Preparation far from ideal for RCA boss ahead of FA Cup clash
Sunderland RCA boss Martin Swales admits that preparations for their FA Cup preliminary round tie at Thornaby have been far from ideal.
Swa l e s’ s i d e h ave s e e n training sessions and their midweek league fixture at Newton Aycliffe postponed after a family member of a squad member tested positive for Covid-19.
However, the player underwent his own test and the result came back negative, so Saturday’s tie on Teesside will now go ahead as RCA look to reac h th e f i r s t qu a l i f y i n g round of the competition for the third time in the last four seasons.
Ahead of the game, Swales told The Echo: “One of the lads returned a negative test after a family member tested positive, but we are all fine now.
“We h a v e t r a i n e d o n Thursday and it’s just been a stop-start season.
"We are a month behind where we were last year and there’s so much uncertainty about everything. We have prepared for Thornaby and I don’t think there will be many goals in the game.
“They beat Bridlington, a very good side, and they beat them, so it makes you think.
“It’s a winnable game, and if we are on our mettle, we can win the game.”
Defender Ross Preston is unavailable, but former Middlesbrough youngster Layton Watts and former Sunderland winger Ryan Leonard will be in the squad after joining the
club this week.
Hebburn Town manager Kevin Bolam will check on the fitness of defensive duo Louis Storey and Dan Groves ahead of their home tie against Pontefract Collieries.
Crook Town will hope to cause an upset when they host Northern Premier L e a g u e N o r t h We s t D iv i - sion club Marske United and Bishop Auckland also take on
higher-level opposition when Ossett United at Belle View. they take on Kendal Town. Ashington manager Ian
There is a Teesside derby Skinner is assessing the fitat Bedford Terrace as Billingness of several players that ham Town entertain Stockpicked up knocks in the ton Town and West Allotment midweek defeat at Stockton Celtic travel to Cumbria to Town as the Colliers prepare face Penrith. to travel to Northern League
Guisborough Town have D iv i s i o n O n e r iva l s We s t a number of injury conAuckland Town. cerns ahead of their home tie Midfielder Jack Cooper against Tadcaster Albion and w i l l m i s s Ne wc a s t l e B e n - FA Vase Finalists Consett face field’s tie at Northern Premier
League club Frickley Athletic through suspension.
Seaham Red Star go looking for their first goal and win of the Northern League Division One season when they host a North Shields side containing former players Dan Wilson, Anthony Myers and David Robinson.
A double-header against FA Vase finalists Consett and Hebburn Town will come hot on the heels of their meeting with the Robins.
Scott Young is the only absentee from the Red Star squad and is facing another month on the side-lines following a knee ligament injury.
Shildon, who lost at promotion rivals Hebburn Town in midweek, travel to Newton Aycliffe and Northallerton Town host Whickham; two sides unbeaten in the league.