The Albany Northern League

The teenager has been a big hit since he broke into the side and scored an average of two goals per game, and his scoring feats have attracted the interest of several Football League clubs, including Darlington.

He had a week's trial at Feethams last month, but he has now decided to turn his back on the Football League, at least for the time being, and has started a job.

However, whether that will discourage the UniBond League clubs who are taking an interest in him remains to be seen.

His manager, Gavin Liddle, said: "It's too early yet for him to be thinking of moving further up the ladder - he can learn plenty about the game here."

Dunston assistant manager Perry Briggs believes they've finally turned the corner.

They hit a low when they were beaten 3-2 by Whitley Bay in the FA Carlsberg Vase a fortnight ago, but an excellent 4-0 win at Guisborough last Saturday in the league has boosted their spirits.

"A few harsh words were said after the Whitley Bay game, and in the dressing room before the Guisborough match," he said.

"The players responded well, but it's getting close to the point where we'll be having a big clearout.

"We're out of the FA Cup and out of the Vase, but we've still got a chance of winning the league.

"We need a couple of new faces to give us a boost."

Tow Law manager Graeme Forster thinks that inexperience is letting his side down.

Lawyers are going well in the table at the moment, but a combination of missed penalties and inexperience has cost them points.

"We've missed seven successive penalties," said Forster.

"It's at times like this when I wish Micky Bailey hadn't retired. Micky was excellent at penalties, and hardly missed. We've had 11 penalties this season, and Micky would be top scorer by now.

"Our inexperience is costing us games. In recent weeks, we've twice been in front deep in the second half, only to be pegged back. We were leading 2-0 at Ashington on Saturday, and last month were 3-2 up at West Auckland with just a couple of minutes left, and lost 4-3.

"Maybe if we had more experience in the team, then we would have shut up shop."

Seaham Red Star manager Wilf Constantine has set his side a safety target of 32 points from their remaining games.

Constantine is no stranger to relegation fights, having rescued Easington from the drop two years ago, but now he is facing the same task at Seaham, after taking over six weeks ago.

"We're looking to pick up at least 40 points, which means that we must win 11 of our remaining games," he said.

"If we can't do that, then we don't deserve to stop up.

"The spirit in the side is steadily improving, because when I took over it wasn't very good at all. Heads were going down a little bit too easily, but now the players are showing that they can battle, just as they did against Billingham Town last Saturday.

"The problem has been our involvement in cup competitions, and we haven't been able to field the same team twice.

"But now that we're out of the cups, we can try and field a settled side."

Brandon manager Kenny Lindoe won't hesitate to put striker Micky Cunningham in goal again.

Brandon's regular keeper, Ben Cole, was sent off in last week's Durham Challenge tie against Washington, for deliberate handball outside his area, so without a keeper on the bench, the call went out for one of the outfield players to go in goal.

"Micky went straight over and put the keeper's jersey on," said Lindoe. "There weren't many of the players on the shortlist, so Micky took the decision into his own hands.

"He did quite well - he kept a clean sheet for the rest of the game, so we might use him again!"

Brandon won the game 4-0.

Shildon's hopes of playing Penrith this Sunday in a league game as part of a day to commemorate their FA Cup tie with Oldham 40 years ago has had to be shelved, because Penrith are playing in a Cumberland County Cup.

And as Shildon are the odd team out in the Second Division, then they won't have a game at all.

They will now travel to Penrith on Tuesday night for what is sure to be an exciting top of the table game in the Second Division.

Evenwood's home game with Esh Winning on Saturday is their first home game of any sort on a Saturday this season. They have been drawn away so far in Saturday cup competitions, and the league's fixture programming has only given them midweek home games so far.

Willington have had their three point deduction cancelled by the league.

Willington were deducted three points for fielding a suspended player, Alan Ryder, earlier in the season, but the league has told them that they have been contacted by Northumberland FA, who have told them that the suspension was invalid.

The decision lifted Willington three places in the table away from the bottom.

Dunston have been fined £50 by the league after being found guilty of undesirable conduct.

Chairman Malcolm James and assistant manager Perry Briggs were instructed to appear in front of the Northern League after the club was fined £75 by Durham FA for recent misdemeanours.

Eppleton have been told that there will be no further action taken against them on a charge of undesirable conduct after an incident involving a spectator at a recent game. The club has already been fined £100, £75 of which was suspended, by Durham FA.

Horden pulled off a big surprise in the Durham Challenge Cup when they defeated Durham City 3-2 on Tuesday night.

The victory was even more merited considering that Horden were 3-2 down at one stage. Stuart Irvine and Lee Ludlow put Durham into the lead against the wind, but 16-year-old Ricky Ambler pulled a goal back for Horden after a mistake by Durham keeper Marc Riches.

Darren Hickey missed a penalty just on half time for Horden, but John Cowley was successful from the spot after the break. John Webster got the winner from a corner kick ten minutes from the end.

Dunston didn't make any mistakes against Hebburn, winning their delayed tie 2-0, thanks to two goals from Steve Mason.

The draw for the second round of the Albany Durham Challenge Cup is: Peterlee v South Shields, Dunston v Bishop Auckland, Jarrow Roofing v Horden , Gateshead v Brandon, Hartlepool v Crook Town, Willington v Easington, Billingham Town v New Birtley or Harton and Westoe, Chester-le-Street v Evenwood. Ties are due to be played before November 17th.

Bedlington are in second place in the league after they won 3-1 at Billingham Synthonia on Tuesday.

Synners took a first half lead when Glen Corkain set up Chris Fuller, and with the game swinging from end to end, held on to the lead until the last 15 minutes.

Willie Moat scored with a right foot shot, John Milner scored from close range, and with Synners pushing up for the equaliser in stoppage time, Moat broke away for the third