The Northern League is to voice its opposition against proposals to reshape the pyramid system in the north of England.

A recent meeting of the UniBond League and its feeder leagues at Garforth was given details of a proposal which would see the formation of a new league, possibly under the control of the UniBond League, which would take leading clubs from the feeder leagues, and feed into the UniBond League Premier Division.

"The idea is virtually the same as the one we put forward about a Tweed to Humber League, under the auspices of the Northern League," said league chairman Mike Amos.

"It has been proposed that there should be a league, east of the Pennines, consisting of clubs from the current UniBond League First Division, Northern Counties East League and Northern League. There would be a balancing league on the west side of the Pennines.

"For various reasons, none of the leagues at the meeting are keen on the idea. The Northern League, for example, would be weakened by the loss of eight of its clubs.

"It would possibly give some of our clubs a little bit of a step up the pyramid, but unless it was under the Northern League's control, it would mean the Northern League would lose some of its best clubs."

Amos also revealed that it is unlikely that any of the pyramid changes suggested by the FA will come into effect next season, and instead the start date will be the 2004-05 season.

Esh Winning manager Barry Fleming reckons that his team is improving with every game.

Esh slipped after their first game of the season when they beat Chester-le-Street, but they've started to climb the table in recent weeks, and last Saturday they beat Washington at Waterhouses.

"The players gained confidence from when they played Bedlington at home. We only lost the game 1-0, but they showed plenty of character and belief, and it's carried on from there. The belief is there, we just need the consistency to go with it."

Washington Nissan manager Gavin Liddle is looking forward to expanding the club's youth policy.

Liddle, who was on the point of resigning as manager until eleventh hour talks with his club's committee last Saturday, said: "The club is attracting plenty of youngsters at all ages to its coaching sessions, and that is something which I really enjoy. There are plenty of kids with potential."

Shildon have released keeper Phil Naisbitt after just a month at Dean Street.

Naisbitt, who was one of the stars of Whitby's run to the first round of the FA Cup last season, left by mutual agreement after last week's Durham Challenge Cup defeat by Billingham Synthonia.

Shildon manager Ray Gowan has now signed Adam Clementson from Durham City, and he made his debut in Shildon's 3-1 home win over Jarrow Roofing last Saturday. Lee Ellison scored all three for Shildon, and Gowan said: "All of them were typical poacher's goals." Bishop Auckland, meanwhile, have made enquiries about Shildon defender Glen Moan.

Durham City are expecting a crowd of around a thousand for their FA Cup tie with Blyth at the Archibald Stadium tomorrow.

There is great interest in the game, and with no Premiership games taking place in the area because of the England game, then City are hoping for a four figure crowd. And even though Blyth are two leagues above Durham, the home side are confident of causing an upset and taking a place in the last qualifying round.

Dunston, the other Northern League team left in the competition, are at home to Marine from the UniBond League. Dunston will fancy their chances after taking care of Burscough in the last round.

Brandon have been given a boost by the new that midfielder Steve Huggins is close to full fitness.

Brandon feared that Huggins might be ruled out of action for several months with what was feared to be a cruciate ligament injury, but the damage wasn't as bad as first thought, and he returned to action last Saturday at Chester-le-Street.

Brandon boss Kenny Lindoe said: "He looked sharp when he first came on, but he still has to be careful with his tackling."

Saturday;s win also saw the first goal in over 18 months for striker Andy Purvis, who has been abroad for most of that time.

Evenwood manager Ken Houlahan last night denied that he had made a playing comeback. Houlahan was reported elsewhere as having brought himself on as a sub at Ashington and then scored from the spot, but he said: "That wasn't me, that was our Martin. I had a good laugh with the cutting, because I showed it to all the lads."

Evenwood surprised Easington by beating them 2-1 last Saturday in the Second Division, and Houlahan, who is looking forward to Evenwood's Durham Challenge cup tie at Bishop Auckland, said: "If our results matched our performances, then we would be third in the table."

Wilf Constantine has spoken of his exit from the Seaham hotseat last weekend. Constantine quit after Seaham's 3-1 home defeat by Northallerton, a result which left them in the bottom half of the table.

"I think I had taken the team as far as I could," aid Constantine, who has been in charge for almost a year.

"Despite the league position, I believe that I left them in a stronger position than when I came along in November last year. I had to bring in several players because they were struggling for bodies.

"People needed to be patient, but they weren't. I told them to look at Brandon, who put a team together in the Second Division, and then kept it together. Now they're top of the First Division.

"I was also unhappy with one or two things behind the scenes."

Billingham Town midfielder Trevor Tierney has moved on - less than a week after joining the club.

Tierney was signed early last week by Town boss Allan Robinson from Norton, but the former Forest Green player has now gone to Barrow in the UniBond League.

The league has confirmed that four clubs have had points deducted for fielding ineligible players.

Esh Winning fielded Brian Wray in two matches, a 0-0 draw against Guisborough and a 4-0 home defeat by Tow Law.

Alnwick used Martin Snaith against Whickham when they won 2-1 on the opening day of the season.

Billingham Town used keeper Alan Wilkinson against Marske United when they won 3-1.

West Auckland used Chase McMullen as a sub against Guisborough when they lost 2-0.

It is likely that Guisborough, Whickham and Marske will ask for replays.

The league will hold an inspection of Marske's temporary changing rooms on October 22. Marske were instructed to improve their facilities before the start of the season.

Evenwood have told the league that they have installed a new generator at their ground, which should now enable midweek games to take place.

The latest Performance of the Week awards are: 24th August Billingahm Synthonia for their 6-0 win at Maltby Main in the FA Cup; 31st August Shotton for a 1-0 win at Hatfield Main in the FA Cup, 7th September Prudhoe for a 2-1 win at Marske, 14th September; West Auckland for a 6-3 win over Chorley in the FA Cup, 21st September; Chester-le-Street for a 4-1 home win over Billingham Synthonia; 28th September Dunston for a 2-0 home win over Burscough in the FA Cup.

West Auckland striker Roy Allen has now scored nine goals in the league this season after he scored twice in their 4-2 win at Jarrow Roofing on Tuesday night.

Allen has now scored in each of West's last four league games. He put them ahead after 26 minutes, then after new signing Andy Barclay levelled for Jarrow after 70 minutes, he scored in a burst of three goals in five minutes for West, the other goals coming from Michael Carter and Les Mooney. Craig Nelson replied late in the game for Jarrow.

The First Division leading scorers (league only) are: Andy McKenna (Tow Law) 10, Andy Fletcher (Bedlington) 9 Paul Chow (Jarrow Roofing) 9, Roy Allen (West Auckland ) 9, John Milner (Bedlington) 8, Tony Wood (Billingham Synthonia) 7 , Lee Alexander (Marske ) 7, Micky Dunwell (Durham City) 6, Carl Chillingsworth (Billingham Town) 6, Craig Nelson (Jarrow Roofing) 6, Steve Burns (Esh Winning) 6 , Steve Huggins (Brandon) 5, Paul Beavers (Morpeth) 5, Lee Ellison (Shildon) 5, Lee O'Donovan (Whitley Bay) 5, Stuart Irvine (Durham) 5, Micky Ward (Marske) 4 , Andy Hay (Whitley Bay) 4, Colin Lawton (Morpeth) 4 Lee Ludlow (Whitley Bay) 4 (1 for Durham)

Second Division: Adam Johnston (Washington Nissan) 8 , Tommy Scott (Whickham) 7, Jamie Clark (Thornaby) 6 , Chris Joyce (Hebburn ) 6, Adrian Winder (Murton) 5, Kevin Hay (Whickham) 5, David Hague (South Shields) 5, John Wightman (Washington Nissan) 5 , Chris Reeve (Thornaby) 5, Chris Taylor (Willington) 5, Paul Dalton (Crook) 5, Dean Helens (Murton) 5, Lee Dixon (Easington) 5, Andrew Wilson (South Shields ) 4, David Tremble (South Shields) 4 , Tony Hanson (Easington) 4 , Eddie Hebron (Norton) 4 Andrew Wright (Penrith) 4, Simon Andrews (Kennek Ryhope CA) 4

* Any matches which have to be replayed because of the recent points deductions will mean that the scorers in the particular matches will be deleted.

The draw for the next round of the Durham Challenge Cup to be played on or before the 26th October is: Wolviston v Birtley FC, Whickham v South Shields, Gateshead v Consett, Peterlee v Tow Law, Murton v Chester-le-Street, Horden v Crook, Hartlepool Reserves v Birtley, Willington v Ryhope CW, Bishop Auckland v Evenwood, Spennymoor v Durham City, Esh Winning v Billingham Synthonia, Eppleton v Boldon CA, Jarrow Roofing v Easington, Sunderland Reserves v Brandon, Dunston v Billingham Town, Washington v Darlington Reserves

Durham's game at Spennymoor has been arranged for Tuesday October 22nd, kick off 7.45, while Horden will play Crook on the same night.