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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

The losers' consolation goal was claimed by Ben Pearson and the Colliers will be at Blyth Town in the forthcoming quarter-finals.

Elsewhere, Bedlington Terriers were pegged back by Shildon to share the points. West Auckland remain bottom and Morpeth Town are immediately above them - despite winning the bottom-three clash at Horden CW.

Skipper Iain Nickalls headed in a free-kick on 12 minutes and Robbie Cockburn's shot took a deflection wide of goal-keeper Paul Newton.

It was just about all over for Terriers on the stroke of half-time when Keith Douglas left Newton helpless from the penalty spot.

Ashington join Newcastle United Reserves, Blyth Spartans and Whitley Bay in the semi-finals.

The game has been rescheduled again for this Saturday with the possibility that the Colliers may have to forfeit home advantage and travel to Kimberley Park.

Blyth Town await the victors in the next round.

The Durham fast bowler paid a visit to Bothal Middle School, in Ashington, for a ceremony after it achieved sports college status.

He also officially opened a new £500,000 refurbished sports block and took time out to wow young fans and showcase his bowling skills in a friendly game of cricket with students.

Harmison, who attended the school up until 1992, said the visit brought back memories of his days doing PE outdoors. "I loved PE, but I can remember when we played outside it was cold, but it was even colder inside.