HORDEN NOT SCARED OF WEST END, SAYS BOGAN
Horden CW assistant manager Lee Bogan believes that his side’s Durham Trophy semi-final against Sunderland West End is the biggest game since the club reformed last year.
West End go into the tie in fine form after hard-earned wins against West Auckland Tunns and league leaders Wolviston.
Anthony Nelson’s side will hope to progress into the first of two possible cup finals with a win tomorrow, and Bogan admitted that his side will have to be at their best to see off West End.
He told The Echo: “It’s one of our biggest games of the season.
“We have played them before, and it is the biggest game since the club returned last season.
“The boys know what is at stake and we are confident that we can beat them.
“We aren’t intimidated or scared of them.
“It’s a game we are looking forward to, and getting to a cup final in our first season back in the league would be a great achievement.
“Once you are in a semifinal you just want to go one step further.
“We have a lot of Horden boys in our squad and it means just a bit more to us all because of that fact.”
Bogan confirmed that his squad is at full strength for the game, although there is a slight doubt over top-scorer Robbie Renwick.
West End will be without defender Brad Forster, as he serves the first game of a three-match ban after he was shown a red card in last weekend’s 3-0 win at Wolviston.
The other semi-final sees Silksworth CW entertain Hebburn Town Reserves, after the tie was switched to Wearside due to a fixture clash.
Silksworth coach Michael Curtis refused to pay too much attention to the Hornets’ first defeat of the season - against Gateshead Leam Rangers in the Total Sport Alan Hood Charity Cup two weeks ago - and urged his side to focus on themselves. “It all depends on their reaction to getting beat,” explained Curtis. “They haven’t lost a game until the game against Leam Rangers and it shows that they can be beaten. “There is some vulnerability there, but they’re a very good side. “It won’t change our approach to the game, and we will just have to look after ourselves.
“We are in decent form, we had a good win last week and we are confident.”
Goalkeeper Joe Clayton is available once again and will battle with fellow stopper Jak Wright for a place in the starting line-up.
Looking for a reaction from his side after their cup defeat to Leam Rangers, Hornets manager Kevin Bolam said: “Silksworth are a very good side, and it will be made even more difficult now as the game is switched to their ground.
“However, we have trained really well this week and we are hoping the lads react the right way to our previous semi-final defeat to Leam Rangers.”
Bolam is boosted by the return of club captain Gary Crutwell, but still has several key players unavailable as the Hornets’ injury problems continue with Ewan Simpson (ankle), Nathan Richardson (groin) and Harry Simpson (knee) sidelined.
League leaders Wolviston will hope to bounce back from their home defeat against Sunderland West End when they host Windscale.
However, they will be without suspended trio Famara Jatta, Junior Masandi and Michael McGee for the game at Metcalfe Park.
Andy Hall is the only absentee from the Boldon CA squad as they look to continue their resurgent form with a home win against Darlington Town.
Harton and Westoe CW can move within three points of a place in the top three of the table with a win at bottom-of-the-table Coxhoe Athletic.
David Crumbie’s side will hope to avoid becoming only the second to lose to Coxhoe this season after they secured a 4-3 win at Darlington RA last time out.
The hosts are awaiting news on the fitness of goalkeeper David Atkinson, but have added youngsters Logan Graham and Harry Renwick to their squad.
Daniel Pigg could be in line to make his West Auckland Tunns debut when they host Hartlepool FC and former Seaton Carew goalkeeper Callum Liddicott will be in the Richmond Town squad for their trip to Gateshead Leam Rangers.
Richmond manager Jonathan Kellett will be forced to use a number of the club’s Under-18 squad, with some key players missing for the game. Darlington RA are targeting a first win in seven when they welcome Annfield Plain to Brinkburn Road.
18 Second-placed West are 18 points above Horden, in eighth
4 Hebburn, in third, are four places - 13 points ahead of Silksworth