Newcastle Benfield Saints general manager Bob Morton thinks more Northern League clubs should be playing on Friday nights.

Saints' attendances are affected because they are in the shadow of their neighbours at St James Park and Morton said: "We think more games should be played on Fridays, because we just can't compete.

"I'm sure that if games were arranged for Fridays, they would be more attractive to spectators."

Friday football has gone down well in the League, with several clubs experimenting with Friday kick offs.

The league can't force teams to play on Fridays, and matches can only be switched if both clubs agree.

Peterlee have placed striker Paul Hinton on the transfer list at his own request. Hinton has been a regular at Peterlee for several seasons, and last Saturday scored both goals in their 2-1 home win over Brandon.

Manager Andy Toman has played in recent games, and he said: "We've been struggling for a team recently because of injuries, and I've played in the last two matches. I'm really suffering for it."

Kennek Ryhope CA are delighted with their pairing with Sunderland Reserves in the next round of the Durham Challenge Cup.

Secretary Owen Haley said; "We're hoping our ground attendance record might be broken. This is a Sunderland daft area, and if they field some first team players, then we're hoping for a big crowd. Our highest is around 1,200 for a friendly against Newcastle."

Jarrow Roofing striker Paul Chow set an individual club record when he hit six against Annfield Plain in the Durham Challenge Cup last Saturday.

Chow, the top scorer in the Northern League last season, also helped to set a new club record of 9-0, which was one better than their previous best - against Annfield Plain last season in the Durham Challenge Cup.

Apollo Ouedrago became the first player from Birkino Fasso to play in the Northern League last Saturday, but he finished on the losing side. Ouedrago played in goal for Norton, but they lost a 5-4 thriller to Prudhoe.

Willington chairman John Phelan believes there should be fourth officials in Northern League games.

Last month, Bob Morton, the general manager of Newcastle Benfield Saints, suggested that fourth officials should be appointed for Vase games after the match referee had to be abandon the game because of injury.

And now, three weeks after a dispute involving Willington boss Alan Shoulder and the match officials resulted in a game being abandoned, Phelan has suggested the introduction of fourth officials.

"The problems which Benfield had in the Vase, and the one we had in the league could have been sorted if fourth officials were there.

"Match referees have enough on their hands, by running the game, instead of having to control what's happening in the technical areas.

"A fourth official can do that, and leave the match referee to get on with the game. No wonder match referees make mistakes, because they have so much on their minds."

Bedlington joint manager Tony Lowery admitted that the club was devastated after their Vase defeat at Jarrow Roofing a fortnight ago.

Bedlington, beaten finalists in 1999, were hoping for a run towards the final, but fell at the first hurdle.

"I thought we dominated the game, but couldn't put the ball in the back of the net. Their keeper was easily the man of the match," said Lowery.

"We've still got a chance of winning the league, but we'll have to beat some very good teams.

"There's no way that we'll walk away from it. We've had eight good years, and in football you have to take the downs as well as the ups."

Billingham Town manager Alan Robinson is worried suspensions are going to cost his team this season.

Robinson is unhappy with some of his players, who have been dismissed this season, and are serving suspensions.

Stuart Jackson, Dave Turner, Carl Chillingsworth and Stuart Jackson are all serving, or have served, suspensions, and Robinson said: "Our lack of discipline is causing us problems.

"Not only are we without players, but we also have to reshuffle when players are banned. And then when other players are injured, we're stretched to the limit."

Prudhoe manager Gavin Liddle is satisfied with his team's progress.

After last Saturday's nail biting win at Norton - Prudhoe were 3-0 up at one point but only won 5-4 - Prudhoe are now in fifth place in the table.

Liddle said: "We've picked up some good momentum in recent weeks. In the month of October we've won four and drawn one out of five league games. If we can keep the momentum going, then we won't be far away at the end of the season.

"Early in the season, we were losing heavily, but we've slowly turned things around. We're not hammering teams, and last Saturday apart, we weren't conceding a lot."

Several players have recently been put on the transfer list at their own request; Tow Law's Phil Jones, David Angel of Shotton and Darren Liddle of Seaham Red Star.

Brandon keeper Barry Poskitt has appealed to Durham FA against his dismissal in the 9-0 defeat at Billingham Synthonia earlier this month, as well as defender David Johnson and physio Keith Glendenning, who were also dismissed in the same game.

Northallerton midfielder Anthony Roberts has been banned for 56 days by North Riding FA for a dismissal for alleged spitting in the opening game of the season against Evenwood. Roberts was originally suspended for 112 days, but the sentence was reduced by half on appeal.

The revised draw for the next round of the Durham Challenge Cup, to be played on or before November 15, is: Spennymoor v Wolviston, Hartlepool Reserves v Jarrow Roofing, Kennek Ryhope CA v Sunderland, Gateshead v Dunston, Billingham Town v Peterlee, Gateshead Reserves v Bishop Auckland, Shildon v Durham City, Chester-le-Street v Billingham Synthonia