The Northern League is awaiting written confirmation that the National League system has abandoned plans for reorganisation of the pyramid.

League chairman Mike Amos revealed last week that he had been told verbally that plans, which have been on the drawing board for 18 months, have been ditched.

"I have been told that there will be no change at levels three and four across the nation for the foreseeable future.

"Greg Fee, who is in charge of the project at the FA, has confirmed that he will be writing to all the leagues to inform them that the whole expensive exercise has been abandoned.

"During the summer, the FA was talking about homogenisation, about making standards the same throughout the country. For example, the second division of the North West Counties League would have had to install floodlights to be in line with everybody else. That will not now apply.

"It appears as if the National League systems committee have got so exasperated, that they've pulled the plug.

"It has been an extraordinary and expensive exercise which has got us nowhere."

However, the Northern League will still be involved in a relegation and promotion exercise with its two feeder leagues at the end of this season. The league has already carried out one advisory inspection at Newcastle Benfield Saints from the Northern Alliance.

No club from the Albany Northern League has indicated that it wishes to take promotion to the UniBond League at the end of this season.

No ANL club has been promoted to the UniBond since Gretna moved up several years ago, but that doesn't display a lack of ambition by clubs in the league.

League chairman Mike Amos has stated on several occasions that the North-East would be better served by the formation of a Tweed to Humber League, and reduce the travelling and subsequent extra financial costs of playing in the UniBond League First Division, which goes down to Derbyshire and across to Staffordshire.

The ANL's decision means that there will probably be only two clubs relegated from the UniBond League to its feeder leagues at the end of the season.

Marske United's ground was inspected last week by the league. Marske had been instructed to improve their dressing rooms, and they have been passed by the league.

Morpeth have been hit by the news that striker Paul Beavers is going to play in Ireland for the next six weeks. Marske United have asked for their league game at Billingham Town to be replayed, after Town were found guilty of using an ineligible player in the first game which Town won 3-1, so that result has been deleted.

Glen Moan has re-signed for Washington Nissan four months after leaving for Shildon. He made his return debut for in their 2-1 win at Seaham Red Star last Saturday.

Consett manager Colin Carr has been facing goalkeeping problems in the last fortnight.

When Consett played at Gateshead in the Durham Challenge Cup last week, they used three keepers.

They started the game with Stuart Kelly, but he suffered a shoulder injury and stayed in the dressing room at half time. Andy Colling took over, but he injured his ribs and had to be helped off the field, so outfield player Darren Grimes had to play in goal for the last 20 minutes.

James Platten, the club's first choice keeper, is already ruled out for at least another month.

Jarrow Roofing manager Richie McLoughlin made a playing comeback in his side's win over Easington last week.

McLoughlin, the owner of the club, named himself as a sub because of a shortage of players, and had to go on the field when Chris Leonard went off after 20 minutes.

Bedlington are hoping that midfielder Nicky Scaife could be back in the first team picture soon. He suffered a bad leg injury in the pre-season Cleator Cup game against his old club Dunston, and has been sidelined since.

Washington have signed striker Chris Thompson from South Shields as they try to battle away from the bottom of the table.

Willington striker Brett Cummings last week celebrated nine years at the club, He has now played in 352 games for Willington, scoring 129 goals, and secretary Bob Nichols said: "He has been a great servant to the club. As well as being a striker, he's played in all sorts of positions."

Horden's home game against Willington last Saturday will be their last at the Welfare Ground for some time. Barring replays, the club is facing a schedule of six successive away games, including a trip to former FA Vase finalists Brigg Town.

Brandon striker Graham Carter has signed for Second Division club Easington.

Shildon manager Ray Gowan wasn't satisfied after they crushed Washington 7-3 last Saturday. He wasn't happy with some of the defending after ten man Washington levelled at one point, and later pulled the score back to 3-2.

"I wish we would win 4-0 and not 7-3," he said. "We cause our own problems at times, but at least we provide plenty of entertainment. Shildon's 14 league matches this season have seen a total of 67 goals.

Lee Flanagan made a triumphant return to Billingham Synthonia when he scored a hat-trick against Norton in the ANL League Cup in midweek. Flanagan left Synners for Gateshead during the summer.

Durham City were beaten by a golden goal from Marske's Andy Brown, which sealed a 2-1 win.

Tow Law overcame South Shields 2-0 with goals from Mark Eccles and Scott Thompson, while Second Division Penrith beat First Division Jarrow Roofing 3-1.

Brandon beat 5-1, while Whickham battled hard against Bedlington, for whom Warren Teesdale headed the winner.

Horden won 2-1 at Hebburn, while Shildon disposed of Thornaby 3-0.

In the league, Esh Winning moved up a couple of places when they beat Whitley Bay 2-1, with goals by David Mawson and Gary Messer.

In the Durham Challenge Cup,. Washington came from 2-1 down to beat Darlington Reserves 3-2, while Ben Thompson scored both goals for Dunston in their win over Billingham Town.

Sunderland Reserves, the favourites for the Durham Challenge cup, have been drawn at home to Spennymoor in the second round, to be played by November 16. They have already beaten West Auckland and Brandon in the competition.

Full draw: Sunderland Reserves v Spennymoor, Boldon CA v Billingham Synthonia, Wolviston v Whickham, Jarrow Roofing v Dunston, Birtley Town v Bishop Auckland, Willington v Horden, Washington v Gateshead, Murton v Tow Law.

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

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