Northern League officials are to fight a proposal from the FA to reduce the Second Division to 18 clubs.

League officials attended a meeting in Coventry last week to listen to the latest proposal to restructure the pyramid, but the FA also floated its latest idea to streamline the national set up, possibly by the start of next season.

A 21 club First Division will probably remain the same, but the proposal suggests that all Second Divisions, or their equivalent throughout the country at Northern League level should be reduced to 18 clubs.

The Northern League Second Division currently has 20 members, and should promotion and relegation with the Northern Alliance and Wearside League begin at the end of this season, then there could be four clubs relegated from the Second Division.

Northern League chairman Mike Amos said: "The FA is talking about having the same number of clubs in all 21 divisions at our level, which means that we will lose clubs.

"It could mean clubs being relegated out of our Second Division even if they don't finish in the bottom two as per our rules. It could also mean that clubs such as Northallerton or Penrith, who are on the fringe of our geographical area, might be moved to other leagues, such as the Northern Counties East, or the North West Counties. That could be very expensive for them, and like me, they will probably be aghast at the thought of moving elsewhere.

"It's a ridiculous idea. The FA want to kick off this idea at the end of the season, even though our clubs have started the season blissfully unaware of it."

Meanwhile, Amos also reports that there appears to be no proposed changes to the ANL's current status in the national set up.

"The FA have provided details of boundary changes with some clubs across the country switching leagues in what is basically a geographical clean-up. AS far as the ANL is concerned, not a thing is proposed to change, after all this time and all these meetings."

West Auckland are playing Sunderland in a fund-raising friendly on Tuesday, August 27. Sunderland have promised to send a strong team to the game as they prepare for their reserve league campaign. The two teams are due to meet on the Durham Challenge Cup in October.

Tow Law striker Andy McKenna was the first Northern League player to score a hat-trick in the new season when he scored three at Newcastle Blue Star last Saturday. Counting the pre-season friendlies, McKenna has scored 17 goals since the start of July. Manager Graeme Forster said: "He only had three chances and scored three goals on Saturday. I can't ask for more than that."

Two players scored hat-tricks in the midweek matches. West Auckland signed Andrew Shaw before their home game with Billingham Town, and he scored a hat-trick and set up another in the 5-0 win.

He put West 2-0 up with goals in the 36th and 44th minutes, and on the hour set up Roy Allen for the third. Allen lobbed the keeper from 30 yards for the fourth, and Shaw completed his hat-trick with a header three minutes from the end.

Jarrow Roofing's Craig Nelson scored all of his side's goals in their 3-2 home win over Peterlee. Nelson twice put Roofing into the lead, only for Paul Hinton and Colin Wright to equalise in turn for Peterlee. Jarrow had Joe Thompson dismissed for a foul after 40 minutes, but they held on with ten men and Nelson scored the winner from the spot in stoppage time.

Dunston needed a late goal to beat Morpeth at Federation Park. They trailed to a goal by Colin Lawton after 25 minutes, but they levelled with a Ben Thompson header from a Micky Farrey cross five minutes later. Sub Andy Snaith set up the winner for Steve Pickering with five minutes left.

Esh Winning came back down to Earth after their opening day win with a 4-0 defeat at Billingham Synthonia. The turning point was a missed penalty by Liam Ryan, after a goal from James Bridge put Synners into the lead.

Tony Wood then scored twice in eight minutes to make it 3-0, with Dean McGee scoring the fourth. Esh had Steve McGovern dismissed for ungentlemanly conduct.

Tow Law who scored five on the opening day, were held to a 2-2 home draw by Consett. Scott Nicholson fired Tow Law into the lead from a free kick, but Consett hit back with goals from Ian Davison and Lee Suddes. Tow Law's Carl Beasley headed the equaliser after 70 minutes.

Prudhoe and Newcastle Blue Star drew 1-1. Andrew Cunningham put Blue Star into the lead, with Calvin Magnus equalising.

Chester-le-Street gained their first point of the season thanks to a late Martin Bowes goal to give them a 1-1 draw against Marske United, who took the lead after 13 minutes through Neil Hodgson.

Shildon striker Nigel Bolton, who was the second top scorer at the club last season when they clinched promotion to the First Division, has asked for a transfer. Shildon signed former Darlington and Bishop Auckland striker Lee Ellison before their home game with Durham City in midweek, and he scored Shildon's goal in their 5-1 defeat. Shildon have now conceded ten goals in their opening two matches.

Brandon are joint top of the table after beating Washington 3-0. Mark Patterson and Steve Roberts put Brandon 3-0 up by half time, with Dave Robson adding a third after 65 minutes.

Guisborough also have six points from two games after they beat Whitley Bay thanks to a 69th minute free-kick from Garry Hinchley.

Peterlee have signed midfielder Jason Ainsley from Spennymoor. Peterlee boss Neil Hixon moved quickly to sign the former Hartlepool player when Moors' game with Lincoln was postponed last week because of the club suspension, and he will boost a squad which was down to only 14 players for the home win over Dunston last week.

Hixon, appointed during the summer, said: "We only had 13 players, plus my assistant Rob Brook, on the bench.

"We were forced to use a system which we'd never tried during the pre-season friendlies, and it worked quite well. The players produced a battling performance."

Hixon was player-manager at Eppleton last season, but the Second Division club has refused to release his playing registration.

Dunston's home game against Marske United, which was scheduled for Bank Holiday Monday, has been moved to the following night, kick off 7.30pm.

Entries are being invited for the South Durham Bowl and Auckland Charity Cup. Details are available from Bob Strophair on 01388-773217.

Sunderland have entered a team into the Albany Durham Challenge Cup which starts in October, and they have been drawn away to West Auckland in the preliminary round.

Draw: West Auckland v Sunderland Reserves, Whickham v Washington Nissan, Washington v Shotton, Ryton v Wolviston, Spennymoor v Norton, Cleadon v Tow Law, Billingham Synthonia v Shildon, Stanley v Eppleton, Boldon CA v Kennek Ryhope CA, Barnard Castle Glaxo v Birtley, Consett v Harton and Westoe, Seaham Red Star v Durham City, Annfield Plain v Murton, Esh Winning v Darlington RA, Darlington Reserves v Hebburn, Ryhope CW v Jarrow.

* Games are due to be played on October 5, but can be played in the previous midweek under floodlights.