Brandon manager Kenny Lindoe believes his side can at least match champions Bedlington in the race for the title.

Brandon came out of last Saturday's 1-1 draw with Bedlington with great credit after playing for most of the game against the five times champions with just ten men following the early sending off of defender Chris Neil.

Lindoe said: "I thought that we were the better team, even though we had ten men.

"Maybe if we still had 11, then we would have won.

"There's a belief amongst our players that we can match Bedlington, and we're a little bit more resilient that we used to be.

"We've got two games in hand on them. We must make sure now that we don't lose to teams near the top, and take advantage of the games against the teams lower down the table."

Brandon were hoping to narrow the gap on leaders Bedlington in midweek, but their home game against West Auckland was postponed.

Billingham Town manager Allan Robinson had a wasted journey on Saturday to Grosvenor Park, his side's next opponents in the FA Vase.

Robinson contacted the Birmingham club at 9.30am on Saturday morning to ensure that their game was going to be played, but when he arrived in Birmingham at 12.30, was told that the match was postponed because of a waterlogged pitch.

Shildon manager Ray Gowan believes that the next month will tell whether Shildon can launch a title challenge.

Shildon played their last home game of 2002 when they beat Esh Winning 2-1 last Saturday, but now they face a tough month of away games.

"We've got Durham, Morpeth, Billingham Synthonia and West Auckland in the next few weeks," he said.

"If we're going to launch a title challenge, then we need to be picking plenty of points up from those games. If we're still in the top three, then we've got a chance."

After the victory over Esh, Shildon were third in the table, five points off leaders Bedlington and had played a game more.

Shildon, meanwhile, have transferred Lee Collings to Durham, and have signed Gary Phelps, a centre half who has played for British Universities.

Washington Nissan manager Gavin Liddle believes experienced players like Gary Coatsworth can make a huge difference in the second division title race.

Coatsworth is famous for his header that took Darlington back into the Football league in May 1990 and for play off final appearances for Leicester City, and Liddle said: "He is a massive influence on our team, and the young lads look up to him. We could do with more like him, because sometimes he isn't available because of work commitments."

West Auckland boss Alan Oliver is delighted with the return from injury of striker Jonathan Milroy.

Milroy has missed the first three months of the season because of injury, but he came back with a bang when he scored twice in West's 4-1 home win over Whitley Bay on Saturday.

"We were undecided whether to play him but we decided to gamble on him, and it paid off. He was a little bit heavy-legged, but the two goals did him the world of good."

Esh Winning manager Barry Fleming is pleased with his side, even though they have lost their last two matches.

Esh might have lost against Durham and Shildon in their last two outings, but Fleming said: "The players are starting to bed in, maybe a lot quicker than I expected. They're playing more and more like a team every week. They're a young team which is improving all the time - I can show my face in the bar at the moment!"

Dunston centre half Steve Holmes is facing a race against time to be fit for Dunston's FA Vase tie against Whitley Bay next Saturday.

Holmes, who had to quit the pro game because of injury, has suffered a knee injury and the club is hoping that results of a scan will allow him to play next week against the Vase holders.

Horden manager Tommy Garside is trying to strengthen his team for the Second Division title challenge.

Horden lost their first league game of the season last week at South Shields by 4-2, and Garside feels that the time is right for a couple of new faces.

"The defeat was going to come sometime, but now is the time to regroup.

"We have a lot of good players, but we have come to the time of year on these wet and cold nights in midweek that we need some ruthlessness in the team. We need a little bit of a blend.

"We believe that we have a good chance of winning promotion, but we know that it's going to be difficult. Any one from six teams can win the title."

Garside signed striker Lee Dixon from Easington in time for last Saturday's home game with Murton.

Second Division Crook Town, who recently appointed David Taylor as manager, are looking for a physio. Anyone interested should contact the club on (01388) 762959.

Dunston and Durham switched their league game to Durham's Archibald Stadium on Tuesday night because Dunston were worried their Federation Park pitch wouldn't recover from Saturday's game against Jarrow Roofing. The switch paid dividends for Dunston, who won the game 3-0. Former Durham player Steve Hamil scored for Dunston in the first half, with sub Paul Hogg scoring twice in the second half.

Bedlington have now failed to any of their last four league and Vase games after they drew 1-1 at Consett.

They took the lead through Tony Chapman, but Chris Hodgson scored a deserved equaliser for battling Consett.

Paul Chow is now the division's leading scorer after he scored twice in Jarrow Roofing's 2-1 win at Whitley Bay. He opened the scoring from the spot after 51 minutes, then got the second after 74 from close range. Kevin Walton pulled one back for Bay, who had Jon Sunderland dismissed late in the game.

Newcastle Blue Star were unhappy about Billingham Town's equaliser in their 1-1 draw. Warren Fisher put Star in the lead after 26 minutes, but Carl Chillingsworth scored from a rebound before half time for the equaliser.

In the second division, a late penalty from John Cowley gave Horden the points at home to Norton.

Leading scorers

First Division: Paul Chow (Jarrow Roofing) 16, Roy Allen (West Auckland ) 15, John Milner (Bedlington) 14, Andy McKenna (Tow Law) 13, Lee Ludlow (Whitley Bay, 1 for Durham) 11, Carl Chillingsworth (Billingham Town) 11, Lee Ellison (Shildon) 10, Craig Nelson (Jarrow Roofing) 10, Andy Fletcher (Bedlington) 10, Lee Alexander (Marske ) 10, Micky Dunwell (Durham City) 9, Gary Messer (Esh Winning) 8, Tony Wood (Billingham Synthonia) 7, Steve Burns (Esh Winning) 7, Colin McLeod (Consett) 7, Steve Huggins (Brandon) 7, Ben Chambers (Washington) 7

Second Division: Adam Johnston (Washington Nissan) 20 , John Wightman (Washington Nissan) 12 , David Taylor (Easington, 3 for Shildon) 10 , Chris Taylor (Willington) 9, David Hague (South Shields) 8, Tony Hanson (Easington) 8, Paul Dalton (Crook) 8, Chris Joyce (Hebburn ) 8, Tommy Scott (Whickham) 8, Lee Dixon (Horden, 7 for Easington) 7, James Swordy (Alnwick) 7, Jamie Clark (Thornaby) 7, Adrian Winder (Murton) 7, Dean Helens (Murton) 7, David Onions (Northallerton) 7, Mattie Lea (Penrith) 7, David Christie (Kennek Ryhope CA) 7.

Tomorrow's fixtures

Division One: Bedlington v Dunston, Consett v Billingahm Synthonia, Durham City v Billingham Town, Esh Winning v West Auckland, Marske United v Shildon, Morpeth v Prudhoe, Newcastle Blue Star v Guisborough, Peterlee v Brandon, Washington v Tow Law, Whitley Bay v Chester-le-Street.

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