Bishop Auckland's derby run and cup week across Northern League Division One

Bishop Auckland spent the week in the shape of their fixture list: three local derbies in eight days, all at Heritage Park. It began badly. On Wednesday 30 September they lost 2-1 at Easington Colliery in a top-of-the-table game after Ben Jordison was sent off in the 51st minute, with John Howard's free kick the only reply once the hosts had gone 2-0 up. The club later said the red card had been rescinded on appeal to the County FA, leaving Jordison available again.

Saturday brought a 1-1 draw with Blyth Town in front of 504, Amar Purewal equalising on 29 minutes. Manager Martin Gray said the game could have been virtually put to bed before Blyth scored. On Tuesday 6 October came the response: a 4-0 win over Shildon in the Durham FA Frank Pattison Challenge Cup, watched by 575. Purewal, Lee Hume, Collins Unuareokpa, in his first goal for the club, and Craig Moody scored. Gray spoke of the importance of squad depth during a relentless run of fixtures. Next is Newton Aycliffe in the FA Vase on Saturday 10 October.

It was a harder week at Marske United. They lost 2-1 at home to Birtley Town on Saturday, Charlie Watt sent off for his reaction after what manager Paul Burton argued was a blatant foul on him. Burton still said of the goals: "we haven't defended twice." On Tuesday they lost 4-0 at Yarm & Eaglescliffe, Josh Larkin scoring twice and Tyler Goodman sent off. Their abandoned fixture at Horden Community Welfare has been rescheduled for Saturday 5 December, with Clayton McDonald's suspension standing.

At Penrith, manager Jim Nichols left the club. Danny Grainger and Richard Prokas will take interim charge for the FA Vase tie with Carlisle City on Saturday.

Newcastle Blue Star won 5-1 against Newcastle Benfield on Friday, Josh Follin scoring a hat-trick and Jakub Zych twice, before losing 3-2 at Blyth Spartans in the Northumberland Senior Cup on Tuesday.

At Step 5, Whitley Bay won 4-2 at Blyth Town on 29 September, Nathan Nkunku among the scorers, and then drew 1-1 at Crook Town, extending their unbeaten run to seven games. Kendal Town beat Northallerton Town 2-1 through a late Jason Walker penalty, their first home league win since early August according to Northallerton. Easington Colliery also beat Jarrow 1-0 in the Durham Challenge Cup through Craig Hennis's 85th-minute goal.