WEEKEND PREVIEW

There’s one fixture that takes pride of place this weekend – the all-Northern League clash in the fourth round of the Isuzu FA Vase when Blyth Town take on Whickham at Gateway Park.

Blyth are hoping to build on their impressive away win at Bishop Auckland in the last round, while Whickham have been given a reprieve after Irlam were thrown out of the competition for playing an ineligible player.

The action starts tonight with North Shields taking on Newcastle Benfield and Northallerton Town hosting Redcar Athletic, with new manager Carl Jarrett taking his first game in charge of the Steelmen.  In Division Two, Redcar Town are also on their travels as they take on Sunderland West End at the Hub.

There are two top of the table clashes in the first division tomorrow – Bishop Auckland are at fifth-placed Boro Rangers while it’s fourth v third at Birtley, with West Auckland the visitors.

Fresh from their first win of the season, Sunderland RCA are at Crook Town, with three other fixtures completing the Division One day – Carlisle City v Heaton Stannington, Guisborough Town v West Allotment Celtic and Seaham Red Star v Tow Law.

With Blyth Town on cup duty, Newcastle Blue Star will be looking to overtake them and go back to the top of Division Two when they take on Jarrow who will be playing their first game of the year.  Meanwhile, Bedlington Terriers will be trying to keep in touch with the top two as they travel to Billingham Town.

After a break of two months, the new regime at Brandon United take on Newcastle University at the Welfare Ground.  The teams in fourth and fifth – Chester-le-Street Town and Horden CW – are both at home to Esh Winning and Ryton & Crawcrook respectively.  There’s likely to be a big crowd for the FC Hartlepool v Easington Colliery match (with Easington having played several games fewer than the teams above them).

The Division Two fixtures are completed with the games between Boldon CA and Chester-le-Street United and Prudhoe YC Seniors v Yarm & Eaglescliffe.