SILKSWORTH LOOKING FOR REPEAT OF RECENT HISTORY
WEARSIDE LEAGUE
Silksworth Colliery Welfare return to the scene of their recent Durham Trophy semi-final triumph on Saturday when they face Wearside League title contenders Hebburn Town Reserves.
It is only two weeks since Silksworth saw off the Hornets with a 2-0 win at the Energy Check Sports Ground to set up a final against local rivals Sunderland West End.
Coach Michael Curtis insists that his side will have to be at their very best to replicate that unexpected win.
He told The Echo: “We are looking forward to another tough test and we know that they are unbeaten in the league so far.
“We know that we are going to have to be at our best to beat them, just as we had to be in the Durham Trophy win.
“But I would expect that they will have put that behind them after beating a good side like Harton and Westoe last weekend.”
Silksworth’s hopes of securing another win on South Tyneside have been hit by the news that Jak Wright, Jonathan Hodgson and Will Cook are all unavailable.
The Hornets are boosted by the return of Ewan Simpson, Frankie Hucks and Dom Minchella from injury layoffs.
Horden CW assistant manager Lee Bogan has challenged his side to rediscover their form with a home win against bottom-of-the-table Coxhoe Athletic.
The visitors have shown signs of life recently after suffering a difficult first half to the season.
Athletic have won two of their last three league fixtures, although travel to Horden looking for only their second away win of the campaign.
Bogan told The Echo: “We’ve kept a close eye on them recently and they have picked up a couple of good wins.
“That has coincided with our shambolic form, so we need to pick the baton back up and get a win.
“We are not playing badly, we just need to get back to winning ways.
“It’s frustrating, we know how good we are and how good we should be week-in, week-out.
“It’s time to prove that now.”
Paul Griffiths will return in goal after missing last weekend’s Durham Trophy semi-final defeat against Sunderland West End.
Adam Elliott is struggling with a knee injury and Bogan confirmed that he is expected to be out of action for the foreseeable future.
Ben Foster and Stephen Tilley have been ruled out for the visitors, but new signing John Quarmby could make his first appearance for the club.
League leaders Wolviston could hand a start to striker Steven Pickard when they face Annfield Plain at Metcalfe Park.
Pickard returned to the club for a third spell after joining from Horden CW on Wednesday.
Harton and Westoe CW will look to bounce back from last weekend’s league defeat against Hebburn Town Reserves when they host Darlington Town. Jermaine Francois and Aaron Coulson are missing for Harton, but Paul Trosh and Gary Frater should be available after injury. West Auckland Tunns will have Liam and Rhys Porter back in their squad for their home game against Darlington RA. In-form Gateshead Leam Rangers are targeting a fifth win from their last six games when they travel to Boldon CA. Manager Anthony Huddart has confirmed that influential midfielder Shaun Bell is available after missing their last two games.
Hartlepool FC duo Ben Wignall and Kieron Campbell are ready to make their comebacks in their game at Windscale.
Sunderland West End will look to progress into the semi-final of the TWR Shipowners Charity Cup with a home win against Richmond Town.
Brad Forster remains unavailable for West End as he serves the second game of a two-match suspension.
A number of key injuries senior players mean that Richmond Town manager Dean Whitworth has named youngsters James Kelly, Tom Carnegie-Brown and Sean Thompson in his squad for the game.