Albany Northern League

Town beat Stalybridge, who were unbeaten away from home, and Bay overcame Gainsborough to take the number of Northern League clubs to four, with Easington and Bedlington having already made sure last Saturday.

Billingham Town, after a 1-1 draw at Stalybridge last Saturday, beat the Cheshire side 3-0 at Bedford Terrace on Tuesday night. They took an early lead when Paul Rowntree set up Jamie Clarke to score from ten yards, but they then had to hold out against some strong Stalybridge pressure, with Darren Collier, just as he did in the first game, making some good saves.

Town gave themselves some breathing space after half time when Stuart Jackson headed in a corner, and near the end Rowntree slammed the ball home to complete a memorable night.

Town manager Alan Robinson said; "The second goal knocked the stuffing out of them. and they gave us more trouble on Tuesday than they did in the first game.

"It was another great performance by our lads, and we can't wait until we play in the next round."

Town will play Gateshead in the next round, after they beat Bamber Bridge 3-1 at the International Stadium.

Whitley Bay defeated Gainsborough Trinity 2-0 after drawing 0-0 last Saturday. They also had the benefit of an early lead, Steve Cuggy putting them in front after 15 minutes from a Marc Nash cross. They went further ahead after 53 minutes when Andy Bowman pounced on a defensive mistake and fired home.

Bay are now away to another UniBond League club, Barrow, in the next round. They are on a hat-trick of UniBond League clubs, after also beating Worksop two rounds ago.

The focus of the media is already on Easington, who have been given the best possible tie with a home game against Chester City, who are third in the Conference after being relegated from the Football League last season.

Bedlington are at home to Morecambe, who are struggling near the bottom of the Conference.

Second in the table Dunston came from 2-0 down to draw at Billingham Synthonia in the league on Tuesday night. Synners took the lead after six minutes, when Dave Connor set up Lee Flanagan, and they went further ahead when Dean McGee crossed for Thomas Knox to score.

Dunston hit back through a curler from Derek Ord, then Andy Fletcher levelled just before half time.

Guisborough won 3-1 at Tow Law to stretch their unbeaten run to six matches. They took the lead very early on, when a corner from new signing Gary Hinchley was headed in by Micky Driscoll, then Richie Storr added a second with a deflected shot following a Hinchley free kick.

Peter Maughan pulled one back with a header, but Guisborough made sure of the points when Steve Makin headed in a Richie Whitfield cross.

Durham City moved closer to the leaders with their second successive 5-0. They took the lead after 27 minutes through Micky Taylor from close range, then Michael Canavan turned quickly to chip the keeper from the edge of the box for the second after 47 minutes.

Gavin Mudd got the third from 18 yards after 59 minutes, then Stuart Brightwell and Taylor added further goals in the last ten minutes.

Durham Challenge Cup

First round draw: Annfield Plain v Tow Law, Hartlepool United v Ryhope CW, Bishop Auckland v Harton and Westoe, South Shields v Spennymoor, Esh Winning v Darlington, Hebburn v Jarrow, Crook v Shildon, Boldon CA v Shotton, Horden v Cleadon, Seaham Red Star v Nissan, Stanley v Dunston, Billingham Synthonia v West Auckland, Billingham Town v Wolviston, Easington v Brandon, Chester-le-Street v Peterlee, Consett v Durham.

l Games are scheduled to be played on Saturday, but clubs with floodlights can play in midweek.

Marske United have been voted the Albany Northern League Team of the Month for August and September. They were unbeaten in eleven league and cup games throughout the period, putting them in an early challenging position for the title, as well as drawing at UniBond League club Bamber Bridge in the second qualifying round of the FA Cup.

The award was sponsored by Brooks Mileson, the owner of the league's sponsors.

The Albany Northern League is to conduct a survey into the medical facilities at its clubs. It follows concerns raised in a pre-season game when a player suffered a head injury, and an ambulance had to enter the field of play to take him to hospital.

League chairman Mike Amos said; "We need to know certain things about clubs. For instance, do they have a qualified physio, or someone who has a first aid certificate. Is there ambulance access to the field of play if necessary, and if they have an emergency plan."

Durham FA , who run first aid courses, require that one member of each club must have an emergency first aid certificate.

TheLeague is to hold an inter-club golf tournament at the end of the season. Peterlee manager Eddie Freeman and his assistant Kenny Charlton have expressed an interest in running it.

Albany Challenge Cup

Third round draw: Billingham Town v Seaham Red Star, Brandon or Shotton v Whitley Bay or Durham, Billingham Synthonia v Guisborough, South Shields v Newcastle Blue Star or Ashington, Crook Town v Easington, Dunston or Bedlington v Alnwick, Horden or Marske v Consett or Esh Winning, West Auckland v Kennek Ryhope CA or Shildon The draw for the third round of the Craven Cup is; South Shields v Whickham or Willington, Shotton v Prudhoe, Penrith v Esh Winning or Norton, Washington or Alnwick or Murton v Shildon or Thornaby.

Tow Law have been given a boost by the news that midfielder Tony Nelson has decided to quit Scottish club Queen of the South. Nelson went to Scotland with team mate Jarrod Suddick and several other North-East based players, but he has failed to claim a place for the Scottish club, and has told Tow Law manager Graeme Forster that he is returning to the club.

Forster is now hoping that Nelson will be able to play in Lawyers' FA Vase tie at Castleton on Saturday

Division One

P W D L F A Pts

Bedlington 9 7 2 0 29 5 23

Dunston 10 6 3 1 16 10 21

Durham City 11 5 5 1 24 10 20

Peterlee 10 5 3 2 14 10 18

Tow Law 10 5 1 4 24 15 16

Marske 9 4 3 2 16 7 15

Whitley Bay 10 4 3 3 20 13 15

Billingham Syn 10 4 3 3 22 17 15

Guisborough 10 4 3 3 18 14 15

Seaham 8 5 0 3 18 16 15

Brandon 11 4 3 4 16 20 15

Billingham Town 7 4 0 3 17 12 12

Newcastle Blue Star 9 3 3 3 14 15 12

Consett 11 3 3 5 14 17 12

Jarrow Roofing 11 3 3 5 15 22 12

West Auckland 8 3 1 4 11 15 10

Morpeth 10 2 2 6 10 21 8

Chester-le-Street 7 2 1 4 14 13 7

Hebburn 9 2 1 6 8 18 7

Easington 7 2 0 5 10 21 6

Crook Town 11 0 1 10 4 41 1

Division Two

Thornaby 9 6 2 1 23 10 20

Ashington 9 6 1 2 32 17 19

Willington 10 5 3 2 18 9 18

South Shields 10 5 2 3 25 16 17

Norton 11 4 4 3 12 14 16

Northallerton 8 4 3 1 26 10 15

Washington 9 4 3 2 14 9 15

Alnwick 11 3 5 3 17 16 14

Shildon 10 4 2 4 13 16 14

Penrith 7 3 4 0 11 5 13

Shotton 10 3 4 3 19 17 13

Whickham 11 3 4 4 15 16 13

Murton 9 4 1 4 18 22 13

Esh Winning 9 3 3 3 17 15 12

Horden 10 3 3 4 8 9 12

Kennek Ryhope CA 10 2 4 4 15 18 10

Evenwood 11 2 2 7 10 31 8

Prudhoe 10 2 0 8 10 30 6

Eppleton 10 0 2 8 13 34 2

Unibond League

P W D L F A Pts

Emley 14 10 2 2 27 16 32

Worksop 16 8 3 5 49 27 27

Altrincham 15 8 3 4 33 17 27

Accrington 14 7 3 4 25 19 24

Bishop Auckland 14 7 3 4 20 18 24

Stalybridge 11 6 5 0 26 9 23

Colwyn Bay 13 6 5 2 26 22 23

Lancaster 14 7 2 5 26 23 23

Hucknall 13 5 6 2 18 15 21

Droylsden 12 7 0 5 21 21 21

Gateshead 12 6 2 4 29 15 20

Burscough 13 6 2 5 25 22 20

Hyde 13 5 4 4 26 18 19

Barrow 10 6 1 3 20 16 19

Whitby 12 4 4 4 17 18 16

Marine 14 3 6 5 22 28 15

Blyth 15 3 2 10 10 22 11

Leek Town 11 2 4 5 9 14 10

Gainsborough 13 2 4 7 11 22 10

Runcorn 11 2 3 6 14 23 9

Bamber Bridge 10 3 0 7 15 23 9

Spennymoor 15 1 3 11 17 48 6

Frickley 14 1 3 10 10 39