The Albany Northern League Today

Barnes scored twice in Saturday's 5-1 home win over Esh Winning to take his tally for the season to an amazing 37, and with Shildon still in four competitions, then there is every chance that Jack Downing's record of 61 goals, set in 1937 when Shildon clinched their fourth Northern League title, might fall.

Shildon have a possible 26 games to go in what has already been a memorable season and boss Ray Gowan said: "He's going like a train at the moment.

"There are times when he's hardly in the game, then suddenly the ball is in the back of the net.

"He's got quite a bit of pace, and he has the knack of being in the right place at the right time.

"He's done brilliantly so far this season and he can only get better."

Gowan, meanwhile, is seeking to strengthen his squad, especially as he has now lost wing back Keith Emmerson, who has decided to pursue a career in the military police. He has his eyes on a UniBond League player who has Football League experience.

Shildon have turned down Oadby's suggestion to play their FA Vase third round tie on Sunday, December 14 in order to avoid a clash with Leicester City's Premiership clash. Shildon are arranging subsidised transport to Leicestershire for their fans.

Crook Town have appointed Alan Oliver as their new manager.

Oliver met the Crook committee on Tuesday night at the Millfield, and was offered the job. Crook chairman Steve Buddle said: "We're very fortunate to have a manager of his calibre in charge. He watched us play last Saturday, and he knows where we need strengthening."

Oliver was previously in charge of First Division West Auckland, and takes over from Vince Kirkup, who was sacked last week. He is the third manager Crook have had this season. However, caretaker manager Les Langley will be in charge for tomorrow's game at Consett.

Northern League chairman Mike Amos is wondering what is going to happen next in the long running saga of the reshaping of the pyramid.

FA official Steve Parkin, who had the responsibility of looking after the national league system re-organisation, was handed his P45 by his employers last week, only a few months after another official who was looking after the pyramid, Greg Fee, also departed.

Amos said: "There used to be three people looking after the pyramid, and now there's only one, who was previously looking after our level and below.

"It's a real mess, and a quagmire which everybody seems to be sinking deeper and deeper into. It is a really chaotic exercise."

The FA have appointed former West Ham and England star Trevor Brooking as director of football development, but whether he becomes involved in the non league re-organisation is open to debate.

Mike Appleby, who could now find himself with more responsibility, is due to meet the Northern League clubs at a special meeting soon.

And in a further development, the FA has decided to refer the Ryman League's objections about the proposed new set up to arbitration, instead of going to court. The FA is worried that a long drawn out court case could wreck the re-organisation plans ahead of the 2004-05 season.

Seaham Red Star manager Peter Mulcaster has accused some of his players of not having respect for the club.

Seaham dropped into the relegation fight last Saturday when they lost 2-0 at home to Murton, and Mulcaster said: "Some players just aren't responding, and last Saturday's defeat was the final straw with some of them as far as I'm concerned.

"I've been here for over a month now, and some players just don't have respect for the club, or the people who run it. They are being too selfish. There are going to be some wholesale changes in the next few weeks."

Evenwood have announced that Alan Murray, a director of C and A Leisure, has agreed to become club chairman in place of Craig Latcham, who resigned during the summer. "We are delighted to be able to formally announce the appointment of Alan as our new chairman", said manager Ken Houlahan. "He is ambitious and enthusiastic and his enthusiasm, energy, support and expertise will be vital at this stage of the club's development."

Third Division Carlisle United have joined the chase for Jarrow Roofing striker Paul Chow.

The Cumbrians have been clearing the decks in recent weeks, and they feel Chow has the potential to lift them away from the bottom of the Football League.

Chow played against Stockport Reserves last week, and Roofing boss Richie McLoughlin said; "Paul really wants to make a go if it in the Football League. We've also heard that Scottish club Queen of the South are having a look."

Roofing, meanwhile, are pressing ahead with their application for the UniBond League.

"We've spoken to the UniBond League and we're waiting for them to confirm that they're going to inspect our facilities. We are an ambitious club, and we're trying to move on."

Second Division basement club Shotton have appointed David Hall as assistant manager to Stan Cummins. Hall, who has coached and managed at several Northern League clubs, watched Shotton in action before accepting the post.

Cummins said: "Dave is very infectious, and has been around the Northern League for a long time." Shotton are currently seven points behind everybody else after losing to Crook last weekend.

Crook striker David Snow has returned to the club.

Snow had a disagreement with previous boss Vince Kirkup and left, but returned when Kirkup parted company with the club last week. And the club were grateful last Saturday, because Snow score his second hat-trick of the season in the 4-0 home win over Shotton last Saturday - a result which lifted Crook out of the relegation zone.

Chester-le-Street general manager Joe Burlison admitted that he was grateful that their match was abandoned at Bedlington last Saturday. Chester were trailing 4-0 at half time when suddenly one row of floodlights went out, and despite the efforts of home officials to repair them, the match had to be abandoned. Burlison said: "We had the proverbial prayer mat out. We were losing 4-0, and didn't really deserve it, because we had two goals ruled out for offside ourselves." No new date has yet been set for the re-arranged game.

Washington manager John Oliver believes his team's confidence is lowly returning after their 4-3 win at fellow strugglers Marske last Saturday. Washington were fourth bottom before start of play, but victory lifted them up four places, although they have played more games than all the other teams in trouble. Oliver said: "Things are steadily settling down now, and the confidence of the players is steadily growing. If we can get Darryl Smith and Paul Robinson back from injury, then hopefully it can get even better. We have now won three out of our last four games."

Durham manager Billy Cruddas' blast at the circumstances of his team's postponed game at Penrith last Saturday has had officials around the League checking their rule books.

Durham discovered that their match was postponed when they were less than ten minutes away from the ground, with the match referee describing the conditions as dangerous, an opinion which Cruddas strongly disagreed with.

The league rules book states that the referee should consider the existing condition of the playing surface in conjunction with the prevailing weather conditions, the views of the home club groundsman in terms of local knowledge, the manpower available to the home club to carry out any necessary work to make the ground playable, whether or not the ground is dangerous (for example frost) and whether or not conditions are, or could turn farcical.

One note at the end of the rule is ironic as far as Durham are concerned: "There are far less problems with a postponed game if the visitors have not travelled."

However, there is no provision in the rule for the referee to consult the visitors. Cruddas claimed that his views should have been sought before the referee called the game off.

Billingham Synthonia have discovered that they will be able to have an overnight stay ahead of their marathon trip to play Wellington near Hereford in the third round of the FA Vase. The competition rules state all journeys with a travelling time of five hours mean that no overnight stays can be deducted from the gate receipts, but Synners will be able to claim without any bother at all.

"The rules state that we're allowed a 45 minute stop on the journey, and we've calculated that the journey time is five hours and fifteen minutes, which means six hours in total. We've booked a hotel just outside Hereford, because the rules again state that we must stay at a hotel within a 30 mile radius of the ground. All this expense will cost both clubs a considerable amount of money. By the time we've taken transport costs into account, we estimate that both clubs could be looking at a joint loss of £1,600."

Horden manager Eddie Freeman has told his players to improve their discipline. Horden had two players, Craig Stephens and Micky Gough, dismissed in their 4-3 defeat at Jarrow Roofing last week, with Roofing scoring a late winner from the penalty spot.

"No matter how aggrieved the players might have felt at the time, they can't throw elbows and vilify referees," he said.

Consett have lost midfielder Ben Thompson to Wearside League club Annfield Plain.

Durham City manager Billy Cruddas could miss his side's home game with Brandon tomorrow in order to look at Durham's next FA Vase opponents, Leamington, who play in the Midlands Combination.

The third round FA Vase ties involving the north east clubs are; Wellington v Billingham Synthonia, Billingham Town v Lincoln Moorlands, Desborough v Guisborough, Jarrow Roofing v Eastwood Town, Morpeth v Colne, Warrington v West Allotment, Mossley v Whitley Bay, Leamington v Durham City, Oadby v Shildon. Games to be played on December 13th

The revised draw for the third round of the Northern League Cup is: Alnwick v South Shields, Brandon United v Murton, Esh Winning v Northallerton, Penrith v Marske United, Washington v Billingham Synthonia, Dunston v Whickham, Durham v Thornaby, Washington Nissan v Morpeth.

Ties to be played in January.