The Albany Northern League

Pearson, whose last job in the Northern League was at Ferryhill before he left for Spennymoor eight years ago, has been added to the Lawyers coaching staff by manager Graeme Forster.

He said: "Considering the number of postponements we've had, we've still got almost half a season to go. "We need somebody with Mattie's experience to help with the coaching. He's been around a lot, but since he left Gateshead, he's just watched games on Saturdays.

"He's very constructive, and will help the team a lot over the last two months of the season."

Bedlington joint manager Tony Lowery thinks that Marske will come back just as strong in the FA Vase next season.

Bedlington got the better of their Northern League rivals by 4-0 in their replayed quarter-final last week, but Lowery believes that Marske will still be a future threat.

"Marske will be better for the experience," he said. "They've had a great run and they will have learned something from it.

"I'm disappointed for Charlie Bell, their manager, but unfortunately someone has to lose."

Bedlington are at home to Berkhamsted in the first leg of their semi final tomorrow, with the away leg due to be played a week on Sunday.

Marske manager Charlie Bell, meanwhile, is looking for a positive response from his players after their exit.

Marske were less than a minute away from a semi-final place until Robert Cockburn scored for Bedlington to set up a replay, but now Bell wants his players to forget about the Vase.

"We've still got plenty to play for this season," he said. "We're still in the League Cup, and plenty of games left to improve our league position. I want us to finish in the top six.

"We've done well this season. If we'd been offered a place in the quarter final of the Vase way back in August, then we'd have taken it.

"I hope that Bedlington win the competition, but if they play Taunton in the final, then it will be tough." Several clubs are considering the kick-off times for their matches next Saturday because of the England game. Some clubs are considering a switch to Friday night, while others are thinking of starting at around noon.

Brandon proved shoot-out experts again when they beat Billingham Town in the Albany Northern League Cup on Monday night.

Brandon have already beaten Easington and Chester-le-Street in cup competitions - thanks to spot kicks - and in the last round of the league cup they beat Whitley Bay with a golden goal.

They defeated Billingham Town 3-2 after the two sides had drawn 1-1 in normal time. Dave Robson volleyed Brandon ahead, with Carl Chillingsworth heading the equaliser.

Bedlington won 3-0 at Guisborough. The home defence appealed in vain for a foul when John Milner put Bedlington in front, and in the second half Dean Gibb and Willie Moat added further goals.

Marske bounced back from their Vase defeat at Bedlington when they beat Easington 2-0.

Ben Thompson set up Dave Markham for the opening goal after 53 minutes, then Simon Kasonali sent Darren Sankey through for the second seven minutes from time.

On Tuesday night, Dunston moved closer to the top with a 5-0 win at Newcastle Blue Star. However, it was a night to forget for Blue Star's Warren Fisher. On his 150th appearance he was shown a red card. Andy Fletcher put Dunston in front from a Micky Farrey cross, then former Hartlepool player Paul Dalton set up Paul Hogg for the second before half time. Micky Cave put through his own goal for the third, with Hogg and Danny Shore adding further goals.

Whitley Bay and Billingham Synthonia drew 1-1 at Hillheads. Denis Livermore put Whitley into the lead after seven minutes, but Andy Ripley levelled with his second goal in as many games after 38 minutes. Peterlee went second on Wednesday night with a 2-1 win at Billingham Town. Paul Hinton pounced on a Richie Gaston mistake to put Peterlee into the lead, then Brian Fairhurst added the second from a free kick. Carl Chillingsworth pulled a goal back with a 35 yarder for Town.

Easington moved away from the bottom three with a 1-1 draw at Jarrow Roofing. Alu Banguera chested down a right wing cross and put Roofing into the lead, but Christian Robson equalised after beating two men for Easington. Crook lost 2-1 at home to Chester-le-Street after leading 1-0 at one stage through a Martin Blythe goal, but David Turner hit back with goals for Chester after 37 and 68 minutes. Marske United won their derby at Guisborough by 2-0, Ben Thompson scoring after 35 and 50 minutes.

In the second division, Ashington missed a chance to go top on Tuesday after they were held to a 2-2 draw at home by fourth-placed Washington, and third-placed Horden also missed their opportunity when they were held 0-0 at Whickham.

Esh Winning, who have signed Carl Pennington from Prudhoe, beat South Shields 2-1 thanks to goals from Dean Smithson and Mark Drake.

Evenwood climbed out of the bottom two with a 2-0 home win over Kennek Ryhope CA, Stuart Murray and Richard Hinton scoring in the last seven minutes.

Division One

P W D L F A Pts

Durham City 32 20 5 7 82 35 65

Peterlee 27 18 4 5 55 35 58

Bedlington 24 18 2 4 72 18 56

Dunston 26 17 5 4 70 31 56

Billingham Syn 27 15 6 6 62 44 51

Brandon 26 11 6 9 48 38 39

Marske 21 11 5 5 36 20 38

Chester-le-Street 26 12 1 13 47 37 37

Guisborough 28 10 5 13 40 42 35

West Auckland 24 10 5 9 37 39 35

Seaham 25 11 2 12 43 67 35

Whitley Bay 24 10 4 10 46 38 34

Tow Law 23 10 3 10 51 42 33

Jarrow Roofing 30 8 9 13 47 55 33

Billingham Town 20 9 4 7 36 25 31

Consett 24 9 3 12 33 42 30

Newcastle Bl. Star 23 9 5 9 33 48 29

Easington 22 5 3 14 32 52 18

Morpeth 25 4 5 16 27 57 17

Hebburn 27 4 4 19 27 74 16

Crook Town 26 1 2 23 22 114 5

Division Two

Thornaby 25 14 6 5 56 39 48

Ashington 23 14 5 4 64 30 47

Horden 26 14 5 7 33 27 47

Washington 24 12 9 3 48 23 45

Esh Winning 24 13 4 7 51 34 43

Willington 26 11 9 6 46 29 42

Northallerton 21 10 7 4 53 26 37

South Shields 25 10 7 8 54 43 37

Norton 24 10 7 7 34 36 37

Ryhope CA 28 7 10 11 34 41 31

Shildon 26 8 6 12 29 40 30

Shotton 23 7 9 7 38 43 30

Prudhoe 26 8 3 15 44 53 27

Penrith 20 6 8 6 24 32 26

Murton 24 7 4 13 39 51 25

Whickham 27 6 7 14 38 56 25

Evenwood 22 7 4 11 25 54 25

Alnwick 22 5 9 8 31 35 24

Eppleton 28 1 5 22 25 71 8

UniBond Premier Division

P W D L F A Pts

Emley 33 24 6 3 66 29 78

Stalybridge 31 21 9 1 68 21 72

Bp Auckland 30 18 5 7 62 39 59

Lancaster 31 17 7 7 67 49 58

Altrincham 34 14 8 12 60 47 50

Worksop 28 13 9 6 75 46 48

Barrow 32 13 8 11 55 49 47

Accrington 33 13 8 12 50 47 47

Gainsborough 34 12 10 12 38 44 46

Hucknall 30 12 9 8 37 34 45

Bamber Bdge 31 12 6 13 44 48 42

Whitby 32 11 7 14 47 58 40

Gateshead 29 11 6 12 50 44 39

Burscough 28 11 6 11 44 45 39

Runcorn 29 11 6 11 42 49 39

Hyde 29 10 7 12 53 51 37

Droylsden 31 10 4 17 36 54 34

Blyth 30 9 6 15 39 44 33

Marine 31 8 9 14 40 56 33

Leek Town 31 8 7 15 29 44 31

Frickley 34 6 12 16 41 68 30

Colwyn Bay 29 6 8 15 42 66 26

*Spennymoor 30 2 3 25 24 77 8

* Denotes one point deducte