SPIRIT STRONG AS RED STAR FACE CRUCIAL SIX-POINTER
NORTHERN LEAGUE
Seaham Red Star coach Jon McDonald has described their home game against Whickham as a “real sixpointer”.
The two sides are both sat in Division One’s bottom three ahead of tomorrow’s game, which offers Red Star a chance to build on last week’s away draw at Penrith.
McDonald insisted that the spirit in the Red Star dressing-room is still strong despite their lowly league position and believes that recent new additions can help them get a result against the Lang Jacks.
He said: “There is good spirit here and that’s helped the new lads settle in easily.
“We are improving, we should have taken three points at Penrith and we are creating chances, which is a massive positive.
“We are still early in the season, but this is a real sixpointer.
“Neither side is in great form, but we have to make sure we get a win.”
Red Star could hand a debut to new signing Nick Allen after he joined them from Washington this week.
McDonald revealed just how important a player he could become for the club.
“I’ve been watching Nick for around two years now and he is a player I have admired for a long time,” he said.
“We are delighted to have him onboard, because he could have gone to a number of clubs.
“He chose to come to us and we think he can become a big player.”
Ryhope CW assistant manager Stu Gooden believes that their home game against Newton Aycliffe is a “massive opportunity” for his side.
A win for Ryhope could move them within touching distance of the top half of the Division One table and Gooden explained that their players know exactly what is required of them ahead of the game.
“This is a massive opportunity for us,” said Gooden.
“They have improved since we beat them on the opening day of the season, but so have we.
“We know that we have to take maximum points against clubs that are around us in the table.
“We had a good chat with the lads in midweek and they know what we want from them on Saturday.”
Knee injury victims Joe Melvin, Jake Winship and Nathaniel Skidmore have all been ruled out of the game.
League leaders Consett are without Askel Juul, Dan Hawkins and Matty Slocombe for their away game at Guisborough Town.
There is a North Tyneside derby at the Daren Persson Stadium as North Shields host local rivals Whitley Bay.
The pair met in the Brooks Mileson Memorial League Cup at Hillheads on Tuesday, when a 2-0 win sent the Seahorses into the third round. Former Robin Ben Richardson was among the scorers.
Bishop Auckland will hope to inflict more misery on the league’s bottom club when they travel to Cumbria to face Penrith.
Washington manager Jason Jones is hopeful that his side can carry on their recent improvement to move up the Division Two table.
The Mechanics travel to struggling Brandon United tomorrow and know that a win could move them as high as tenth in the table.
“We are hoping to put a run of wins together to push up the league as we have the quality,” explained Jones. “We just need the consistency. The lads are buying into what I’m after from them and we can see that from the performances. “It won’t be an easy game up at Brandon as they always work hard, but I’m hoping the quality from my boys will shine through in the end and we come away from there with all three points.” Jones is sweating on the fitness of Rhys Williams and Callum Smith as the former Hebburn Town duo continue to recover from knee injuries. But former Newcastle United academy player Isaac Gamblin could return after a stomach injury. Easington Colliery trio Chris Pearson, James Talbot and Brennan Ball all face a race against time to be fit for their home game against league leaders Billingham Town.
Second-placed Chesterle-Street Town could hand a start to Joe Hailes when they face Redcar Athletic.
Hailes rejoined the club from Newcastle Benfield earlier this week.
In-form Heaton Stannington host Tow Law Town at Grounsell Park and Willington face a tough-looking home game against a rapidly-improved West Allotment Celtic.
Thornaby are without the suspended Charlie Graham for their home game against Crook Town, but could hand a league debut to new signing Ian Ward.
Two sides with aspirations of breaking into the top five meet at The Calvert Stadium as Northallerton Town entertain Birtley Town.