Liddle facing a tough task

Nissan, who are nine points clear at the top, have some of the clubs who are hard on their heels to play in the next few weeks.

"It's not going to be an easy month," he said.

"We have Thornaby, Penrith and Easington to play, so if we can pick up points from those games, then I'll be happy."

Tomorrow's game at Thornaby promises to be a ding-dong battle. Nissan have scored an average of at least three goals per game this season - including 13 against Willington - while Thornaby have lost just once, at home to Horden.

When Seaham Red Star manager Neil Hixon puts the name Peachey on his team sheet, he could mean any one from three.

Seaham recently set what is believed to be a Northern League record when they fielded three brothers in their team - Lee, Wayne and John Peachey.

Hixon took over in October, and the club has forced its way into the promotion reckoning thanks to a contribution from the Peachey family.

"Wayne was already at the club when I arrived," said Hixon.

"His brother, Neil, came and watched, but he'd packed in playing Northern League football when he was at South Shields. I persuaded him to come along to training, and he agreed to sign.

"The other brother, Lee, was released by Hartlepool during the summer, and trained with us for a spell. He went to Bishop Auckland, but he didn't play regular and he came back to us, so we signed him.

"Hopefully, they can all help the team move into the promotion contention."

Bedlington joint manager Tony Lowery says that his players are aiming for a sixth straight title.

Bedlington went through a bad patch in November when they lost in the FA Vase and drew three successive league games, but now they are firing on all cylinders again.

"The players are desperate to start playing after the enforced break," he said.

"They are now totally focused on trying to win the league again, and to get a good run going.

"The last four months of the season should be very exciting, but we need to remember that we're still only halfway, and lots of things can happen. But since we brought Roy Allen to the club from West Auckland, we've had a big lift.

"However, if we start getting complacent, then we'll get beat."

Tow Law are hoping that striker Andy McKenna will soon be fit again.

McKenna started the season at a blistering pace, and by the end of October, had scored three hat-tricks in the league, and 13 goals in seven league games.

But after picking up an injury, he hasn't kicked a ball for two months. Manager Graeme Forster said: "We're hoping that he'll be back in a fortnight."

Washington defender Ian Dodds has returned from a trial at Third Division Cambridge, and could be returning to the Abbey Stadium next month. Cambridge have been watching the player, who has also been on Falkirk's books, and they may decide to ask him to return in February.

Manager John Oliver, meanwhile, has revealed that he just missed on striker Chris Taylor, who joined Whitley Bay from Willington.

"We thought we had him, but we were just pipped," he said.

Washington have moved up the table in recent weeks, and Oliver said: "

Dunston's League cup tie against Esh Winning has had to be put back a week to Tuesday January 21 because of Dunston's home tie against Spennymoor in the Durham Challenge Cup has now been rescheduled for next Tuesday. The league cup tie has already been postponed several times, and the winners could be playing in the next round the following week.

There is a feeling in the league that if a league cup tie is postponed three times, then the match should be switched to the other team's venue. A similar rule already exists in the Durham Challenge Cup.

Durham's game at Morpeth on Saturday has been switched to the Archibalds Stadium. Durham will put seat tickets on sale for their FA Vase tie against Sudbury on January 18, priced at £6 for adults and £3 for concessions.

City manager Billy Cruddas, meanwhile, took advantage of Durham's postponed game at Billingham Synthonia last Saturday to watch Sudbury in league action at Mildenhall. Sudbury, who played at Darlington in the first round of the FA Cup two seasons ago, won 4-1 to keep them in second place in the Jewson Eastern League.

The 60-year-old manager of Gorleston, the FA Vase opponents of Billingham Town, was forced to name himself as a substitute in a recent game at Mildenhall.

But Billingham Town boss Allan Robinson has warned about a false sense of security.

Alan Smith put himself on the teamsheet to become the oldest registered player in the Jewson Eastern League.

"We don't know much about the circumstances," said Robinson.

"It hasn't got to the point yet where I might name myself at Billingham, but there have been times when we I've been without four or five players for various reasons, and we've been struggling to name several subs.

"I'm sure they won't have the same problem when they play us."

Town will be travelling to Suffolk the day before the game next week.

Meanwhile, Robinson has completed the signing of midfielder Trevor Tierney from UniBond League club Barrow.

Tierney, who lives on Teesside, has been signed in time for the Vase tie on January 18.

"He hasn't been getting a regular place at Barrow, and as he comes from Billingham, it's worked out just right."

Meanwhile, Burgess Hill, who play Northallerton next week, go for a four day break in Spain immediately after their tie.

Willington are looking for a physio. Anyone interested should contact chairman John Phelan on 01388-768551.

Tomorrow's fixtures

Division One

Bill. Synth. v Guisborough, Bill. Tn. v Tow Law, Chester-le-St. v West Auck., Consett v Jarrow Roofing, Durham v Morpeth, Esh Winn. v Brandon, Newcastle Bl. St. v Bedlington, Washington v Peterlee, Whitley Bay v Dunston

Division Two

Ashington v Crook, Easington v Eppleton, Hebburn v Seaham Red Star, Kennek Ryhope CA v Norton, Murton v Alnwick, Northallerton v Horden, Penrith v South Shields, Thornaby v Washington Nissan, Whickham v Shotton, Willington v Evenwood

Scoring feats

Four timers - First Division

John Milner Bedlington v Morpeth

August 26

Paul Chow Jarrow Roofing v Washington

August 26

Lee Ellison Shildon v Washington

October 26

Ben Chambers Washington v Chester-le-St.

November 9

Second Division

David Stephenson South Shields v Willington

November 9

Alan Hogg Ashington v Eppleton

December 28

Hat-tricks - First Division

John Milner Bedlington v Marske

October 19

Craig Nelson Jarrow Roofing v Peterlee

August 20

Mark Rutter Shildon v Whitley Bay

September 14

Lee Ellison Shildon v Jarrow Roofing

October 5

Gary Barnes Shildon v Peterlee

October 12

Andy McKenna Tow Law v Blue Star

August 17

Andy McKenna Tow Law v Esh Winning

August 26

Andy McKenna Tow Law v Prudhoe

October 12

Andrew Shaw West Auckland v Billingham Town

August 20

Michael Carter West Auckland v Prudhoe

October 19

Phil McGuire West Auckland v Prudhoe

October 19

Roy Allen West Auckland v Morpeth

October 26

Steve Cuggy Chester-le-Street v Newcastle Bl. St.

November 16

Carl Chillingsworth Billing. Town v Whitley Bay

November 2

John Ewart Brandon v Peterlee

December 7

Paul Chow Jarrow Roofing v Bill. Synth.

December 10

Second Division

Paul Dalton Crook v Shotton

November 2

Tony Hanson Easington v Shotton

October 26

Chris Joyce Hebburn v Willington

September 28

Anthony Holmes Kennek Ryhope CA v Crook

October 19

Adrian Winder Murton v Eppleton

August 26

Adam Johnston Washington Niss. v Whickham

October 19

Adam Johnston Washington Nissan v Willington

November 23

Owen Peterson Washington Nissan v Willington

November 23

Tommy Scott Whickham v Murton

September 24

Chris Taylor Willington v Shotton

August 24

Andrew Wright Penrith v Evenwood

December 14

Micky Haley South Shields v Crook

December 14

Leading scorers - First Division

Paul Chow Jarrow Roofing 21

Roy Allen Bedlington/ W Auckland 19

John Milner Bedlington 19

Lee Ellison Shildon 14

Andy McKenna Tow Law 13

Lee Alexander Marske 12

Lee Ludlow Whitley Bay /Durham 12

Carl Chillingsworth Billingham Town 11

Micky Dunwell Durham City 11

Andy Fletcher Bedlington 11

Craig Nelson Jarrow Roofing 10

Gary Messer Esh Winning 10

Ben Chambers Washington 10

Steve Huggins Brandon 9

Tony Wood Billingham Synthonia 9

Colin McLeod Consett 8

Michael Carter West Auckland 8

Phil McGuire West Auckland 8

Lee O'Donovan Durham City / Whitley Bay) 8

Second Division

Adam Johnston Washington Nissan 22

John Wightman Washington Nissan 13

Jamie Clark Thornaby 12

Paul Dalton Crook 11

David Taylor Easington / Shildon 10

Chris Joyce Hebburn 10

Chris Taylor Willington 10

Alan Hogg Ashington 10

James Swordy Alnwick 9

Martin Houlahan Evenwood 9

Gavin Cogden Washington Nissan 9

Dean Helens Murton 9

Stuart Morris Seaham 9

John Harrison Seaham 9

David Hague South Shields 8

Tony Hanson Easington 8

David Onions Northallerton 8

Tommy Scott Whickham 8

Lee Dixon Horden / Easington 8

Andrew Wright Penrith 8

Willie Paul Penrith 8

Anthony Holmes Kennek Ryhope CA 8

Micky Haley South Shields