Northern League followers are preparing themselves for a thrilling series of matches between Whitley Bay and Durham City over the next two months.

After winning their respective quarter final ties last Saturday in the FA Carlsberg Vase, the pair were drawn together in a two legged semi final, to be played on March 23 and 30.

Just a couple of days earlier, the Northern League management committee made the draw for the semi finals of the league cup, and the two clubs were paired together in that.

And they still have one league match to play, which was scheduled for March 30 but will now have to be postponed until a later date.

Both of them face a congested fixture list over the rest of the season. Durham have agreed to play two midweek games next week, against Guisborough at home on Tuesday and Chester-le-Street away on Saturday. They still have 15 league games to play, while Whitley Bay have one less.

However, there is some disappointment that it isn't an all Northern League final.

Chairman Mike Amos said: "The Vase draw is desperately disappointing in my view. My ambition is to have an all-Northern League final as in the great days of old and I'm confident that both our teams could have won if they'd been drawn apart.

"I'm not impressed by the line that at least we have one in the final - both Durham and Whitley Bay have been playing well enough to win it."

Whatever happens in the semi final, the winners have the chance to be the first Northern League team to win the Vase since Whitby beat North Ferriby in 1997. Tow Law and Bedlington have both lost in the final since then.

Meanwhile, neither Whitley Bay nor Durham are favourites to win the competition.

According to one bookmaker in Sheffield, Sudbury are the 6-5 favourites, with Whitley Bay 11-8 and Durham 10-3. Tiptree are the outsiders of the four, at 11-2.

The other league cup semi final is between Tow Law and Shildon.

The draw for the Craven Cup semi finals is: Penrith or Alnwick v Prudhoe, Shildon or Whickham v Washington Nissan.

The league has made three Performances of the Week awards; to Ashington for winning 8-0 over Seaham Red Star in the league on February 2 , Billingham Town for beating Gateshead in the Durham Challenge cup on February 5, and Whitley Bay for winning 3-0 at Brigg Town in their FA Vase replay on February 16.

Northern League referee Martin Robinson from Darlington has been appointed as one of the assistants for the LDV Vans trophy final between Blackpool and Cambridge United at the Millennium Stadium later this month, while another referee, Jim Devine, will be on the line for the Under-21 international between England and Finland.

The Northern League have told Murton that they will be carrying out a ground inspection next week at Welfare Park.

The club were instructed to carry out ground improvements a fortnight ago, in particular covered accommodation, and the league threatened the club with a £50 fine for every occasion when the club couldn't stage a home match.

Since the previous decision was announced, Murton have managed to hold two home games, but the league will want to see evidence that the league is doing all it can to reach the required standard.

Peterlee have revealed that assistant manager Kenny Charlton could also be leaving at the end of the season.

Manager Eddie Freeman revealed at the weekend that he and Charlton have resigned from the club committee, and unless circumstances change, then the pair might quit at the end of the season.

Freeman said: "We seem to be doing everything - the fund raising, the match preparation, the programme - and it's just got to the point where we're not enjoying it."

West Auckland have been fined £10 by the league after they played at Jarrow Roofing on February 16 without the number eight shirt.

The game was played only four days after West Auckland striker Roy Allen scored eight against Ashington.

West's hopes of narrowing the gap on leaders Bedlington were dealt a blow when they lost 2-1 at home to Dunston on Tuesday night, and ended their run of 16 games without defeat.

West took the lead after 26 minutes when Paul Stout's shot was blocked, but Dale Anderson scored from the rebound, but Dunston levelled when Steve West handled in the box and Andy Fletcher scored from the penalty spot.

Dunston got the winner after 51 minutes when Derek Ord scored from the edge of the box.

Bedlington extended their lead at the top with a 3-0 home win over Morpeth, John Milner (2) and Tony Chapman the scorers.

Whitley Bay scored three times in the first half to beat Billingham Synthonia, Mike Fenwick (2) and Steve Cuggy the scorers.

Marske beat Tow Law 1-0 thanks to a Nicky Ward header, while Newcastle blue Star and Guisborough h drew 0-0.

In the second division, Esh Winning gave their promotion chances a boost with a 2-0 home win over leaders Penrith, Keith Foster and Iain Davison scoring.

Easington are still in the reckoning after they defeated Willington 4-1, Tony Hanson (2) Dean Hannah and Lee Dixon scoring.

The shock of the night was in the League cup, as Shildon beat Jarrow Roofing 3-2 to earn a semi final tie against Tow Law.

Danny Richmond put Shildon into the lead after 17 minutes, but David Haigh hit back to score twice and give Roofing the lead at half time.

But Brian Fairhurst levelled after 54 minutes, and with normal time running out, Nigel Bolton grabbed the winner with a header with just two minutes remaining.

On Wednesday night, Durham easily cruised past Brandon by 5-0.

Lee Ludlow scored his 39th goal of the season to put them into the lead, with Michael Canavan getting the second just on the half time whistle. Canavan added another in the second half, with Tony Healer and Stuart Brightwell scoring the others.

Seaham are closer to the drop after they lost 3-2 at home to Washington.

Washington Nissan are now just seven points off the promotion places after they scored twice in the last three minutes through Adam Johnson and Dominic Maddison at Hebburn.