Paullow

I'm off to watch your home boys again tomorrow...

Aye, enjoyable second half and a great end to the match. First half must have had about 4 x 3 min stoppages, including a sub, but only 3 mins were added on. North Shields down to 10 men, but then went ahead again before 2 late goals for Blue Star. Announced crowd of 890 so they can get reasonable gates when there's a big match on, plus being able to park at the school opposite is extremely handy.

Just arrived at Blue Star. Been before but it is a nice set up. Decent crowd in already. They can only do their job tonight. Just need to win, by any margin, and then hope that 2 results go their way tomorrow. Not likely, but I hope they can sneak in, it does very much feel geared up for a higher level.

Cant understand why anyone would choose to stand up to piss when it's one of those sit down ones. Our new office at work now has like 6 boxed cubicle types and it boils my piss, no pun intended, ha, when you see someone standing up with the door wide open, as if it was a urinal, and low and behold, piss all over the floor and seat when you next go in. Comfier, can have a scroll, no chance that piss gets on floor or seat, can't understand why anyone would choose to stand, other than some perceived macho image. If it's a bit down toilet, sit down FFS

Newcastle Blue Star have won about 8 in a row in the league and find themselves just outside the playoff places, so looks like those 2 Heaton Stan boys have made a difference, but it looks like they are going to run out of games to get into the playoffs. They play North Shields at home on Friday night and a 2 goal win would temporarily put them into the playoffs, but they would need Boro to lose and Kendal to draw/lose on the Saturday for them to stay there, so extremely unlikely. I thought all matches would have kicked off at the same time, but at least for Blue Star's sake the game is live with them playing first. Had Kendal / Boro played on Friday and them on Saturday, then chances are it would have been a complete dead rubber, but they should hopefully get a reasonable crowd with it being live, Friday night, playing a biggish team in and around them and no Newcastle United match to contend with. I might go, not been there this season and one of the easiest / quickest grounds for me to get to.

One game to go in this league, although with West Allotments resignation, Penrith have now played all 36 of their matches. Guisborough were extremely lucky in that they lost to West Allotment earlier in the season, and pretty much everyone beat them, but with the resignation, everyone lost those points so Guisborough clicked by effectively been given 3 extra points. They were 2 points clear of Shildon and I was thinking they probably would have won their final match, given they win the vast majority of them, but I didn't realise their last match is actually away at Shildon, so it would have been in Shildon's hands going into the final day and a win would have seen them as champions, but another 2nd place finish for them as it is.

Yeah, I quite like the idea of Town and Albion merging with the aim to push on, but a chance the new club will fall lower than where both original clubs were back in 2018, prior to the merger. A reasonable chance that they will be out of the relegation zone going into the final day as they have the easier looking match on paper than the other 2 sides in relegation contention up next, but then they do have a tough final match vs neighbours Bradford PA, who will very likely be going for the playoffs, especially if they do beat Bishops this Saturday. I saw them last Saturday vs Dunston and they really should have won that match comfortably and looked a good team. It's looking like 2 of Bishop Auckland, Blyth Town and Ossett United will drop as it stands.

Aye, could do with Shields beating Macclesfield and Macc dropping further points before the final game so that Kidderminster secure the 3rd place and play off bye as that might make the match a bit easier as Kidderminster may rest players, or they don't jump in to tackles etc. to risk injuries or cards, plus it won't be their final home match as they would have a home playoff match, but if they need points to secure 3rd then it won't be easy. Fylde are away at 8th place Merthyr on the final day, who are very much in the playoff picture, so you'd think a chance for them to lose 4 away matches on the spin. The only problem is Merthyr have only gained 1 point from their last 6 matches

Not sure what happened to North Shields today in the league below. Battered 1-6 at home to mid table Birtley and all but ends their play off hopes. Guisborough won the league today and will be playing in the NPL East next season. Great 1-0 win for West Auckland away at Whitley Bay to very much keep their playoff hopes alive. That could be a repeat of a playoff semi final in a couple of weeks, although Boro Rangers are probably favourites for 4th and to avoid Shildon in the semi final.

I was at the Bishops-Blyth T match, exciting first 15 minutes, but fizzled out. Bishops won via an extremely controversial second half penalty, one of the softest you'll see, having already missed a penalty in the opening 15 minutes. Maybe a fair result, just about, but both have a very tough fixture within their remaining two matches, so I unfortunately could still see both going down. Silsden winning away wasn't ideal. Ossett are away to Consett on Saturday - a similar fixture to the one last night against Heaton, playing a team who have had a great season, but not much to play for, but Consett did win 3-0 today (albeit vs the bottom team, Brighouse, who's relegation was confirmed), and it is their last home match of the season, so hopefully they will put in a good performance. Silsden's win means it's very likely we lose at least 2 north east sides from that league this season.

They'll have to win by 2 to go top, but it is back in their hands, and a first away win since February. Fylde have now lost 3 in a row away.

Finished 2-1 to Heaton, decent match and a fantastic result. Firstly to put on end to Heaton's losing streak, but more importantly (from my POV), a massive boost down the bottom end. Ashington (almost certainly safe) and Blyth Spartans can secure their survival if results go their way tomorrow. Didn't realise until full time that Heaton only had 11 fit players and had a make shift right back. Bishop Auckland vs Blyth Town tomorrow afternoon a huge match now, well at least relatively, ha. If Bishops can secure their 3rd successive win they climb out of the drop zone, but if Blyth Town win then they go 4 points clear with just 2 to go and will be in a great position to survive in their first season at this level. I'm going to it, but have no idea what result I want

1-0 Stan at half time. Not a bad match. Stan should have scored very early, one on one, but saved. They've been the better team, but Ossett were creeping more in to until Stan scored about 5 mins before halt time. Goal mouth scramble, linesman flagged, Ossett adamant it didn't go in, hard to tell. Big boost for the local sides down the bottom as it stands.

I'm setting off to the Heaton match soon and also going to the Bishop Auckland Blyth T match with my dad tomorrow. Hopefully Ossett don't win tonight as that second match will feel a lot bigger if Bishops know they will move out of the drop zone with a win.

I see Ossett are away to Consett a week on Saturday, so a similar type of situation. Away to a northern side who have had a great season, but one that is petering out a bit. I guess those are the type of matches you would want at this stage, those with not much to play for other than pride and positions.

Heaton Stan's season many effectively over, despite a rallying cry from their manager, but a very big match (in general) for them on Friday night. They are at home to 19th place Ossett United, currently occupying the final relegation spot. It would be a massive boost to those above (and below) if Heaton could put an end to their 3 match losing streak and pick up a win. I would be interesting to see the clubs mindset regarding the relegation spots. Like, would they want Blyth T, Bishops etc. to stay up so there is less travel for them next season - you'd rather go along or up the road to Blyth or Ashington than all the way down to West Yorkshire or Derbyshire, but at the same time, possibly more chance to get better players if there is less local competition in the league. I might head along, never been to Heaton before, and really invested in the outcome as I really do want to see as many NE sides in that league as possible.

Ossett let in a 93rd minute goal against Emley, so it is at least 4 points now. Blyth T outside of the relegation zone after 5 wins from 7. Crazy stuff. Bishops with back to back wins over Easter to give them a fighting chance. It would be great if Ossett and Silsden joined Brighouse in relegation and the North East only lost one side, when it was looking like 4 could go 5 or 6 weeks ago.

3,300 at Shields, but they lost 0-1 to Darlington. Great result for the visitors to strengthen their playoff hopes. It can change, but very likely to be the playoffs for Shields as well. At least they would potentially get both matches at home.

Plenty of big matches tomorrow in steps 1-4, many of them derbies. Gateshead vs Scunthorpe South Shields vs Darlington Hebburn vs Stockton Morpeth vs Whitby Ashington vs Heaton (1pm) Newton Aycliffe vs Dunston Blyth Town vs Blyth Spartans Consett vs Bishop Auckland I know some on here are planning on going to the Blyth match. Anyone else planning on going to one. York, Scarborough and Redcar Ath are all also at home for those looking to go a bit further away. South Shields match for me.

Big Jinder Mahal on the wing for Roma.

You're missing nowt

They've got 4 channels, and nothing as far as I can see on TNT Sports 3. Surely they could have changed the schedule and stuck it on a different channel. I bet they would have if Arsenal vs Southampton was due to follow on at 8pm, but Serie A is probably not a big priority for them.

Chelsea vs Leeds Man City vs Southampton Probably the draw I was hoping for to be honest.

If you can, that is. Seems like coverage is just going to follow this match. Bad planning.

Livingston 1 up on Hearts early on. Probably helps the game from a neutral perspective.