Guisborough player-manager Mark Forster has vowed to clear his name after being reported to the North Riding FA for an alleged incident after the recent game against Billingham Town.

Tempers flared after a penalty to Billingham Town was awarded, and two Guisborough players were sent off for swearing.

And afterwards the match referee said that he was reporting Forster for swearing during a conversation with him in his changing room, which could mean the first ban in his career for the former Darlington player.

"I did not say the things he said I did," said Forster. "I'm ready to fight it all the way, and bring in the PFA if necessary. "I've been playing for 20 years and never been banned, so I think that record speaks for itself." Forster was sent off against Whitby earlier in his career, but escaped a ban because he was the innocent party, and it was a case of mistaken identity.

Even though he retired from the pro game over a decade ago, he has kept paying his PFA subscription and will use their legal eagles if necessary.

South Shields manager John Gamble is determined that he won't play in goal again - despite saving a penalty in his side's 3-2 win over Washington last Saturday. Gamble saved a second-half penalty from Steve Burns, only minutes after he went on the field as a substitute for regular keeper John Caffrey, who was carried off with a leg injury.

"I was a substitute at the time and the other two subs on the bench with me were just young lads," said Gamble, who took over during the summer.

"I was the biggest lad on the bench so I thought I might as well go on. I've never played in goal before, even though I've played in every other position during my career.

"When they got the penalty, the lad who was going to take it is left footed, so I thought I he would strike it to my right. When I was at Blyth, John Burridge told me to look at the face of the penalty taker, and he was looking that way. I went to my right, stopped the penalty, and then the rebound.

"In the dressing room at the end of the game, I told the lads that I would have to wash my gloves for this Saturday, but there's absolutely no way I'm playing in goal again!"

Gamble is now looking for a keeper for tomorrow's away game at leaders Willington. "I think that the league is wide open," said Gamble. "There's no real outstanding team in the division and we've got a chance of finishing in the top three."

Billingham Synthonia have had a record-breaking week. Striker Dave Connor wrote himself into the record books last Saturday when he scored at both ends within the space of two minutes for Synners against Peterlee in their 4-2 win.

And on Wednesday night, Synners ran up their highest league score for 55 years when they thrashed Crook Town 10-1 at Central Avenue to put them into second place.

Crook, who only had a squad of 12 which included manager Dennis Pinkney and two keepers, had the better of the opening stages, and even after pulling a goal back through Neil Burn to go 2-1 down after half an hour, there was no indication of the goal glut to come.

Dean McGhee (4), Chris Fawcett, Andy Ripley, Tony Wood, Charlie Butler, Lawrie Pearson and Dave Connor were Synners' scorers.

Synners secretary Graham Craggs said; "It didn't look like 10 when the score was 2-1. Everyone felt sorry for Crook in the end."

Synners' previous highest win was their 11-1 win against West Auckland in season 1945-46

It was Crook's biggest defeat in the league since their 11-0 thrashing at Bishop Auckland in December 1938.

In the Craven Cup on Wednesday night, Thornaby beat Shildon 4-1. Chris Homer, Kevin Newell and Paul Leach put them 3-0 up by the 75th minute, and even though Charlie Walton pulled a goal back, Newell wrapped it up near the end.

The bad weather is causing a fixture backlog for some clubs. With several matches falling victim to the weather again in midweek and last weekend, some clubs, like Second Division Penrith, have yet to play a dozen league games. Northallerton have not played for a month because of waterlogged pitches. The league has arranged midweek games in December, but it is likely now that they will also look at midweek dates in January to try and reduce the backlog, especially as First Division clubs will be playing 40 games this season.

Marske United's FA Carlsberg Vase tie with Pickering was postponed for the sixth time on Wednesday night and has now been arranged for Monday. The winners are due to play next Saturday in the third round proper.

Marske were set to play Dunston at home in a league game this Saturday, but the game has been switched to Federation Park.

The weather also forced the postponement of Tow Law's Durham Challenge Cup tie with Durham City on Tuesday night and now the Durham FA have instructed that the tie should be played tomorrow and if it is postponed again, then the game might be played at Durham next week.

Durham's league game at Brandon and Tow Law's home game with West Auckland on Saturday, have both now been postponed.

The Albany Northern League cup tie between Whitley Bay and Durham City which was scheduled for Tuesday has had to be postponed because Whitley Bay are on Northumberland Senior Cup duty against Newcastle Reserves.

l Chris Waddle returns to Tow Law on January 2nd. Waddle left the Ironworks Road ground club, stepping out for a glittering career with Newcastle, Spurs and England amongst others. He has agreed to return to the Northern League club in a testimonial game for long-serving defender Micky Bailey.

The match will be between a Tow Law team and an Tow Law Old Boys side, with Waddle playing 45 minutes for each side.

Manager Graeme Forster said; "Chris has had a look at his diary, and he's told us that he is going to be in the north over the Christmas and New Year period, and he's agreed to play.

"We're also hoping that several other former Tow Law players will be able to take part."

Division One

P W D L F A Pts

Durham City 18 10 5 3 44 19 35

Billingham Syn 16 10 3 3 46 30 33

Bedlington 13 10 2 1 44 8 32

Guisborough 17 8 4 5 31 25 28

Peterlee 16 8 4 4 24 22 28

Dunston 12 7 3 2 24 14 24

Marske 13 6 5 2 22 9 23

Whitley Bay 14 6 3 5 26 18 21

Brandon 15 6 3 6 27 27 21

Billingham Town 10 6 0 4 21 16 18

Consett 15 5 3 7 23 24 18

West Auckland 12 5 3 4 17 18 18

Tow Law 12 5 1 6 25 18 16

Morpeth 15 4 4 7 18 29 16

Jarrow Roofing 16 4 4 8 22 34 16

Newcastle Blue Star 13 4 3 6 21 27 15

Seaham 12 5 0 7 21 31 15

Chester-le-Street 11 4 1 6 19 17 13

Easington 10 3 0 7 17 26 9

Hebburn 15 2 1 12 15 42 7

Crook Town 15 0 2 13 8 66 2

Division Two

Willington 15 8 5 2 31 14 29

Esh Winning 14 8 3 3 31 18 27

Ashington 13 8 2 2 41 21 26

Thornaby 13 7 5 1 32 18 26

Washington 15 7 5 3 29 15 26

South Shields 15 7 4 4 37 28 25

Horden 15 7 4 4 16 11 25

Norton 15 6 5 4 22 21 23

Alnwick 16 5 6 5 26 25 21

Shildon 15 6 3 6 21 23 21

Murton 12 5 3 4 25 27 18

Northallerton 10 4 5 1 29 13 17

Penrith 9 3 6 0 14 8 15

Shotton 13 3 6 4 24 23 15

Kennek Ryhope CA 15 3 5 7 18 27 14

Whickham 17 3 5 9 21 33 14

Prudhoe 14 3 1 10 16 38 10

Evenwood 16 2 3 11 12 49 9

Eppleton 15 0 2 13 17 48 2