The Albany Northern League

Bell said: "I don't think that either team is too high profile. Before the draw was made, we were anxious to avoid Bedlington, Tooting, Chippenham and Taunton, so at least we've done that.

"We wanted to be at home, but we're still quite pleased with the draw."

Billingham Town are at Brigg tomorrow, and if they win, will be at home to Hallen, the only possible home tie for the four Northern League clubs left in the competition. If Consett beat St Helens, they must travel to either Berkhamsted or Hornchurch.

Bedlington joint manager Tony Lowery intends to watch his team's next FA Vase opponents in action. Bedlington have been drawn away to the winners of the tie between Oadby and Ashford Town (Middlesex) in the last 16 and Lowery will watch the winners in action before his side take them on next month.

Lowery said: "We know a little bit about Oadby. We're on good terms with the Prescot manager and he's given me a run down on them because they beat his side 2-0 in the last round."

Oadby are currently doing well in the Leicestershire Senior League. If Middlesex-based Ashford win, then Bedlington will probably fly to Heathrow Airport for the short trip to the ground.

Bedlington left nothing to chance in the last round, and joint manager Keith Perry made the 1000 mile round trip to Falmouth to watch their opponents in action. And it paid off, as they won 4-1 after extra time.

Tow Law manager Graeme Forster thought his keeper Barry Poskett had dropped a real clanger at Durham City on Saturday.

City were awarded a free-kick just outside the area, and when Stuart Irvine curled the ball towards goal, Poskett allowed it to enter the net, much to Forster's amazement.

However, the referee disallowed the "goal" because the free-kick was indirect, and no other player apart from Irvine had touched the ball.

Forster said: "Barry had me fooled for a moment, because I thought he'd misjudged it or something. But when the referee awarded a goal kick, then I realised." Tow Law won the game 1-0 to inflict a third successive defeat on Durham, who haven't won a league game since they beat Bedlington three weeks ago.

City manager Brian Honour is still far from downhearted, and said: "There are going to be a lot of twists and turns this season.

"With all the bad weather, then clubs are going to play at least twice a week later in the season, and they could be affected by injuries and suspensions.

"Plus, the leading clubs have to play each other several times."

The race for the title could become one of the most open for several years after Bedlington's three successive triumphs. Billingham Synthonia and Dunston have both had excellent runs in recent weeks, while Marske and Peterlee still can't be totally ruled out.

All of Tuesday night's programme was postponed because of waterlogged pitches. Surprisingly, Tow Law's game was set to go ahead, but the match referee postponed the match half an hour before kick off because of fog.

Lawyers have now arranged to play Chester-le-Street on Tuesday night in a league game.

Only three games took place on Wednesday night. Billingham Town, were held to a 1-1 draw at Hebburn. After a goalless first half, Hebburn took the lead after 52 minutes when Chris Leighton scored from a Robert Marsden cross, but David Onions levelled from a long throw by Neil Bishop after 67 minutes.

In the Second Division Eppleton, who pulled off a shock 1-0 win at Northallerton last Saturday, lost 4-0 at home to Murton.

Leaders Thornaby strengthened their hold at the top by beating Northallerton 3-1. Northallerton took the lead with a penalty from former Thornaby player Dave Lawson, but Micky Arnold and George Woodhouse put Thornaby in the lead before half-time. Shaun Howes made sure in the second half.

l Chester-le-Street are holding a talk in with Premiership referee Alan Wilkie in their clubhouse on February 15. Tickets are £5, available from the club.

l The Albany Northern League has raised £4,250 in aid of the Butterwick Hospice. The cash has been raised over the last year by 25 of the league's 40 clubs, with one donation of £1,000 from Second Division club Esh Winning.

League chairman Mike Amos said: "It is a magnificent effort by the clubs. " Those who have donated, have given us a minimum of £50, and it is double what we aimed for." Brooks Mileson, the owner of the league's sponsors, has promised to match the sum raised by the league.

Division One

P W D L F A Pts

Durham City 26 15 5 6 61 27 50

Billingham Syn 22 14 4 4 55 33 46

Bedlington 20 14 2 4 61 18 44

Peterlee 21 12 4 5 41 31 40

Dunston 17 11 4 2 47 18 37

Marske 17 9 5 3 31 14 32

Brandon 22 9 5 8 42 34 32

Guisborough 21 9 4 8 36 33 31

Billingham Town 17 9 3 5 35 22 30

Tow Law 18 9 2 7 44 29 29

Whitley Bay 18 8 3 7 33 25 27

Chester-le-Street 19 8 1 10 34 28 25

Seaham 20 8 1 11 35 61 25

Consett 20 7 3 10 27 34 24

West Auckland 18 6 5 7 22 28 23

Newcastle B Star 18 6 5 7 30 39 23

Jarrow Roofing 22 5 6 11 34 48 21

Easington 15 5 2 8 25 33 17

Morpeth 21 4 4 13 23 48 16

Hebburn 22 2 4 16 21 56 10

Crook Town 22 1 2 19 17 100 5

Division Two

Thornaby 19 12 5 2 48 30 41

Ashington 17 11 3 2 51 23 36

Horden 21 11 4 6 28 21 37

Willington 21 9 9 3 40 21 36

Esh Winning 18 10 4 4 43 26 34

Washington 18 8 7 3 37 19 31

Northallerton 16 8 5 3 44 18 29

South Shields 19 8 5 6 44 35 29

Norton 20 7 6 7 26 33 27

Shildon 21 7 4 10 26 34 25

Murton 18 7 3 8 33 39 24

Ryhope CA 21 6 6 9 26 33 24

Alnwick 19 5 8 6 30 31 23

Shotton 17 4 9 4 31 28 21

Penrith 14 4 7 3 18 19 19

Prudhoe 21 5 3 13 28 50 18

Whickham 21 4 5 12 30 46 17

Evenwood 19 4 4 11 18 53 16

Eppleton 22 1 3 18 24 61 6

UniBond League, Premier Division

Emley 26 19 4 3 50 25 61

Stalybridge 22 16 5 1 55 17 53

Altrincham 27 13 7 7 53 33 46

Bishop Auckland 22 14 3 5 43 26 45

Worksop 23 11 6 6 62 37 39

Lancaster 23 11 6 6 44 38 39

Accrington 26 10 6 10 40 37 36

Hucknall 19 9 6 4 26 21 33

Whitby 26 9 6 11 37 40 33

Gainsborough 26 9 6 11 28 36 33

Burscough 20 9 4 7 35 31 31

Barrow 23 9 4 10 38 38 31

Droylsden 23 9 2 12 28 38 29

Gateshead 20 8 4 8 36 28 28

Blyth Spartans 25 8 4 13 31 35 28

Marine 26 7 7 12 35 47 28

Hyde 20 7 6 7 37 32 27

Bamber Bridge 23 8 3 12 31 42 27

Runcorn 22 8 3 11 27 39 27

Colwyn Bay 22 6 7 9 34 44 25

Leek Town 22 5 5 12 17 30 20

Frickley 22 3 5 14 21 54 14

Spennymoor 24 2 3 19 22 62 9