Marske United have unsuccessfully asked the league to postpone today’s league cup semi final at Ashington because they are unable to field a strong team.

The game was arranged early last week when Ashington won their quarter final at Tow Law, but by then many of Marske’s players had made arrangements for today, thinking that they had a free day.

League officials turned Marske’s request down flat, which means that they now face the problem of finding a strong enough team to earn a final place at St James Park.

Manager Ted Watts said; “Several players made arrangements with their families thinking that we had a spare day. We asked the league to change the game, but they refused. We’re trying to work miracles, people have booked to go away and we’ve got a long list of injuries. “ Marske are also saying that Ashington were made aware of the possible fixture before the Colliers played Tow Law last week, but they only discovered after that game on Twitter last Tuesday night.

If Austin Johnston can score a goal similar to the one he scored at Penrith last Saturday, then Marske might not need to worry about the strength of their team.

Johnston scored with a well-judged effort over the keeper’s head from the halfway line when his team were trailing to an early goal by Martyn Coleman following a mistake by keeper Robbie Deane.

Penrith went back in front through Coleman on the hour, but veteran Jamie Clarke levelled with two minutes left from a free kick.

Team Northumbria now need to win their last two matches to have a chance of avoiding relegation after fourth bottom Bedlington won 2-1 at Newton Aycliffe.

The home side started well enough when Tom Atkinson scored from a Stuart Owen pass and then Danny Mellanby hit the bar.

Bedlington missed a couple of chances themselves before Sam Walton headed in from a corner just before half time, and then Walton got the winner when he pounced on a poor back pass by John Close and slotted the ball past keeper Andrew Spence.

Newton Aycliffe manager Allan Oliver said; “We should have got something out of the game, their keeper kept them in the game in the second half.”

FA Vase finalists West Auckland drew 1-1 at Dunston UTS, but the main thing from West’s point of view was that nobody received a red card which would have ruled them out of the big day at Wembley on May 10th.

West won 1-0 at Dunston in the Vase quarter final when Dennis Knight scored the winner, and he headed West into the lead on this occasion on 38 minutes from an Alex Francis free kick.

Dunston levelled on the hour through Lee McAndrew from a Gary Ormston cross, and in the last minute Steve Preen missed an open goal.

Meanwhile, West striker Mattie Moffat has had an operation on a fractured cheekbone, and could play in at least one game this week.

Dunston UTS manager Billy Irwin said; “The lads put a great shift in and deserved to win. We missed some great chances.”

West Auckland manager Peter Dixon said; “I told the players to be wary of red cards and injuries. I was very happy with the first half performance, butwe lost a bit of momentum in the second half.”

Bishop Auckland drew 0-0 at Morpeth in a game of few chances.

Bishop Auckland joint manager Steve Riley said; “A draw was probably a fair result overall. Morpeth were the better side after the first 20 minutes without creating anything, but I felt after a change of shape we mostly controlled the game and created the better opportunities in the second half. We’re pleased with a clean sheet considering that we had a depleted squad.”

Morpeth manager Nick Gray said: “A draw was a fair result. I felt the first goal would have won it, but neither team could conjure a goal.”

Jarrow Roofing can clinch the third promotion spot in the second division if they win either of their last two matches against Willington and Whitehaven.

They nervously beat Heaton Stannington 1-0, the only goal coming after 13 minutes when Paul Gardiner set up Andy Appleby to score his 24th league goal of the season.

Heaton Stannington assistant manager Geoff Walker said; “Jarrow were probably better in the first half. We bossed the second half and pinned them back but couldn’t get the breaks. We were denied a penalty a good yard inside the box, but the ref gave a free kick instead.”

Jarrow Roofing manager Richie McLoughlin said; “The players were on top of their game today. They defended well as a team and the three points were well deserved.”

Roofing’s challengers for third, Seaham Red Star, finished their fixtures by only drawing 1-1 at Washington. James Fairley put Washington into the lead, but Dean Nicholson equalised for Seaham. Washington had Michael Coghlan sent off for two yellows, but they couldn’t break through again.

Seaham Red Star Mark Collingwood said; “We deserve promotion after our fantastic unbeaten run, but sometimes you don’t always get what you deserve. We will have another go next season.”

Birtley beat Chester-le-Street 3-1, with goals by Damon Reaks, Cameron Nichol and Matthew Lowrie. Robbie Draper had earlier equalised for Chester.

Chester-le-Street manager Colin Wake said; “We were beaten by a good young side who scored three well-worked goals. We had a spell when we equalised but it wasn’t to be. We weren’t poor, just beaten by the better side on the day.”

Whitehaven won 2-0 at Alnwick with goals by Matt Tymon and Greg Quayle.

Guisborough striker Danny Johnson, the leading scorer in the league this season, has gone on trial at Premiership club Cardiff City. Johnson and fellow striker Mikey Roberts have scored a century of goals between them in all competitions.

In the Evo-Stik League premier division, Whitby had a good 1-1 draw at home to leaders Chorley, Graeme Armstrong scoring their goal. Blyth lost 3-2 at Worksop after being 3-0 down at one point. Robbie Dale scored both their goals.