Leaders will not be taking lowly Leadgate lightly
IT’S top versus second-bottom when championship hopefuls Swalwell line up against Leadgate at Derwenthaugh Park tomorrow.
But the leaders insist they’ll take nothing for granted against opponents who have won just once so far.
In contrast, Swalwell have conceded victory on only one occasion and command a 15-point lead over Shotley Bridge in the tightly-contested title race.
“Leadgate have struggled but it doesn’t mean we’ll take them lightly and the points are all to play for,” insisted Paul Dumighan, who reports that Richard Shotton is promoted to replace Gary Johnson.
Shotley Bridge, with nine wins out of 11 games played, are hot on the heels of Swalwell before hosting Ryton, while Tynedale are also very much in the reckoning.
They have home advantage over Ashington in a top-four clash. With Sam Mannion away, Richard Brooks comes into a near full-strength Tynedale lineup. Ashington hit the highs and the lows last weekend, sending Ponteland back for fewer than 20 runs but then losing heavily to Newcastle City in the double header.
Captain Ben Harmison (pictured) is only too aware of the importance of tomorrow’s match, saying: “It’s a chance for us to bounce back against the side one place above us.
“We are now 43 points behind Swalwell but there is still an awful long way to go as we bid to retain the championship we won last season.”
Ponteland – the only side yet to win – have quite a bit to do if they are to avoid being relegated.
They are 28 points adrift of Leadgate ahead of their home fixture with Lintz. Captain Johnny Appleby, though, believes his side can give the visitors a good match.
He said: “Lintz have been playing well but we’ll go into the game in a positive frame of mind. I’ve got Neil Stanley and Liam Cosgrove coming in, in place of Ryan Gerrard who is on holiday, and John Gardner.”
Newcastle City include Amman Yl-Haq and Faraz Hussain at Lanchester, while Percy Main name youngster Laurie Robson and Barry Stewart for their home fixture against Consett.