NELSON CHALLENGES WEST END TO GO UP AS CHAMPIONS
Sunderland West End manager Anthony Nelson has challenged his side to secure promotion into the Northern League by winning the Wearside League title.
West End have applied for promotion to step six of the non-league pyramid and seem increasingly likely to go up.
Current leaders Wolviston did not submit an application, and second-placed Hebburn Town Reserves will only be promoted if their first-team finish the season on top of Northern League Division One.
A trip to struggling Darlington RA is on the agenda for Nelson and his side this weekend and the West End boss believes that his side have the title in their sights.
He told The Echo: “We are in great form and we have only conceded one goal in our last six games.
“We just aren’t conceding at the moment and Danny Martin has made a real impact since he came in.
“We have strengthened where we were lacking, and it’s made a real difference.
“We can still win the league and that is our target.
“If we go up to the Northern League, we want to go up as champions.
“All we can do is keep winning games, and if we do that, we will have a chance of turning a good season into a great season.”
New signing Lee McMahon is available for West End, but striker John Butler is a doubt with a rib injury.
Leaders Wolviston have Junior Musandi, Famara Jatta and Michael McGee back from suspension for their trip to Darlington Town.
Second-placed Hebburn Town Reserves are without Dom Minchella, Harry Simpson and Phil Gray for their game at Horden CW.
There was some good news for Hornets manager Kevin Bolam as Frankie Hucks and Nathan Sinclair are available for selection.
Their hosts have Barney Dobinson available after suspension and striker David Paul has completed a return to the club. Harton and WestoeCWmanager David Crumbie has confirmed that long-term injury victims Paul Trosh, Seb Hanratty and Andy Hill are set to return to their squad for the home game against Richmond Town.
“We had a good training session this week and we hope the lads can take that into Saturday,” Crumbie added.
“It’s a massive game for our club as we are hoping to achieve a fourth-placed finish this season.
“But we know it’s going to be a difficult game against a good Richmond side.” Crumbie’s preparations for the game have been hampered by the news that Aaron Coulson could be out for the season. Paul Burrell and Jason Pressling are both unavailable and both Dan Nolan and Levi Collins are suspended. New signing Curtis Richardson could be included after joining the club from Boldon CA earlier this week. Basement club Coxhoe Athletic will have Ben Foster and Connor Carey available for their game against in-form Boldon CA. Coxhoe are looking to secure a third win in the last five games but will face a stern test against a Boldon side that are unbeaten in 2019. Boldon CA manager John Pressling said: “Facing Coxhoe is such a hard one to call at the moment.
“They seem to be an inconsistent side and they are winning one, then losing one.
“I watched them against Harton and Westoe a couple of weeks ago and they were in the game for 45 minutes, but then were beaten heavily.
“We know we will have to be at it again if we want to continue our good run of form.”
Gateshead Leam Rangers will hope to move away from the bottom four with a win at Annfield Plain and Windscale will look to build on their impressive home win against Hartlepool FC when they host West Auckland Tunns.
Silksworth CW are looking to continue their impressive season by progressing into their third cup final of the campaign this weekend.
Hartlepool FC will be their opponents in the semifinal of the Monkwearmouth Charity Cup tomorrow and coach Michael Curtis believes that his side are facing a tough challenge.
He told The Echo: “At the start of the season the expectation was not to reach three cup finals.
“But now we have this game ahead of us, we want to win it obviously. We will treat it with the same respect that we did with our other semifinals.
“It’s another big game, but it’s a tough place to go and win because they will be desperate to beat us.
“Getting to the final would obviously mean a lot to us, especially to our young players. They have shown a quality and desire to keep pushing themselves this season.”
Silksworth have been handed a triple-injury boost ahead of the tie as goalkeeper Jak Wright, defender Josh Perry and forward Brandon Alderson all return to the squad.
Andrew Fletcher, Dean Cope, Robbie Hammond and Lee Jones were all confirmed as available for selection for Hartlepool once again.