RCA ‘VERY STRONG’ DESPITE VASE DEFEAT, SAYS SWAILES
Dunston UTS manager Chris Swailes isn’t paying too much attention to talk of facing a backlash from Sunderland RCA when the two sides meet tomorrow.
RCA fell to a heart-breaking late defeat to Northern League rivals West Auckland in the fourth round of the FA Vase last weekend, as a Lewis Dodds goal in the last minute of extra-time sent West through to the last 16 of the competition.
The Meadow Park club will try to pick themselves up by inflicting a third consecutive defeat on thirdplaced Dunston at the UTS Stadium tomorrow.
Swailes is wary of the challenge that RCA – who stand ninth in the table – will present his side, and insists that any thoughts of their Vase defeat will be forgotten about by kick-off time.
“It was a gutting defeat for them and it’s even worse in the circumstances in which the winning goal came,” said the three-time Vase winner.
“But do I expect a backlash from them? I don’t think it matters because they will provide us with a tough test regardless of any backlash.
“They’re a very, very strong side with a number of top Northern League players and we will have to be at our best to beat them.
“We need a win because we have had a bit of a blip recently and this would be a great game to get one.”
RCA travel to the UTS Stadium welcoming back Tom McAloon and Tom Howard after they missed the Vase defeat against West Auckland.
New signing Jordan Lavery will also be included in the squad. Ryhope CW will look to build on their impressive win at Shildon when they travel to the division’s basement club Penrith.
Gary Pearson – who side are 11th – will be without striker Jack Devlin as he serves the second game of a four-match suspension.
The Ryhope boss confirmed that in-form forward James Ellis will be available for the trip to Cumbria, as he warned his side against showing any complacency against a Penrith team that is still searching for its first league win of the season.
Pearson said: “We can’t afford to take this game lightly due to their league standing or it will undo all the hard work over previous weeks.
“Ziggy (Ellis) will definitely feature on Saturday.
“He’s had a bit of a groin injury and he has struggled with it.
“We haven’t really risked him unless we had to risk him and, obviously with Jack Devlin being suspended, Ziggy will start.”
Second-bottom Seaham Red Star could hand a debut to new signing Curtis Coppen when they host Newton Aycliffe, who are 12th.
The centre-back completed a move from North Shields two weeks ago and could finally make his bow at the Ferguson Motor Repairs Stadium tomorrow.
Red Star will also pay tribute to committee member Gordon Hargrave, who sadly passed away last week following a brave battle with cancer.
League leaders Consett will hope to extend their unbeaten run to eight games when they travel to face a Whickham side that will be without the suspended Leepaul Scroggins.
Hebburn Town are facing another defensive crisis ahead of their trip to sixthplaced Stockton Town.
The Hornets - fifth in the table - had to field striker Graeme Armstrong and midfielder Robbie Spence at the heart of their defence in their Durham Challenge Cup defeat at Dunston UTS in midweek.
Manager Scott Oliver is without the likes of Dan Groves, Louis Storey and Matty Tumilty for the game at the Coverall Stadium.
Young defenders Jack Donaghy and Sam Attewell do return and could be pressed into action against last season’s FA Vase finalists.
West Auckland Town could move into the top six if they can claim all three points in their home game against 13th-placed Whitley Bay.
Ashington begin life without manager Steve Bowey with a visit to Guisborough Town.
Ian Skinner will be in the Colliers dugout after taking interim charge for the remainder of the season. Ashington are 15th, level on points with Guisborough but with a game in hand.
Newcastle Benfield will look to bounce back from their FA Vase exit at the hands of Northwich Victoria with a home win against outof-sorts Shildon.