Redcar Town and Stanley United have quit the Wearside League but the complement remains the same at 18 with the admission of Gateshead Reserves and Washington Nissan UK, writes MALCOLM PRATT.

As usual, an early start is to be made and the programme begins on Saturday August 9. There will also be several mid-week fixtures beginning on Monday August 11 when all clubs will again be in action.

Birtley Town will be defending the championship and Wolviston, who gave them a close run, are also expected to be among the title contenders.

North Shields, with ambitions of joining the Albany Northern League, will be out to improve on last year's disappointing rating although they did clinch the Monkwearmouth Charity Cup.

Wolviston were winners of the Sunderland Shipowners' Cup and Darlington RA, who at one time were in with a chance of the championship, gained some consolation by lifting the League Cup.

The opening-day fixtures are: Annfield Plain v Barnard Castle Glaxo, Birtley Town v Wolviston, Darlington RA v Harton and Westoe, Ferryhill Athletic v Boldon CA, Jarrow v Windscale, Ryhope CW v New Marske, Stokesley SC v Cleadon SC, Washington Nissan UK v Gateshead Reserves, Whitehaven v North Shields.

Fixtures for Wednesday August 13 are:

Barnard Castle Glaxo v Whitehaven, Boldon CA v Birtley Town, Darlington RA v Ferryhill Athletic, Harton and Westoe v Cleadon SC, Jarrow v Ryhope CW, New Marske v Stokesley SC, North Shields v Washington Nissan UK, Windscale v Gateshead Reserves, Wolviston v Annfield Plain.

Friendly

Consett 2-3 Annfield Plain

Achairman Frank Ross was delighted with his Clubs performance as they came from 2-1 behind to surprisingly beat Northern League outfit and local rivals Consett 3-2 at Bell View Park on Saturday.

Annfield Plain had taken the lead after Annfield applied pressure on the Consett back four and from a resulting corner Michael Murray scored on 39 minutes in a half that saw few opportunities.

Consett however pulled back on level terms on 48 minutes when former Annfield Plain player Andrew Thompson, still only 21, saw his free kick hit the post only for Consett captain Jeff Sugden to apply the finish into the back of the net.

Consett then took the lead over the battling Wearside League side when once again former Plainsmen Andrew Thompson showed why there was so much interest in the player whilst he was at Annfield as he headed home from a Terell free kick.

However the long pre season training schedule that Annfield Plain players had been put through by coaches Bernie Allaker and Paul Hedley proved to be beneficial as Annfield Plain looked much fresher and fitter than their opposition as the game went on. Aaron Scott equalised for Annfield on 75 minutes then in the dying minutes 18 year old substitute Craig Rice scored a fine individual goal to secure the win for Annfield.

Annfield will be looking to build on their good pre season form against Whickham on Wednesday 30th July 2003 at home with a 6.45pm kick off.