Colliers ready for huge promotion six-pointer with Synners
Easington Colliery are geared up for a crucial home Second DivisionclashwithBillingham Synthonia tomorrow.
The Colliers go into the game in sixth place, just three points behind promotion rivals Synners in third spot.
Colliery chairman Paul Adamson said: “Out injured are Shaun Smith, Ian Redman, Jake Fenton and Bryan Norton. Apart from that, we will have a squad of 18 to pick from.
“It will be a tough game, we need to beat them to keep in touch with the top three.”
Synthonia are without Nathan Steel, who has a knee injury, while Austin Johnston is out with a one-game ban.
Durham City, in fourth, travel to lowly Willington, looking for a win to keep their promotion push on track.
Struggling Crook Town, now under Wilf Constantine’s control, welcome Thornaby in a vital game at the bottom.
Joe Grant, Jamie Tunstall and Lewis Brown are all suspended, but otherwise Crook also have a full squad.
Tow Law Town will include new signing Gareth Matthews at home to leaders Team Northumbria.
Lawyers secretary Steve Moralee said: “We have brought David Littlefair on to the management team.
“He will join Steve Murray and Kevin Dixon and we are hopeful to get one more signing before the game. Team Northumbria are doing well at the moment, and we’ve had two good games against them already. We are hoping the game goes well for us.”
Brandon United entertain Bedlington Terriers.
Visiting manager Paddy Atkinson said: “We haven’t had a game for two weeks and should have everybody back for the game, depending on work commitments. When you have not played for two weeks, there might be a few rusty, so looking to dust off those cobwebs.”
Fifth-placed Billingham Town travel to Hebburn Town, in eighth.
Bedford Terrace manager Barry Oliver said: “Mark Dixon and Jamie Davis are out suspended. Matty Crossen is back into the squad as he was unavailable last Saturday, as he was away with Team GB.
“We are thin on the ground at the moment with only a 15man squad available. We know Hebburn is always a tough place to go to, and with Channon North up front, they’re tricky to deal with, but we’re going there with confidence.”
“Our aim is to push on for the remainder of the season. I spoke with the lads on Tuesday night and we’re going to give promotion a real go and it’s in our own hands.
“We’re looking forward to the game and we are a match for anybody these days.”
There is one match tonight, with Esh Winning hosting Ryton & Crawcrook Albion in a crunch “six-pointer” bottomof-the-table clash.
Albion will have Andrew Farrey and Mark McMeekin available again, having served r three-match suspensions.
Sunderland Academy goalkeeper Anthony Patterson impressed on his Ryton debut in last week’s defeat at Team Northumbria and may start, if regular stopper Ross Coombe hasn’t fully recovered from his recent illness.
In Division One, South Shields, eight points behind leaders North Shields with two games in hand, journey to Jarrow Roofing for a derby clash.
But they must do without ex-Sunderland midfielder Julio Arca and new Romanian defender Iulian Petrache, who are both suspended.
Secretary Philip Reay said: “We played Penrith in midweek and the manager rested a couple of players. Andrew Stephenson was out through injury, but we are hoping he will be back and will face a late fitness test.
“We played Roofing on January2andbeatthem,however they had a lot of players missing through being cup-tied. So it’s going to be a completely different game, and they have home advantage.
“With the squad they have now, they are moving up league and not to be taken lightly.”