: Division One: Billingham Synthonia v Bedlington, Chester-le-Street v Washington, Durham City v Billingham T, Esh Winning v Horden, Guisborough v Penrith, Jarrow Roofing v Shildon, Marske v Tow Law, Thornaby v Morpeth, Whitley Bay v Brandon

Division Two: Alnwick v Kennek Ryhope CA, Evenwood v Norton, Murton v Consett, Newcastle Benfield Saints v Willington, Northallerton v Washington Nissan, Prudhoe v Ashington, Shotton v Hebburn, Whickham v Seaham Red Star

Durham Challenge Cup: Cleadon v Crook, Peterlee v Jarrow, Washington Nissan UK (Wearside League) v West Auckland.

Midweek round-up

Shildon reached the third qualifying round of the FA Cup with a memorable 5-1 win over UniBond club Frickley at Dean Street on Wednesday night.

Man of the match was striker Gary Barnes, who scored four times, one of them from the spot, to put Shildon through to this stage for the first time in over two decades.

The match was full of incident. There were 12 bookings, three dismissals, and two penalties to keep the 664 crowd occupied while the match was delayed 15 minutes because of crowd congestion.

Shildon manager Ray Gowan said: "I thought it was a magnificent performance by our players, and we were well worthy of victory.

"Gary was unstoppable - he's been outstanding this season. I thought he underachieved last season, and I had a little bit of a go at him, but he's forced his way into the team and kept his place well. I thought he took his goals very well, especially his second when he ran through and lifted the ball over the keeper." Barnes has now scored 16 goals in total this season.

Gowan was unhappy with the dismissals of David Bayles and Danny Key in the last minute for second bookable offences. "I thought the referee was disgraceful. Our players were furious that he sent Bayles off for kicking the ball away, because they thought he hadn't blown his whistle to stop the game."

Shildon are now unbeaten in fourteen league and cup matches, and will now be away to Shirebrook in the next round.

Dunston are also though after winning 2-1 at Fleetwood.

Ashington are also through to the next round after their win last Saturday but Guisborough went out after they lost 3-1 in their replay at Stalybridge.

Whitley Bay are now level on points with Shildon and Brandon at the top of the league after they won 1-0 at Penrith, Michael Dickinson scoring after 80 minutes.

Peterlee missed a chance to go fourth after they were beaten 5-3 by Jarrow Roofing. They took a three-goal lead through Craig Nelson, Paul Chow and Paul Crossley before Peterlee got back to 3-2 with goals by Paul Hinton and Paul Harvey. However Gavin Cogden and Paul Chow scored again for Roofing, with Hinton replying.

Ashington are now unbeaten in 12 league and cup games after they won 3-1 at Prudhoe in the League Cup. Alex Lawson scored twice, with Marc Campbell getting the other. Calvin Magnus replied for Prudhoe.

Billingham Town beat Brandon on penalties in the Durham Challenge Cup. Town took the lead just after half time when Craig Skelton scored from a Trevor Tierney cross, but John Ewart fired the equaliser for Brandon. Town scored from all four of their penalties, while Brandon hit the post with one, and Darren Collier saved another.

Chester-le-Street easily beat Easington 4-1. Dave Turner (2), Martin Bowes and John Heggarty scored for Chester, while Paul Conway replied for Easington.

Durham won 2-0 at Esh Winning. Lee O'Donovan put Durham ahead from close range after 25 minutes, and Robbie Herbert fired a second after 74 minutes.

Kennek Ryhope CA won 2-0 at Shotton, with goals from Chris Davidson and Anthony Holmes.

Washington Nissan beat Darlington Reserves 8-7 on penalties after the teams drew 3-3 at the end of extra time. John Tiplady, David Tate and Paul Clark scored for Nissan.

Consett beat Hebburn 1-0 thanks to a free kick by Peter Kirkham, while Norton lost 2-1 at Northern Alliance club Ryton.

The draw for the third qualifying round of the FA Cup now includes: Shirebrook v Shildon, Ashington v Grantham, Marine v Dunston.