Ashington missed the chance to leap-frog Whitley Bay into second place in the Northern League at the weekend.

Ashington trailed at Penrith, for whom Dan Robinson scored in the first half before Lee Hamilton restored parity, converting a well- taken free-kick by Scott Blandford.

Spennymoor Town are the team to beat in the race for the championship, as they opened up a 12-point lead with victory over fifth-top South Shields.

Ashington's Michael Oliver has had his bid to become the Premier League's youngest referee thwarted for a second time in a month.

The 24-year-old has been due to referee Fulham v Portsmouth on January 9, only for the game to fall foul of the cold snap which decimated that weekend's programme.

Now he has been ruled out for two to three months with an ankle injury.

Young badminton players proved top of the form when they took to the court for a tournament at Ashington Leisure Centre.

Teams from Berwick, Allendale, Alnwick and Prudhoe took part in the Key Stage Three and Four Northumberland Schools Badminton County Final organised by Badminton England and the School Sports Partnership..

Northumberland Schools Badminton County Final Key Stage Four winners (back) and the stage three victors (front) receive their trophies at Ashington Leisure Centre

For the first time, all six School Sports Partnerships in Northumberland - Ashington, Blyth and Bedlington, Cramlington and Seaton Valley, Morpeth and Ponteland, North Northumberland and Tynedale - were involved in the competition.

Spennymoor Town extended their lead at the top of the Skilltrainingltd Northern League First Division to nine points, beating Ashington at Woodhorn Lane.

Ashington, who could have gone second, conceded the only goal four minutes into the second period. Michael Rae, who had only been on the field four minutes, glanced the ball into the net.

There was a double boost for Spennymoor with the news that second-placed Whitley Bay went down at Dunston UTS, now third.

He has been the world's best bowler, struck fear in the hearts of cricket's greatest batsmen and twice won the Ashes.

He has travelled the world doing so, yet Steve Harmison is rarely happier than when standing in the wind and the rain at Woodhorn Lane, pie and a Bovril to hand.

Now the former Ashington FC defender is backing a campaign to attract more people to non-league football. The Skilltrainingltd Northern League's 'Just Give it a Go' initiative offers free admission to newcomers and their families for up to three matches at any of the League's 42 grounds across the North East and Cumbria.

Students in a former pit town town famed for its sporting heroes are getting a head start in their efforts to become the next generation of star performers.

A report by a watchdog has praised the quality of physical education at a school in Ashington - the breeding ground of soccer legends Bobby and Jack Charlton and Jackie Milburn, cricket ace Steve Harmison and top golfer Kenneth Ferrie.

Ashington High, which is a 1,100-student specialist sports college, has been given an "outstanding" rating by Ofsted for the overall effectiveness and achievement of its PE department.

Looking for a new sport to try in 2010? Then why not try a triathlon!

British Triathlon is launching the Tri A Triathlon campaign across Northumberland next month with the aim of encouraging more people to take up the sport, which consists of cycling, swimming and running.

Taster sessions will be staged at Ashington Leisure Centre on February 27 and March 20, Druridge Bay Country Park on April 17 and the Queen Elizabeth II Country Park, Woodhorn, on May 15 (all starting at midday).

Ashington moved into third position in the Skilltrainingltd Northern League First Division with a narrow victory over Morpeth Town last night.

However, they were taken to the wire by the struggling Northumbrians before finally clinching victory.

A stunning 25-yard free-kick by Derek Atwell inspired the home side but the Colliers quickly equalised through Gareth Bainbridge.

With time running out, Ashington clinched three crucial points with an 81st-minute effort from Glen Taylor following good work by David Colvin and Keith Douglas.

From schoolboy football to the Premier League, referee Michael Oliver is about to blow the whistle on history.

That's if the snowy weather has cleared up, of course. Tomorrow Michael, 24, of Ashington, is set to become the youngest ever referee to take charge of a Premier League match.

If the clash between Fulham and Portsmouth goes ahead as scheduled, it will mean he breaks the current record set by referee Stuart Attwell, who was 25 when he oversaw his first game.

Two North karate clubs put on a spectacular floor show at the Seahouses Junior Competition.

Ashington and Linton students competed superbly in team and Individual kata and kumite events, as entrants of all ages gained recognition for their achievements.

Ashington's biggest achievers were the trio of Kyle Duddridge, Alex Ralph and Dylan Gibson.