BISHOP AUCKLAND begin their season with a tough FA Cup extra preliminary round tie away to neighbours West Auckland tomorrow afternoon.

Bishops won promotion to the NPL East last season as Northern League champions and start their league season next Saturday, but opponents West have already played twice in the Northern League, losing one and winning one.

Bishops assistant manager, Leon Carling, said: “It’s a welcome return to proper football after a summer of ins and outs at the club and what a way to return with a local derby.

“West were as competitive as anyone last season and could count themselves unlucky to lose in the play-offs, so this will be as tough as any team we will face this season because West have already got two competitive games under their belts.

“We have brought in some new faces during the summer so it will be interesting to see how we gel in a competitive fixture.”

Bishops have lost 11 players since their promotion, the most notable being Craig Gott and John Howard, but they have brought in nine new signings – Oscar Aldsworth (Newton Aycliffe), Ben Walker (Crook), Jordan Fielding (Guisborough), Matty Tymon (Guisborough), Adam Gell (Whitby), Danny Holdsworth (West Auckland), Sam Hodgson (Morpeth), Jerome Greaves (Rotherham) and Josh Robertson (Scunthorpe).

West could make changes after losing 4-0 at Redcar Athletic in midweek.
The two sides met in the first qualifying round last season, with Bishops coming out on top 2-1 in a replay.

At Dean Street, Shildon take on their old Northern League rivals Ashington, who are now in the league above them.

The Railwaymen have won both their games so far in the Northern League, at West Allotment and Tow Law, and manager Chris Hughes said: “It’s a great tie for us. Ashington are a strong side who have a good management team in place.

“They are off the back of an impressive friendly win against Spennymoor so it will be a change for us to go into the game as underdogs.”

Ashington have just signed former Darlington defender Paddy Almond, who had a spell at Shildon two seasons ago.

Northallerton head down the A1 in order to play Garforth from the Northern Counties East League.

They picked up their first league point of the season in midweek, and manager Jason Newall said: “Garforth are from the league above, but we’re hoping to give a good account and hopefully get a result.

“There’s a lot of positivity around the club at the moment that there hasn’t been for three or four years.

“It would be good if the players can continue performances that make the club and the fans proud.”

Defender Jamie Harwood will make his debut, while Liam Darville and Tafari Nicholson are both unavailable.

Crook Town play Marske United for the second time in four days, this time at Millfield, having beaten them 2-1 in the league in midweek away from home.

Tow Law face Blyth Town at Ironworks Road, and manager Dion Raitt will have a full squad to choose from.

The manager is encouraged by his team’s performances so far, and said: “Players are competing for places, which is a great positive.”

In the Northern League Second Division, Darlington Town, who have picked up four points from two matches so far, play their first home game of the season against Bedlington at the new Eastbourne Community Stadium.

Manager Nathan Wilson, who is missing two players because of injury, said; “The squad is good and big enough to get a win.”

In the other games in the second tier, Esh Winning are at home to Ryton and Crawcrook, Chester-le-Street Town are at home to FC Hartlepool, and Chester-le-Street United are at Sunderland RCA.