Washington Nissan manager Gavin Liddle has blasted his side following their 6-1 defeat to Thornaby in the Craven Cup last week.

Liddle was furious at his players' lack of effort and has promised to make changes ahead of their next match.

"I was very disappointed in the attitude of the players," he said. "The players were very lethargic, and approached the game in the wrong manner.

"We're good enough and we've got loads of ability, but some of the players just didn't care. Why should I run around picking players up and sorting a team out when that sort of thing happens?

"Nobody has got a divine right to be in the side, and there will be changes."

EPPLETON have had an approach for one of their players, from Welsh club Barry Town.

The League of Wales club, who are second in the table, have shown an interest in forward Michael Dibie, who recently joined from Seaham Red Star. Barry are owned by former Wimbledon player John Fashanu.

But Eppleton boss Wilf Constantine has his doubts about whether Dibie will be prepared to move over 300 miles to Wales. "When we played at Hebburn recently, he got lost on the Metro going to the game. What will he be like in Wales?"

Billingham Town could ask the League to play their remaining home fixtures on Saturdays only after one the club's floodlight pylons was blown down in the gales last week. Allan Robinson said: "It looks as if it will be out of action for a while. "We've only got six home games left in the league, so we're going to ask if we can play them on Saturdays."

An extension to the Northern League season is becoming more and more likely.

Only two games were played last Saturday, at Bedlington and West Auckland, leaving some clubs, such as Morpeth and Dunston, who have a considerable number of games to play, idle once again.

Chairman Mike Amos has already hinted that the league will look at the fixture congestion, and he said earlier this week: "Our next league meeting isn't until February 27, so the picture might be a little clearer by then.

"Historically we aren't keen on extensions, because while some clubs have fearful backlogs, others might be waiting five weeks for a game at the end of the season." The season is due to end on the last Saturday in April, but it's looking more and more likely that the season will be extended until May 3.

Consett manager Colin Carr is desperate for more victories to help the club climb away from the relegation zone.

Consett beat Peterlee 2-1 last week to put them fourth from bottom - their highest position for some time - and Carr said: "The three points against Peterlee were really important, because this season we've had a habit of doing well against the top half teams and then falling against the bottom half teams.

"We need to string a few good results together, especially as we have Washington, Blue Star and Chester-le-Street to play."

Prudhoe manager Steve Smith knows that February will be a crucial month for his team.

After climbing out of the relegation zone with a couple of good results, Prudhoe are now back in the thick of the battle.

"We have an important month coming up," said Smith.

"We have a lot of home games to play, with some of the other teams in trouble coming to us. We went five games on the bounce unbeaten, but we then lost three in a row to the odd goal.

"In a month's time, we could be out of trouble, or still in the thick of it. The players have to take the responsibility."

Esh Winning manager Barry Fleming believes his young team can only get better.

Esh, promoted last season from the Second Division, lost 3-0 at champions Bedlington last Saturday, and Fleming said: "Another year's experience will do this team the world of good.

"Apart from two players, all of them are under the age of 24.

"We're playing attractive football, but we're getting caught in certain areas. It's a learning curve for them."

Prudhoe are at the top of the League's Good Conduct Table up to the end of December.

Despite being in the bottom three, Prudhoe have picked up 34 disciplinary points and no fines; six less than second-placed Dunston.

Thornaby have a good lead in the second division with 22 points, 14 less than Shotton.

The clubs who were found guilty of playing ineligible players earlier in the season were all fined £50, which appears to have put them out of the running for an award at the end of the season.

Billingham Synthonia's home game with Dunston in the Durham Challenge Cup was postponed on Tuesday night and has been re-arranged for Wednesday, February 12, kick-off 7.30pm.

Horden twice tried to play their home tie against Birtley, on first Tuesday and then Wednesday, but on both occasions a frozen pitch forced the match to be postponed. The Horden game has now been re-arranged for Tuesday, and the Billingham game the following night.