Bolam warns Hornets to ‘beware the wounded animal’

HEBBURN Town manager Kevin Bolam believes his players will have to “beware the wounded animal” when they host North East rivals Dunston UTS on Monday.

Chris Swailes’ side thrust themselves into the play-off picture with a run of five wins in six games during October and November.

However, a 2-1 defeat against Bridlington Town sparked a fourgame losing streak that saw Dunston slip out of the top seven in the East Division. Hebburn’s recent form has also been patchy - although the Hornets do head into Monday’s meeting on the back of an impressive 1-0 win at Frickley Athletic.

Bolam is relishing the prospect of a first meeting with Dunston in the East Division and believes both sides will be desperate to get the three points.

He said: “It’s a local derby and it’s a game where there isn’t much else on so hopefully both sets of supporters get behind their side. Dunston normally bring a decent following so we are hoping for a 500-plus crowd and it would be good to put on a good show.

“They aren’t in a great run of form, we aren’t happy with the position in the league, so anything could happen.

“A lot of people think we are playing them at the right time, but they are a wounded animal and that makes them dangerous.

“We are learning more and more about the league with every passing game and we need to put that into action in a derby.

“It’s about playing the game, not the occasion and Chris will have them fired up and desperate to get out.”

Long-term injury victims Darren Lough and Michael McKeown are still unavailable and midfield duo Mark McLeod and Carl Taylor remain on loan with Northern League club Seaham Red Star. Dunston are boosted by the news they have a full quota of players available for game.

Teesside neighbours Marske United and Stockton Town meet in an eagerly-anticipated derby.

It is three years since the two sides met in the FA Vase semi-final but Monday’s meeting will be the first time they have faced off in step four of the non-league pyramid.

Marske head into the game sat second in the table after losing just one of their 17 league fixtures so far this season.

Manager Carl Jarrett is without defender Andrew May as he serves a ban following the red card he received in the recent win at Cleethorpes Town, and Glen Butterworth is unlikely to be fit.

Stockton will travel to Mount Pleasant sat in the East Division play-off places after going on a sevenmatch unbeaten run.

Midfielder Tom Portas is doubtful for the game but Michael Dunwell has an otherwise fully fit and available squad for the game.