Annfield Plain are hoping the return of a number of players will kick start their season - especially after the disappointment of losing to Washington Nissan UK last weekend.

Previously Nissan had failed to taste success in any of their ten fixtures, but they came out on top against Annfield Plain who have now slumped from fourth from bottom after a reasonably encouraging start to the season.

"We have been very badly hit by a long list of players who have been unable to play. Several have been on holiday but hopefully from now on we will have a stronger squad to choose from and perhaps managers Bernie Allaker and Paul Hedley will be able to select a settled side," said long serving secretary Marshall Lawson.

"Our problem has been a lack of goals but I feel that one good win will set us on our way. Obviously, it was disappointing to lose to Nissan who had conceded 47 goals in their previous ten games but we failed to find the net and that has been our biggest problem to date," added Lawson, who has had a lifetime's association with the North West Durham League club.

In contrast, Nissan are confident that victory over Annfield Plain will be the springboard for improved results.

"We are hoping the victory will kick start our campaign and give the lads a bit of confidence. It was a massive step to move from the Wearside Combination into the Wearside League and it is no secret that we have found it hard to find out feet," said Nissan secretary Kirk Kitching.

"We suffered some really heavy defeats and until we played and beat Annfield Plain we had taken just two points out of a possible 30 so to beat them was something to celebrate. The result also lifted us off the bottom of the table and we are looking to go forward from now on," added Kitching.

Nissan have signed Paul Smith and Ian Cuthbertson and Kitching reckons the pair have made a difference when they were introduced as substitutes last weekend.

It was not a case of third time lucky for North Shields when they made a return visit to Humberside last Saturday. It is the third successive year they have visited the region to play in the FA Vase and have lost all three matches.

A couple of years ago they went down 3-2 after extra time to Winterton Rangers before losing 8-0 against Bridlington Town.

Despite taking the lead after 18 seconds last Saturday, they returned to the North-East 3-1 losers to Hall Road Rangers.

"It is obviously not a happy stamping ground for us. We had hopes of reaching the next stage of the FA Vase. There was an incident just before the interval which in my view changed the course of the game. Until then we were doing nicely but in the end we went down 3-1 with their third goal coming in the last minute," declared Robins secretary David Thompson.

Cleadon SC continue to lead the table; their latest success was claimed against newcomers Gateshead Reserves and manager Doug Key is confident the team's exciting early season form can be maintained.

"We have enjoyed an excellent season. The lads are up for it and training hard," enthused Key.

Tomorrow's fixtures: Birtley Town v North Shields, Boldon CA v Washington Nissan UK, Cleadon SC v Wolviston, D'ton RA v Annfield Plain, Ferryhill Ath. v Barn. Castle Glaxo, Gateshead Reserves v New Marske, Harton and Westoe v Windscale, Stokesley SC v Ryhope CW, Whitehaven v Jarrow.