The Albany Northern League Today: Eppleton om a survival mission

Eppleton have won just once this season, on the opening day, and they are now facing the strong possibility of relegation. And their situation worsened last Saturday when a home defeat by Shotton left them second bottom of the table.

Constantine has had his share of relegation fights in his managerial career, but he admits that he's looking forward to the challenge after being appointed last week.

"It's a mountain to climb, and that appeals to me," he said.

"When I first went to Shotton, they hadn't won a game, and Easington had picked up only one point in 14 matches when I arrived. I managed to help both clubs to safety.

"I'm fully aware that we need to get to third bottom to avoid any possibility of relegation.

"I've already discovered there's a great spirit amongst the players and the people off the field."

Eppleton's facilities have been greatly improved over the last few months and Constantine said: "The set up is great, but unfortunately the team doesn't match that, and hopefully I can put that right.

"There is a big new stand, new dugouts, a dressing room complex and a referee's room. There are even plans for a new clubhouse."

Constantine has brought in seven new players, six of them from his old club Seaham, including striker Michael Dibie. John Webster has also arrived from Horden. And Northern League legend Paul Pitman, who was assistant to Constantine at Seaham Red Star, has been appointed his number two.

Eppleton have an important game tomorrow, at home to Alnwick, the only club below them in the league.

Tow Law have placed striker Gary Innes on the transfer list at his own request. Innes has been unable to force his way into the team this season because of the form of leading scorer Andy McKenna.

Tow Law manager Graeme Forster has thanked Stanley United for their help on Saturday.

Forster was struggling for players for his side's away game at Peterlee, but when Stanley's Wearside League game was postponed, Stanley agreed to let him use some players.

"I'm really grateful to them. I had a team of 11 players, but hardly any at all to put on the subs bench in case something happened. It was a really nice gesture by Vince Kirkup, their secretary."

Billingham Town are hoping midfielder Andy Swalwell will soon return to action. Swalwell hasn't kicked a ball for Town for nearly three months, and manager Allan Robinson said: "He's been training well recently, so we hope that he'll be able to go on the bench soon." Swalwell could come into contention for a first team place in the Vase tie at Grosvenor Park on December 7.

However, Town will be without former Hartlepool full back Stuart Jackson who broke his arm last week and will be missing for at least two months.

Washington Nissan manager Gavin Liddle has brought in two players to strengthen his squad. Liddle has signed David Lee from Esh Winning and Jamie Oldroyd from Shotton as the Second Division leaders face a tough schedule of fixtures.

"I need players to create competition for places," said Liddle, who was forced to play at Ashington a few weeks ago because of a shortage of players.

"I pointed to my boots the following week and told the players that I wasn't going to wear them in a match again. I don't want to play any more."

Bedlington manager Tony Lowery admits the club is "gutted" after going out of the Vase at Clitheroe a fortnight ago.

Bedlington, probably one of the league's best hopes for the competition, lost 3-1 after leading 1-0 at one stage.

"We didn't play well, but we had the game won at 1-0. However, the sending off for Alex Lawson changed things.

"People keep saying that we're the best team in the Northern League, so in that sense we've let ourselves down.

"There is a high expectancy level in Bedlington, and the Clitheroe game has shown our weaknesses. We now have to address those weaknesses.

In the meantime, I hope a team from the Northern League has a good run in the competition."

And Bedlington appeared to be suffering from a hangover last Saturday when they were held 1-1 at home by bottom club, Prudhoe.

They have a tough match tomorrow against Brandon, one of the teams chasing them for the title.

Northallerton manager Peter Mulcaster admits he would rather have travelled away than played at home against Shirebrook in the third round of the FA Vase.

After four wins on the road in the Vase, the Second Division club have been given a game at Ainderby Road against the NCEL club. He said: "We would have preferred to be away, but we've already beaten one team from Shirebrook's division.

"The place is buzzing, regardless of where we play. The club has never been this far in the Vase, and they haven't done well in a cup competition since they reached the last 32 of the FA Trophy ten years ago."

Easington manager Tony Metcalf has finally signed midfielder Lee Blackett.

"I've been chasing him for two years," said Metcalf. "I've always liked the look of him, but the circumstances haven't been right.

"He was at Workington last season, but they released him, and then he signed for South Shields. But then he asked for a transfer, and came here."

Crook Town have appointed David Taylor as their new manager following the resignation of Dave Buchanan a fortnight ago.

Taylor was given the manager's job last Thursday night at a meeting of the club's committee. He has been at the club as a player for 16 months after he quit as Willington manager at the start of last season.

Les Langley will be his assistant, while Andy Burgess, who was helping the others in a caretaker role, will continue as a player.

The club is now hoping that Taylor will be able to bring players to the club.

Whickham manager Tony Ainley salvaged a point for his side at Ashington on Tuesday night.

Ainley was forced to go in goal after his regular keeper was taken off injured, and he put in a superb display, pulling off several good saves.

Penrith are now the only team in the whole of the league with an unbeaten record after they defeated Norton 2-0 on Tuesday night.

Horden, who had gone ten games unbeaten, saw their record broken when they lost 4-2 at South Shields, after going three goals down in the first half.

Craig Tate scored on his debut for Shields, whose keeper Gary Shields, scored a late equaliser in the Craven Cup last week against Northallerton.

Evenwood easily beat Murton 4-0 in the Craven Cup.

Jarrow Roofing are out of the Durham Challenge Cup after they lost 3-1 at home to Dunston, who came from behind to win.

The midweek league games at Morpeth, Washington Nissan and Peterlee, as well as the Craven Cup tie at Easington were all postponed because of waterlogged pitches.

Consett have brought forward their home game with Bedlington to Tuesday night from Wednesday to avoid a clash with Newcastle's Champions League tie with Inter Milan. The only league game which looks certain to go ahead on Wednesday is Brandon's home game with West Auckland.

Seaham manager Neil Hixon is pleased with his side's progress after they beat Alnwick 2-1 in the League cup on Tuesday night.

Paul Taylor scored both Seaham goals, and Hixon said: "Our first half performances have been very good, just like it was on Tuesday night, but we're tending to take our foot of the pedal and let the other team back into the game.

"We must instil into the players to keep the pressure on opposing teams for the full 90 minutes.

"I still think that we have a chance of making up ground on the leading teams. We've got games in hand on most of them, and if we win them, then we can be right in amongst it."

The revised draw for the third round of the FA Vase, to be played on December 9: Grosvenor Park v Billingham Town, Dunston v Whitley Bay, Guisborough v Mossley, Northallerton v Shirebrook, Durham City v Gedling, Morpeth v Willenhall.

Billingham Town manager Allan Robinson intends to watch FA Vase opponents Grosvenor Park in action tomorrow, as his side is without a league game.

Guisborough earned a home tie with Mossley after they won 2-1 at Sheffield in their rearranged tie on Tuesday night. Mossley were beaten by Durham last season.

The updated draw for the second round of the Northern League Cup, to be played in January, is: Peterlee or Prudhoe v Seaham Red Star, Tow Law v Penrith, Billingham Synthonia v Consett, Dunston or Esh Winning v Bedlington, Marske v Murton or Newcastle Blue Star, Brandon v Horden, Morpeth or Shotton v Evenwood or Ashington, Shildon v Whitley Bay.

First Division leading scorers (league only): Roy Allen (West Auckland ) 15, Andy McKenna (Tow Law) 13, John Milner (Bedlington) 13, Paul Chow (Jarrow Roofing) 13, Lee Ludlow (Whitley Bay, 1 for Durham) 11, Lee Ellison (Shildon) 10, Craig Nelson (Jarrow Roofing) 10, Andy Fletcher (Bedlington) 10, Lee Alexander (Marske ) 10, Carl Chillingsworth (Billingham Town) 10, Micky Dunwell (Durham City) 9.

Second Division leading scorers (league only): Adam Johnston (Washington Nissan) 17 , John Wightman (Washington Nissan) 10 , 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.

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

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