COWAN: INJURIES HAVE LEFT US JUST SHORT THIS SEASON
Sunderland RCA assistant manager Mark Cowan has insisted that injuries could have cost his side a place in Division One’s top four.
The Meadow Park club have been hit by a spate of injuries throughout the season as the likes of Dylan Elliott, Luke Page and Mark Davison have all missed key fixtures.
The RCA number two believes that his side would have been “there or thereabouts” if they had stayed clear of injuries throughout the campaign.
He told The Echo: “We have been in good form, and we should have got something at Hebburn Town.
“We proved what we are about against Consett last weekend.
“If it wasn’t for the amount of injuries we have had, I think we would have been there or thereabouts this season.
“They’ve hit at key times and that hasn’t helped us at all.
“But they are coming back now, and we have competition for places, so there is no reason why we can’t finish the season strongly. We want a top-four finish.
“It might be out of our grasp, but that is the target and we will keep going until it’s no longer possible.”
North Shields are the visitors to Meadow Park tomorrow and they arrive in a poor run of form after losing their last four league games.
They do have a Northumberland Senior Cup final against Morpeth Town to look forward to and Cowan believes that The Robins will still provide a stern test for his side.
“If you look around the league there are teams beating teams that you wouldn’t expect,” he said.
“They are having a bit of a bad patch, but they will want to turn that around because they have a cup final coming up.
“That makes them a more dangerous opposition.”
RCA will hand fitness tests to Ross Preston, Jordan Lavery and Mark Davison ahead of the game.
There will be a new face in the home dugout after former Hartlepool United defender Michael Barron joined the RCA coaching staff until the end of the season.
Ryhope CW have been handed a double boost ahead of their home game against Stockton Town as manager Gary Pearson will be able to call upon the services of Ben Riding and Matty Weirs.
It wasn’t all good news for Pearson as he is still without Carl Jones, Corey Nicholson and Michael Rae.
The Ryhope boss admitted that he is looking to make the most of home comforts after suffering a 3-0 defeat in the reverse fixtures between the two sides in October.
He said: “Stockton are a great side and a really good club. We know what to expect.
“The good thing this time is that it suits us at our place rather than theirs.
“The zip the ball about on the 3G pitch, the full-backs get on and they have a lot of movement.
“I am not saying they can’t do that on grass, but it’s easier when you play and train on that. We are happy to be at home.”
Seaham Red Star will hope to bounce back from last weekend’s defeat at West Auckland Town when they host a rapidly-improving Penrith side.
Manager Mark Collingwood will take a late check on the fitness of Anthony Myers and Paul Weldon after they hobbled out of the defeat at the Wanted Stadium.
Leaders Dunston UTS can move a step closer to securing the Division One title when they host struggling Guisborough Town.
Manager Chris Swailes could hand a debut to former Hitchin Town striker Dessie Da Silva after he joined the club this week.
New Bishop Auckland signing Arran Wearmouth could face an immediate reunion with former club West Auckland Town when the two sides meet at Heritage Park.
Consett will hope to keep their slim promotion hopes alive when they entertain Newton Aycliffe at Belle View.
Shildon are without suspended striker Zak Atkinson for their trip to Hebburn Town and Ashington will have captain Wayne Buchanan back in their squad for the home game against Whitley Bay.
Whickham will look to bounce back from their midweek defeat at Whitley Bay when they face another away day at Newcastle Benfield.