COLLY CALLS FOR ‘HEART AND SOUL’ AGAINST THE HORNETS
NON-LEAGUE FOOTBALL
Mark Collingwood has issued a rallying call to his Seaham Red Star players ahead of tonight’s meeting with Hebburn Town.
Red Star will be looking to follow up last weekend’s 5-0 hammering of Whitley Bay by securing consecutive wins for the first time this season.
If they should collect all three points, Collingwood’s side would move out of the bottom two of the Division One table for at least 24 hours and the Red Star boss has called for a display full of “heart and soul” from his squad.
He told The Echo: “We should get beaten if you look at the resources of both clubs but football isn’t just about resources.
“We know what we have to do, we know we have to build on the win over Whitley Bay.
“Now we have to look for consistency, because we had a great win at Stockton Town a few weeks back but followed it up with a poor performance against Ryhope.
“Two wins could take us up towards mid-table, that’s how tight things are at the moment. But we have to shown plenty of heart and soul to get a positive result.”
The game sees Collingwood going up against his hometown club and one he represented during his playing career.
The Red Star boss is delighted to see the progress made by the South Tyneside outfit and admitted that he is “over the moon” to see their turnaround in fortunes.
“I’ve lived in Hebburn for over 10 years now and I played for them during my career,” he said. “Myfirstmanagerial role was with Hebburn Reyrolle so I know the area well. Hebburn Town have been a yo-yo club, but they’ve always had nothing. “They are now going from strength to strength and I am over the moon for them because they’re a lovely club.”
Collingwood is boosted by the news that he has a fully-fit squad for the first time this season.
The visitors are without Lee Kerr and Luke Gilhespy for the game at the Ferguson Motor Repairs Stadium.
However, manager Scott Oliver is able to call upon the services of strikers Paul Chow and Graeme Armstrong after the duo missed last weekend’s win at bottomof-the-table Penrith.
The Hornets boss is expecting an open game and believes that supporters will get value for money.
He said: “Seaham had a great win last weekend and will come out flying, so we must be ready for that.
“I think it will be a very open game with plenty of goals and I expect it to be a great game to watch.”
On Saturday, Ryhope CW will be targeting a fourth win in their last six league games as they travel to West Auckland Town.
West will be looking to complete a league double over Gary Pearson’s side after easing to a 3-1 win at Ryhope in the first week of the season.
Former West defender Carl Jones could be in line for a start against his former club.
Leaders Dunston UTS entertain third-placed Bishop Auckland without long-term injury-victims Liam Thear and Michael Hall.
Bishops manager Ian Chandler could hand another start to former Whitley Bay and Blyth Spartans forward Ash Davis after he made his debut in last weekend’s 4-0 win at Whickham.
Dan Hawkins will continue his comeback from a serious knee ligament injury when he returns to the Consett squad for their home game against struggling Penrith.
A one-match suspension rules Adam Redford out of Whitley Bay’s home game against Newton Aycliffe and Guisborough Town are at full-strength as they prepare to host in-form Newcastle Benfield.
Ashington have been dealt a triple injury blow ahead of their trip to Stockton Town.
The Colliers will be without Kyle Downey, Jay Hornsby and Chris Youldon for the game at the Coverall Stadium. Manager Steve Bowey will also take a late check on defender Aidan Hutchinson.