Ryhope and RCA facing tough tests in the league

Sunderland RCA face a tough challenge as they look to bounce back from last weekend’s heavy home defeat against Newton Aycliffe.

Martin Swales’ side travel to promotion-chasing Shildon on Saturday and their hosts will be looking to put their own loss behind them after they were beaten at home by leaders Stockton Town last weekend.

RCA captain Greg Swansbury will miss the trip to Dean Street as he serves the final game of a three-match suspension, and Swales will also be without the likes of Ross McNab, Craig Hodgson and Nathan O’Neill.

Ryhope CW will be another side looking to put a loss behind them when they host Penrith this weekend.

Gary Pearson and Chris McCabe’s side fell to a 4-1 home defeat against Hebburn Town in their last home game, and the Ryhope management duo will have Chris Trewick, Brad Hird, Jack Walker and Bailey Judson back in contention.

Left-back Davey Gordon also comes into contention but defender Carl Jones is a doubt with a calf strain.

Hebburn manager Kevin Bolam, meanwhile, has warned his promotion-chasing side that they have to show the right attitude when they visit struggling Northallerton Town.

The Hornets will travel to North Yorkshire with the aim of boosting their bid for a topthree place by extending their unbeaten run to seven league games.

Their hosts have struggled to adapt to life in the Northern League’s top tier after securing promotion from Division Two last season.

Northallerton have won just five of their 23 league games, but will go into Saturday’s game on a high after a Lee Brockbank goal gave them all three points against Whitley Bay last weekend.

“Northallerton are trying to get out of that scrap at the bottom and they are bringing in some quality players to try and help them do that,” Bolam said.

“From our point of view, we have to make sure that we are at it, but we realise just how tough it will be.

“It will be about attitude and if the attitude is right, we won’t be too far away. No team gives you anything for nothing and this is no different.”