Dunston have announced that long-serving manager Bobby Scaife is to quit at the end of the season after a decade in charge.

The former Middlesbrough player and Whitby manager took over at Federation Park in 1997 since when he has brought several pieces of silverware to the club and become arguably the most successful current manager in the league.

But he has now decided to call it a day and Dunston chairman Malcolm James said: "Bobby had a meeting with the committee a few weeks ago, and said that he had been thinking of retiring for a couple of seasons.

"He said he would go there and then if we wanted him to, but we persuaded him to stay until the end of the season. We are absolutely delighted with what he's achieved for us, and considering that he lives in Teesside, it shows his commitment at being prepared to travel up and down the A19 for matches and training.

"You have to admire what he's done - he's brought some good players to the club, we've won the league twice, the league cup four times, and he's taken us to the fourth qualifying round of the FA Cup. His record has probably only been bettered by Bedlington during the time he's been here, but he's always won some sort of trophy, be it the league, league cup, or Cleator Cup.

"It would be great to finish as high up the league as possible, just for Bobby. There might be a lot to do if we are to win the league, but it would be great for him to go out with a flourish."

It looks as though Scaife has a chance of landing the League Cup, after Dunston won 4-1 at West Auckland in midweek.

Scaife will be replaced by his assistant Perry Briggs, and he will helped by senior player Billy Irwin. Briggs has been a player and assistant manager at Dunston for eight years.

Northern League clubs could be scattered far and wide in the fourth round of the FA Vase.

Three clubs are definitely through, while two face each other for a place in the last 16.

West Auckland, who won at Gedling in Nottinghamshire last Saturday, now face double the journey to Oakwood-based VCD Athletic from the Kent league. VCD is an abbreviation for Vickers, Crayford and Dartford, and were founded during the First World War at the Vickers Armaments factory, when they had seven Arsenal players in the team.

West Auckland coach Phil Owers had watched Gedling in action and manager David Bayles said: "It looks as if Phil has a canny trip ahead of him this time."

The game of the round as far as the North-East is concerned will be the all-ANL tie between Billingham Synthonia and Newcastle Blue Star at Central Avenue. Synners secretary Graham Craggs said: "When you reach the last 32 of a national competition, you would prefer a home tie against opposition from another league. At least we have home advantage."

Blue Star secretary Jimmy Anderson expressed the same sentiments: "We would have preferred to miss another Northern League side, but at least there is one club from the league into the last 16."

Two North-East clubs still have third round games this weekend before they can contemplate away games in the fourth round. If Newcastle Benfield overcome Castle Vale tomorrow, then they will have the longest possible trip to Truro City in Cornwall. Truro are third in the Western League, but have dropped only two points in their 11 league games this season, and have beaten St Blazey, Bitton and Lymington in the competition so far.

By comparison, Whitley Bay won't have as far to go if they beat Coalville in their re-arranged game tomorrow they must go to Hellenic League club Slimbridge in Gloucestershire.

Ties are to be played on Jan. 20.

Shildon manager Gary Forrest has lamented a great chance for Shildon to reach the last 32 of the FA Vase.

After beating holders Nantwich in the second round, hopes were high that the Railwaymen would beat Retford last Saturday but after leading 2-0 at one point they went down 4-3.

"We went from one extreme to the other," said Forrest.

"We were well on top in the first half, but in the second half we totally backed off. The players have got to learn not to drop their concentration and attitude.

"I thought, as well that, one or two of our players bottled it, which was surprising considering the result in the previous round. If we'd scored a third goal at 2-0, then it would have been game over. We have missed a great opportunity to reach the last 32."

Retford were given an away tie in the next round, at Flixton, who beat Durham City 4-1 last Saturday.

Sunderland RCA are not getting carried away by their sudden burst of form.

The league's bottom club has won three out of their last five league matches to put them just three points behind second bottom Alnwick, and a real chance of getting out of the bottom two.

"We feel a bit more confident about things now," said secretary Colin Wilson.

"But there is still a long way to go, and it's the sort of form we have to show to get out of trouble."

Whether there will be any relegation to the Northern Alliance or Wearside League this season remains to be seen because of the possibility of clubs leaving for the UniBond League, but Wilson said: "We want to avoid relegation by winning matches, and not relying on clubs leaving the league."

Consett manager Kenny Lindoe is trying to strengthen his squad after their shock FA Vase exit last Saturday.

The Vase defeat by Causeway United means Consett had failed to win in four successive matches and Lindoe said: "It was a big disappointment to go out, but sometimes incidents change games, such as David Johnson's red card.

"But in three weeks, our season has taken a downturn, and it shows that we're maybe two or three players short."

Stokesley boss Ted Watts has revealed he blasted his players after the match against Esh Winning on Saturday - even though they won.

The league newcomers won 3-1 to keep them comfortably in mid-table, but Watts said: "I was very pleased with the first half performance, but we were abysmal in the second half.

"I wanted the players to have a good 20 minutes at the start of the second half, but they switched off and let Esh back into the game.

"It's all about attitude, and I'm afraid in the second half on Saturday it wasn't good enough from some players. If the players do well, then they're happy to take the credit, but when they play badly, they have to be big enough to accept the criticism. If Esh had got back to 2-2, then they would have beaten us.

"I praised the players for the way they approached the game at Spennymoor a fortnight ago, even though we lost - but they must appreciate why I'm criticising them after a victory. We must be more consistent, because we're too up and down at the moment - and some of it is to do with attitude."

While only three Northern League clubs have applied to join the UniBond League at the end of the season, 12 have said they want to be promoted from the Northern Counties East League.

Those 12 are: Armthorpe, Arnold, Carlton, Garforth, Glapwell, Liversedge, Mickleover, Pickering, Retford, Selby, Sheffield and Sutton Town. Another 12 from the North West Counties League are also keen, they are: Bacup Borough, Colne, Congleton, Curzon Ashton, FC United of Manchester, Flixton, Maine Road, Nantwich, Newcastle Town, Salford City, Squires Gate, and Trafford.

Bishop Auckland Referees Society is holding a coaching course for referees beginning on Monday, January 8 at Spennymoor Catholic Club at 7.30pm.

Details are available from Ernie Minto on 01388 814183, and Terry Farley on 01325 313647.

Esh Winning's second division game with Brandon on Boxing Day will kick off at 1pm and not 11am.