Ferryhill Athletic manager Mark Fanning and his assistant Peter Denton are a lot happier than they were a month ago.

The pair took over a month into the season when doom and gloom surrounded the former Northern League club, but worse was to follow when the side was hammered 15-0 by current Wearside League leaders Birtley Town.

"That was a black day for Ferryhill Athletic, but since then we have improved and there is a lot more commitment from the players," said Fanning.

Following the debacle at Birtley, Ferryhill lost 3-0 to second top Wolviston before going down by an only goal to reigning champions North Shields.

Last week they made their exit from the Durham Trophy conceding a couple of goals to Wolviston Reserves.

"We have not won any of our last three matches, but without doubt there has been a definite improvement and Peter and I are confident we can turn the side around although it is going to take time," enthused Fanning, who is particularly pleased with the form of three juniors who has pitched into a line-up.

Kurt Burleigh, Mark Foster and Gary Armstrong have all shown promising form and Fanning believes that the future of the club rests with the young players and those he has managed to attract to Ferryhill.

North Shields, meanwhile, are also pleased with their improved results in recent weeks. They made an indifferent start to the campaign following the sudden departure of manager Terry Paddison who led them to the championship last season.

His replacement quickly moved on and The Robins turned to stalwart Wilf Keilty who has brought in four newcomers.

Roy Gordon has joined from Consett, Paul Hogg transferred from Benfield Saints, while Gerry Wraith and Martin Lower switched from Brandon.

Secretary David Thompson, though, believes that a really big plus has been the return of Anthony Robson, player of the year in three of the last four seasons.

He made his seasonal debut a month ago when North Shields went down 3-0 at New Marske in the Sunderland Shipowners Cup, but since then the side has not conceded a goal and Thompson is enthusiastic at the part which Robson has played.

"He is a big influence on the team and we are delighted to have him back. After the defeat against New Marske we beat them 2-0 in a return fixture the following week, went to Ferryhill Athletic and won by the only goal before seeing off Ryhope CW 2-0 last weekend so things are definitely on the up and up at Ralph Gardner Park," claimed Thompson.

The Robins, like Ferryhill Athletic, have also turned to young players with Under-19 members Stephen Miller, Robert Wake and Paul Blakey all part of the first team set up. Blakey has scored three goals in only two starts.

"We are a lot happier than what we were a few weeks ago. We are moving up the table and on the right track and although we are some way off the leading pack, we believe that the championship is still all to play for so far as we are concerned," Thompson claimed.