BY MALCOLM PRATT

IT'S all change at Darlington for their game against Darlington Building Society NYSD Premier League Premier Division championship hopefuls Guisborough at Feethams on Saturday.

A big blow to the home side is the unavailability of Steve Chapman who has been struggling with a back injury since the fixture with Great Ayton on June 11.

His replacement has not yet been named but Darlington make three other changes with Simon Whitehead, Derek Coates and Alex Deuchar coming in for Lee Hutton, Ricky Hopwood and Paul Raine.

Guisborough have not given up hope of overtaking Saltburn and winning the title for a record-breaking fifth consecutive season.

They are 49 points off the top but have a game in hand worth 20 points. Guisborough desperately need to win at Darlington where they are back to full strength with the inclusion of wicket keeper Graeme Wrightson and Johnny May for Chris Trillo and Anthony Parsons.

Saltburn are at home to fourth-top Bishop Auckland and the visitors chances could well depend on the form of Amul Mazumdar, the first player to reach 1,000 runs this season.

Great Ayton are up to third ahead of the visit from Billingham Synthonia. Glen Mudd cannot play so Chris French is drafted into the side but Mudd returns for the Kerridge Cup Final with Saltburn at Hartlepool on Sunday (2 pm).

Richmondshire are second from bottom and their game at third-from-basement Northallerton is crucial for both clubs.

Ben Biker, Martin Clark, Andy Dade and Cliff Layfield return for Richmond while Northallerton, six points better off than their rivals, line up David Wake for Mark Stainsby.

Darlington RA enjoy the luxury of naming an unchanged line-up at Hartlepool while Marske welcome the return of Chris Nichols, who has been out for three weeks with a fractured finger, at Middlesbrough where Richie Rennard also lines up. Martin Ball is absent and Darren Birkett will therefore skipper Boro.

It has certainly been rags-to-riches for Great Ayton who only a year ago were fighting against relegation but they showed better form during the second half of the season and are continuing in the same vein.

Last Saturday, they defeated Middlesbrough and moved into third position behind seasoned championship challengers Saltburn and Guisborough.

Thara Gunnarathne claimed six wickets for just 34 runs in 22 overs and Boro were all out for only 126, a target which Ayton met for the loss of just three wickets as Glen Mudd (40), John Doyle (41) and Darren Hickey with 32 all batted well.

Saltburn were held to a draw by second bottom Richmondshire and had their lead over Guisborough reduced to 49 points.

Adil Ditta struck nine boundaries in 89 as Saltburn totalled 225 for four but they never looked like bowling out Richmond who were 135 for four at stumps. Shanoka Dissanayake ended unbeaten on 49 and Andy Fleming contributed 33.

Guisborough edged to a two-wickets win over Bishop Auckland when Colin Murray took seven wickets for just 43 runs. Amul Mazumdar's half century was the best performance in the home side's total of 153.

Richard Dunn made a valuable 34 and both Colin Murray and Paul Goodchild scored 28 before Gary Bolton and David Towse secured victory with an unbroken partnership for the ninth wicket.

Darlington realised 225 for five but still lost heavily at Redcar. Martin Hood hit 17 boundaries in an unbeaten 105 and Neil Russell scored 15 fours out of an undefeated 103 as the pair put on 228 without loss in just 42.1 overs.

Neil Pratt found the boundary line 12 times making 71, Steve Chapman added 65 and David Morgans 48 to the Darlington total but the trio were outshone by the Redcar pair.

Northallerton improved their rating with an eight-wickets victory at Marske where Jonathan Barnes produced another outstanding all-round performance. He bowled unchanged for 25 overs returning seven for 55 as Marske were restricted to 170 for nine which included 62 by Rob Nicol.

Barnes (68 not out) and Doug Mulholland with an unbeaten 52 then steered Northallerton to victory with a splendid partnership for the third wicket.