TWR Bifolds Wearside League: Mid-season thoughts of local managers
Sunderland West End sit fourth in the table and manager Anthony Nelson said: “We are currently fourth and the season’s going really well at the minute.
“We are in the semi-final of Shipowners Cup, quarteRr-final of the Monkwearmouth Cup, quarter-final of the Durham Trophy and the last 16 of the Durham Challenge Cup
“We are also doing well in the league and we have made three excellent signings this year; Mark Robinson, Graeme Pickering and Adam Drysdale, who were all Northern League players and they have given our club a massive lift.”
Nelson added: “We were 14 games unbeaten until we had our sticky patch, but I am confident that we will catch up to the top couple of teams.
“We have already played the top sides, so I have no doubt we will catch them up in the league.
“I am confident that we are definitely one of the best sides in the league. We are having a great season and it is the best squad West End has had and it’s a pleasure to be around all the lads.”
Silksworth CW manager Andrew Stobbart said of his 11th-placed team’s efforts: “The season has been stop-start so far as the table suggests, mainly because of injuries.
“We have had some very good results but have never really got a run of good results going, as we did last season, as there have been some poorer performances or disappointing results, breaking up those clusters of good games.
“There are positives to take from the first half of the season and the fact that the squad has been strengthened with a number of younger players is the main area of focus. (The squad’s average age is under 25).”
Stobbart added: “We are sitting in a relatively comfortable mid-table position, so promotion and relegation don’t really feature in our thinking.
“We will be looking to move up the table in the second half of the season and finish as high up as possible.
“We have not set a target in terms of position, but would ideally want to break into the top eight.
“We are still in three cup competitions and are looking to definitely get to our first final in a good few seasons.
“There are some tough fixtures to come through to achieve this though, with an away fixture against local rivals Sunderland West End in the Monkwearmouth Cup and the already postponed away tie at Leam Rangers in the Durham Trophy, plus a semi-final in the Shipowners Cup to look forward to.”
Stobbart concluded: “We have added a number of younger players to the squad this season. Goalkeeper Jak Wright (17) and forward Nathan Renton (20) have put in some impressive performances, although their seasons have been disrupted by injury more recently.
“More recent signings Dan Lowerson, Mason Burton, Jonathan Hodgson and Paul Brooke have also made good impressions.”
Boldon CA secretary Kevin Oliver, said of his fifthtop side’s season so far: “We are happy with the progress and know we are still in with a shout of getting promoted, as we are fifth at the moment.
“We have only lost three games this season, so, if we turn the draws in to wins, who knows there maybe a few twists and turns.”