The Northern League is to hand out £15,000 worth of equipment to its clubs over the next two seasons.

The league management committee met last week to discuss what to do with the FA administration grant which has accumulated over the last couple of seasons.

Chairman Mike Amos said: "Unlike other leagues who prefer to pay some of their officials, we've decided to hand the money back to the clubs.

"We're going to arrange for them to receive five balls per season for the next two seasons, all of which will have the league's logo on them."

It is a good gesture by the league, because in other leagues, clubs are expected to use a brand new ball, bought direct from the suppliers, in games.

And at almost £50 a time, that could be very costly over the season.

Each club will be given five Ultramax Mitre footballs at the start of the next two seasons.

The league has decided to extend the season to May 1.

Two full Saturday programmes have been wiped out because of the bad weather since the turn of the year, while midweek programmes have also been badly hit.

The league has now decided to add an extra week to the season, which will be good news for clubs like Billingham Town, who still have 15 league games to play, plus the Durham Challenge cup final on Easter Monday.

Benfield Saints have set themselves a target of 25 points from the last 36 to make sure of promotion.

Saints are currently third in the Second Division, four points ahead of their nearest challengers for the third promotion spot.

General manager Bob Morton said: "We know we mustn't get carried away and think that because we have a little gap, then we've won promotion.

"We have to forget about Ashington and Consett, because they are just about there. We must concentrate on making sure that we finish above of the rest of them."

Shildon have had three points deducted by the league for fielding Danny Key against Jarrow Roofing while he was suspended by Durham FA.

Key, who has been suffering from a hernia problem, was given the go-ahead to play by a specialist, but officials in charge of the team while secretary Mike Armitage was on FA business, weren't aware that he was suspended. Shildon lost the match 3-2, so the game doesn't have to be replayed.

Washington Nissan have been fined £50 by the league for fielding Neil Hill in their League Cup defeat against Morpeth.

The league will inspect the grounds of Second Division clubs who are in line for promotion on Saturday, April 10. The clubs concerned have all been advised that if their grounds aren't up to First Division standard on the day, they won't be promoted. The league will also inspect the grounds of the clubs wanting promotion from the Wearside League and Northern Alliance the week before.

Consett striker Neil Hood has told the club that he's packed in the game.

Hood dropped out of the squad just hours before Consett were due to play at Newcastle Blue Star a fortnight ago, and manager Ray Lish said: "He's told us that he's left the club because he's unable to keep his place in the side."

Meanwhile, Consett have formally appealed to Durham FA against Peter Kirkham's sending off at South Shields three weeks ago.

Marske United assistant manager Peter Bell thinks striker Lee Alexander is back to his best form.

The youngster, who was Marske's leading scorer last season, scored a hat-trick at Tow Law recently, and Bell said: "That has done his confidence the world of good.

"He's been doing all the right things recently, and even though he hasn't been scoring, he has been working really hard. He's never stopped giving 120 per cent."

Alexander now has nine league goals this season, the same as former teammate Dave Lawson, who left the club three months ago.

Shotton manager Vince Kirkup still doesn't accept that his club will be relegated at the end of the season.

Shotton's cause looks hopeless as after last weekend they stood nine points away from safety, but Kirkup said: "The Craven Cup win against Evenwood gave everybody a boost.

"We have several games left which we are capable of winning, and there's a confidence and spirit in the team which will keep us going.

"We won't accept defeat until it's mathematically impossible."

Shotton's remaining games are: South Shields, Whickham, Consett and Crook at home, Seaham, Newcastle Blue Star, Northallerton, Willington, Kennek Ryhope and Prudhoe away.

Kennek Ryhope CA striker Jonny Wightman will probably be staying at the club instead of moving to New Zealand.

Wightman, who scored seven in a game against Easington earlier in the season, received an offer to play in New Zealand.

However, it is understood there are problems and secretary Owen Haley said: "At the moment, the contract isn't what he thought it would be."

The latest performance of the week awards are: 24th January; Morpeth for their 3-1 home win over Durham City; 31st January, no award because of the bad weather; 7th February Guisborough for their 3-2 win at Durham; 14th February; Penrith for their 2-0 win at Whitley Bay; 21st February: Billingham Town for their 2-1 away win at Bedlington.

Chester-le-Street are going to try Friday night football - they have brought forward their home game with Whitley Bay from Saturday, March 13 to the night before.

Billingham Town have four keepers on their books, just a fortnight after manager Alan Robinson thought he only had one.

When first choice keeper Darren Collier faced a six-week suspension, Robinson signed teenage keeper Danny Molyneux from Darlington.

However, Molyneux was then needed for a youth team game on the same day as Town played Durham City, so Robinson then signed Mark Woolnough, who has played in the league for Thornaby and Norton.

However, Robinson was then given the opportunity to sign Martin Kearney, who started the season in the UniBond League with Spennymoor.