Ferryhill Athletic are determined to play in the Wearside League next season even though the competition has declared the Dene Bank recreational ground unfit.

The club is currently in negotiation with Sunningdale Leisure Centre, Shildon, where they played their recent fixture against Boldon CA.

"Nothing is agreed but we are hopeful that we can come to an arrangement to play next season's fixtures at the Leisure Centre," said manager Mark Fanning.

"Regardless of the outcome, the club is determined to keep going and long term we would like to play our games in the town. The Darlington Road ground is still there but it would take an awful lot of work to put it right.

"The League has ruled out Dene Bank and our best hope seems to lie at Shildon.

Everybody is working hard to make sure that we have a home when the season starts in August," added Fanning.

The side meanwhile, is now just three points better off than Jarrow at the bottom of the table. The Tynesiders, who gained just two points from their first 19 fixtures, have won their last two matches and Fanning admits that they now have a fight on their hands to avoid being wooden spoonists for the second successive season.

"We are in a dog fight with Jarrow and there is a lot to play for. Not only have we league points up for grabs but we are through to the semi finals of the Monkwearmouth Charity Cup and will be away to either Birtley Town or North Shields.

"The club is fighting both on and off the field and in difficult times like these it is pleasing that our main sponsor, Llewellyns Cafe Bar, other sponsors and supporters are sticking with us," Fanning said.

Darlington RA's phenomenal unbeaten sequence extended when they reached the final of the Sunderland Shipowners' Cup. They needed penalties, though, before seeing off the challenge from Cleadon SC after the sides had shared four goals following extra time.

"Strangely enough, before the penalty shoot-out only one player volunteered yet we ended 5-4 winners. Both sides missed one spot kick and after Robbie Howman had saved Cleadon's sixth penalty, Stephen Sinclair stepped up to secure our place in the final," said RA secretary Martyn Jackson.

Players and supporters alike are just a little confused with the Darlington side at the moment. Of the 11 who started last week's game, six have the Christian name of either Steven or Stephen.

"When the players are shouting at one another and onlookers are encouraging the team, it is confusing to say the least. I can never remember a side having so many players with the same name," quipped Jackson.

While Wolviston celebrated victory in the quarter final of the Shipowners' Cup, Stanley United rued a missed opportunity. They led by two goals at the halfway stage and had played so well in the opening half they were confident of making it into the semis.

"Full credit to Wolviston for turning around a two-goals deficit and winning 3-2 but I thought we threw the game away. We were very disappointed and the players were down since we thought we had done enough to win," bemoaned Stanley manager Vince Kirkup.

Tomorrow's fixtures

Wearside League: Boldon CA v Annfield Plain, Ferryhill Athletic v Ryhope CW (at Dene Bank), Jarrow v Barnard Castle Glaxo, Redcar Town v New Marske, Stanley United v Wolviston, Stokesley SC v Whitehaven.

Monkwearmouth Charity Cup: North Shields v Birtley Town, Darlington RA v Harton and Westoe.

Wearside League Cup: Windscale v Cleadon SC.

P W D L F A Pts

Boldon 25 14 4 7 57 38 46

Stokesley 20 14 1 5 60 35 43

North Shields 25 13 3 9 60 33 42

Darlington RA 23 12 5 6 53 26 41

Windscale 24 12 5 7 43 29 41

Birtley Town 18 12 3 3 66 23 39

New Marske 20 12 2 6 50 30 38

Wolviston 19 11 4 4 52 33 37

Annfield Plain 25 10 4 11 45 64 34

Stanley United 22 9 5 8 55 53 32

Whitehaven 20 9 4 7 29 32 31

Harton and Westoe 22 7 6 9 44 51 27

Redcar Town 21 6 5 10 46 50 23

Ryhope 25 6 4 15 37 55 22

Cleadon 22 6 4 12 28 61 22

Barnard Castle 20 5 3 12 47 51 18

Ferryhill Athletic 20 3 2 15 23 80 11

Jarrow 21 2 2 17 22 73 8