BOSS WANTS SILKSWORTH TO BUILD ON FOUNDATIONS
WEARSIDE LEAGUE
Silksworth CW are aiming to build on last week’s positive start when they travel to Redcar Athletic in the TWR Bifolds Wearside League tomorrow.
Silksworth manager Andrew Stobbart, whose side lost in midweek,said: “We were pleased to get off to a winning start in our first league game last Saturday and want to build on the solid foundation of the performance in our upcoming games.”
The squad itself remains very similar to that used against Harton, but is bolstered by the availability of defender Michael McVay and the return of last season’s top scorer, Stephen Moody.
However, the squad is carrying a few knocks, but is expected to be at almost full strength, except for keeper Joe Clayton and forward Paul Muir, who are unavailable.
Redcar will be without goalkeeper Jordan Lowrie, but Anthony Jones, David Abel and Chris Bivens, are all expected to be available.
In the Total Sport Alan Hood Charity Cup prelimanary round, Sunderland West End manager Barry Cook is in optimistic mood when he said: “We journey to Coxhoe Athletic and are looking forward to the game and hopefully we should have a big squad to choose from.
“Coxhoe are a young team and like to play football and we know it will be difficult as are all the games in this league.
“We found that out last week against a good Cleator Moor side.”
Barry added: “But we move on from that game and we are looking forward to try and put a cup run together.
“Hopefully, everyone will be available, so it’s going to be difficult to pick a squad/team for the game. It’s a good headache though.”
In the first round of the cup, Hartlepool entertain Harton and Westoe CW and manager Terry Hill was in a reflective mood after the 2-2 draw at Annfield Plain last week. Hill said: “We played some good stuff, but it’s two points dropped. “They got a fluke and a rebound goal, while we hit the woodwork three times and their goalkeeper made some good stops, but it could have been different if we had a regular striker available.”
As for team news, John Stephenson is again missing. However, Jack Swales, Joe Osbourne, Jamie Tumilty and Dale Campion all return to the squad. Striker Lee Jones returns from Billingham Town, Mike Connolly comes in from Coxhoe Athletic and Jordan Fielding from Hartlepool’s Academy. The experienced Steve Wheatley, plus four U19 players Mike Snowdon, Patrick Mulvey, Jamie McLeod and Brad Green are added to the squad for cover after good pre-season performances. Harton and Westoe manager David Crumbie was quoted after the opening game as saying, “It shows how far we’ve come in such a short space of time as the whole squad was hugely disappointed at not getting something out of last Saturday’s game at Silksworth. “We played well for huge chunks of the game, but a silly five minute period inevitably cost us the three points.” Secretary Kevin Gibson mused: “As secretary it was great to see such a mature performance, from the youngest squad in the league and the future looks very promising.
“As for team news, experienced skipper Paul Trosh is free from suspension, so returns to the squad and midfielder Michael Fenwick will join his twin brothers in the squad, as he signed this week, but he is still carrying an injury, so is unlikely to play just yet.”
Hebburn Town Reserves welcome Darlington Reserves to Castle View Academy in Sunderland. The visitors have started well with two wins out of two, and scored 11 goals in those two games.
Hebburn have won one anddrawnoneintheiropening two games, and it sets up an intriguing fixture between the two.
South Shields Reserves go to Stokesley SC and will stick with the same squad that opened the season at Redcar Athletic, as holidays limit players’ availability.