Northrn League

Under the new rules, clubs are only allowed to sign foreign players in transfer windows before the start of the season and in mid-January, and already one UniBond League club has hit a snag.

Bradford Park Avenue have tried to sign one of their former players who wants to return to the club from Australia, but they have been told that the signing cannot go ahead until the next transfer window in January.

Another UniBond League club, Colwyn Bay, has been told that even though it plays in Wales, they cannot sign players from the League of Wales, although they are still allowed to sign players from English clubs.

The ruling is therefore understood to mean that, for example, a Northern League club cannot sign a player from Scottish club Gretna, or vice versa.

However, as yet, there appears to be no indication about stopping clubs signing players who are free agents.

Tow Law have signed striker Willie Moat from Bedlington.

Moat was part of the team which helped Bedlington to their fifth league title last season, but has found his first team opportunities limited since the arrival of striker Andy Fletcher from Dunston during the summer.

"Willie's experience should be a big help to us," said Tow Law manager Graeme Forster.

Billingham Synthonia keeper John Mohun nearly missed Saturday's 4-0 win at Shildon - because of an earring.

During the warm-up before the game, the match referee noticed that Mohun was wearing an earring, and under the laws of the game, asked him to remove it.

However, Mohun said that he was unable to, but was told that unless he could, he wouldn't be able to play in the game for safety reasons.

After much pulling and tugging, the former Marske keeper managed to remove the offending item.

Under the laws of the game, players cannot tape earrings like they do finger rings, and must remove them.

Former FA Premiership referee Alan Wilkie, who is hoping to publish a book soon, had to run the line at last week's game between Chester-le-Street and Shildon following an injury to one of the match officials.

However, he was back in his assessors role for last Saturday's game at Dean Street between Shildon and Billingham Synthonia.

Easington striker Chris Coates could be on his way to Grimsby Town.

Coates, who has already been on the books of Manchester United and Wimbledon, has been playing for the second division side since the start of the season, but soon could be off on his travels again.

Manager Tony Metcalfe said: "We're doing each other a favour at the moment."

Washington Nissan manager Gavin Liddle is delighted with his new signing Jon Wightman.

The striker has scored three times in two games since he joined the Second Division club a fortnight ago, including two against his old club Kennek Ryhope CA last Saturday in the 4-1 win.

"Kennek asked me to leave him out of the team, as part of the deal, but I refused!," said Liddle. "I'm pleased I did."

Dunston assistant manager Perry Briggs admits that Dunston's title hopes are slipping away, even at this early stage of the season. Dunston have won just one league game since the start of the season, and Saturday's 2-1 home defeat by Whitley Bay left them in the bottom six. "We can't afford to lose many more games, because we're lagging behind," he said. "We need a run in the FA Cup to give us a boost."

Dunston, meanwhile, have failed to sign Durham full back Kenny Cramman, but are still hopeful of a breakthrough.

West Auckland have arranged their Durham Challenge Cup tie against Sunderland for Monday, September 30 (7.30pm). Shildon are due to play Billingham Synthonia, who beat them 4-0 in the league last Saturday, at Central Avenue the following night.

Durham City Supporters Club have their inaugural meeting at the Archibald Stadium on Sunday, September 29 (8pm).

The club wants to promote the football club, develop existing support and to increase the supporter base. There will also be an open forum and a quiz.

Two games in the Albany Northern League cup were settled by the golden goal during the week.

The league has agreed to switch Evenwood's home game with Whickham next week to Tuesday night at Whickham because of the ongoing problems with Evenwood's floodlights.

Newcastle Blue Star beat Guisborough 2-1, thanks to a goal from Mark Armstrong in the first period of extra time. Ross Greenhill put Star into the lead, and Guisborough levelled in the last minute with a Darren Mowbray penalty.

Both sides had a man sent off for fighting - Guisborough's Garry Hinchley and Star's Andy Cunningham.

Murton also won in the first period of extra time, thanks to a strike from Keith Hutchinson after 93 minutes. Adrian Winder put Murton into the lead after 31 minutes, with Steve Osborne levelling for Northallerton.

Billingham Synthonia beat West Auckland 3-0.

James Bridge scored from the spot for the second time in two games after 31 minutes, then Tony Wood and Andy Ripley added further goals in the second half.

Billingham Town crushed Easington 6-1. They were 4-0 up at half time thanks to efforts from Mark Scott, Richie Storr and George Woodhouse (2), then in the second half Storr scored a penalty and Carl Chillingsworth got the sixth.

Prudhoe beat Chester-le-Street 4-1. Lee Maddison (2), Dale Telfer and Gary McDonald were the scorers, with recent signing Steve Cuggy scoring a late consolation.

Willington were beaten 4-0 at home by Horden.

Evenwood's Curt Warburton scored two of his side's goals as they won 5-1 at Eppleton, while Chris Hodgson also scored twice in Consett's 5-1 win at Washington Nissan.

Durham City were held to a 1-1 draw at home by Jarrow Roofing in the league on Tuesday night. Paul Chow fired Jarrow into the lead, with Micky Dunwell equalising for Durham.

Esh Winning are without a league win since the opening day of the season after they were beaten 4-0 at home by Morpeth.

First Division leading scorers (league only): Andy McKenna (Tow Law) 7, John Milner (Bedlington) 6, Paul Chow (Jarrow Roofing) 6, Carl Chillingsworth (Billingham Town) 5, Steve Huggins (Brandon) 5, Micky Dunwell (Durham City) 5, Tony Wood (Billingham Synthonia) 4 Andy Fletcher (Bedlington) 4, Craig Nelson (Jarrow Roofing) 3, David Taylor (Shildon) 3, Neil Burn (Shildon) 3, Paul Donnelly (Washington) 3, Roy Allen (West Auckland ) 3.

Second Division: Adrian Winder (Murton) 5, Chris Taylor (Willington) 5, Lee Dixon (Easington) 4, Adam Johnston (Nissan) 4, Tommy Scott (Whickham) 4, Stuart Morris (Seaham Red Star) 3, Wayne Henderson (Kennek Ryhope) 3 John Wightman (Washington Nissan) 3, Kevin Hay (Whickham) 3

FA Carlsberg second qualifying round draw, on September 21: Guisborough v Darwen, Woodley Sports v Horden, West Allotment v Warrington, Squires Gate v Brandon, Thornaby v Willington, Kennek Ryhope CA v Northallerton, Esh Winning v Whickham, Penrith v Stand Athletic, Bridlington Town v North Shields, Newcastle Blue Star v Benfield Saints, Alnwick v Ashington, Nelson v Evenwood, Morpeth v Washington, Peterlee v Maine Road, Poulton Victoria v Seaham Red Star, Liversedge v Prudhoe, Washington Nissan v Flixton, Shildon v Glasshoughton, Murton v Rossington Main, Brodsworth v Shotton

TOMORROW'S FIXTURES, Albany Northern League Division One: Billingham Synthonia v Washington, Consett v Newcastle Blue Star, Marske v Brandon, Whitley Bay v Shildon.

Division Two: Easington v Alnwick, Eppleton v Thornaby, Northallerton v South Shields, Norton v Whickham, Seaham Red Star v Kennek Ryhope CA, Washington Nissan v Evenwood, Willington v Murton.

FA Cup first qualifying round: Bedlington v Ossett Albion, Chester-le-Street v Penrith, Dunston v Selby, Durham City v Worsbrough Bridge, Esh Winning v Harrogate RA, Great Harwood v Crook Town, Guiseley v Hebburn, Horden v Shotton, Jarrow Roofing v Billingham Town, Morpeth v Guisborough, Peterlee v Louth United, Tow Law v Matlock, West Auckland v Chorley.