Toomey has chance to make job his own

Toomey was previously assistant to Nick Harrison who left last week with the club seven points adrift of the rest at the bottom of the table, and he was made caretaker manager for the narrow 3-2 away defeat at Bishop Auckland in the league cup in midweek.

Now he’s got the chance to become the club’s fourth permanent manager this calendar year if the players produce a good performance at home to Penrith today.

“I was proud of the players’ fighting spirit on Tuesday night,” he said.

“There was a lack of confidence amongst them in previous games. The request to be caretaker manager came as a surprise, and it’s down to me now to do my best, and try and get a couple of good results, especially against some of the beatable teams, like Penrith today.

“If I get the same level of commitment today as I did on Tuesday, then I might be having a discussion with the chairman.” Toomey will probably choose from an unchanged squad.

League leaders West Auckland are at home to Sunderland RCA, and they are hoping that striker Mattie Moffat will be able to return after injury.

Second bottom RCA haven’t won away yet in the league this season, and include new signing Clayton Davies from Washington, while Joe Hughes, Ross Preston, Gary Wood, Lewis Wood and Steve Callen will all have fitness tests.

Marske United, who are fourth, are at home to Consett, and will be without striker Freddie Woodhouse, who suffered a broken leg in midweek. Luke Johnston and Sam Garvie are both missing, but midfielder Austin Johnston returns.

Consett welcome back striker Luke Sullivan, but David Brown, Jonny Wright, Scott Martindale and Danny Craggs are all missing.

Billingham Synthonia’s new manager, Conrad Hillerby, takes charge of a league game for the first time when they play Morpeth at Central Avenue. Defender Thomas Bott returns after suspension, but new signings Thom Hinchley and Tom Atkinson are both included in the squad. Synners are five points adrift of safety, and have only won three times this season. Morpeth are without Stephen Forster and Michael Fenwick, who are both unavailable.

Bishop Auckland, who are fifth, could go joint third if they beat Newcastle Benfield at Heritage Park, but they are without several players because of injury. Defenders Graham Irving, Glen Lane and Ben Riding, plus midfielder Olly Hotchkiss are all injured, while top scorer Johnny Butler is suspended.

Benfield, who haven’t won away yet this season, are without player-manager Steve Bowey because of a foot injury, but strikers Michael Riley and Dillon Morse could both return after injury.

Shildon, who are 11th and with games in hand on all the teams above them, are at Whitley Bay, and are without midfielder Lee Scroggins because of suspension and striker Micky Rae who is unavailable. Whitley will probably make changes after conceding six in midweek at Seaham Red Star.

Newton Aycliffe are looking for their first win in three league games at home to Ashington, but they will be without several players because of injury. Ashington, who scored seven in midweek at Thornaby, are without top scorer Marc Walton, but midfielder Kyle Downey returns.

Dunston UTS and Guisborough face each other on successive Saturdays, this week in the league and next week in the Vase. Dunston, who are second, include new striker Dan O’Reilly, signed from Irish club Athlone Town, while keeper Liam Connell returns after suspension. Midfielder Chay Liddle returns for Guisborough, while they have an injury doubt over Tommy Marron.

Durham City face third placed North Shields at New Ferens Park, where they have lost just once this season. City are waiting for international clearance for Walid Abeid, brother of Newcastle’s Mehdi. Defender Ross Wilkinson and striker Callum Patton are both major doubts. Shields are without strikers Peter Glen-Ravenhill and Dean Walker, but midfielder Adam Forster returns.

Jarrow Roofing, who are sixth, are at home to fourth bottom Celtic Nation, and welcome back Corey Barnes and Jamie Marshall, while midfielder Shaun Vipond will have a late fitness test. Lewis Teasdale is missing because of suspension.

Striker John Campbell is still the subject of transfer speculation, with Oxford United keen on signing him, but they haven’t yet agreed a fee.

The Nation welcome back Mark Boyd after suspension, while there are doubts over Dean Crozier and Dean Armstrong.

Bedlington, who are seventh after losing their last three league games, are at home to fifth bottom West Allotment, and are missing five players because of injury, while another four will have fitness tests. However, they include midfielder Ryan McGorrigan, signed from Durham City. Allotment are without Michael Hall and Chris Douglass because of injury.

In the second division, Northallerton’s new manager, Steve Skinner, takes charge of a league game for the first time away at Whickham, and he includes himself in the squad. Ross Teesdale is missing because he’s on County FA duty, while Craig Perry and Mark Hemingway are both injured. James Muir will have a fitness test.

Whickham are without midfielder Ross Peareth because of suspension, while Scott Donaldson and Kris Holmes are also missing. Tom Soutar, Craig Jelly and Mark Pattison could all return.

League leaders Team Northumbria are at Ryhope CW, who are missing defender Darryl Evans and striker Nathan O’Neill because of suspension.

Second placed Norton are at home to bottom club Brandon and are without midfielder Jack Proctor, but keeper David Knight and midfielder Michael Jameson both return. New defender Jack Rounce will make his debut for Brandon.

The division’s game of the day is between sixth placed Hebburn and Washington, two places above them. The division’s leading scorer, Channon North, returns for Hebburn while midfielder Scott Wallace is doubtful. Washington will give strikers James Fairley and Joe Walton and midfielder Michael Coghlan fitness tests, but defenders Joe Kendrick and Paul Wardle both return.

High scoring Seaham Red Star face second bottom Esh Winning, whom they beat 12-1 in the Vase in early October. Defenders Ryan Burton and Chris Storey, plus midfielder Gary Shaw are all unavailable, while David Palmer and Darryl Donnelly both have late fitness tests. Captain Chris Scott returns to the side. Seaham have scored 14 goals in their last three games.

Thornaby, who had a good win at Team North last week, are at home to Chester-le-Street, and they include new signings Matt McQuennie and Paul Jones, while winger Craig Ruddy returns. Curtis Edwards is unavailable, while Phil Horseman and Michael Duff are both suspended. Chester, who have lost only once in their last five games, are without Jackie Honour, Jake Stafford and Robbie Draper. Thornaby are unbeaten at home in eight league matches this season.

Darlington RA have a tough home game against Heaton Stannington, and they will be without full back Andrew Green because of suspension.

Heaton, who are unbeaten in their last eight league games , include new signing Graeme Cairns from Team Northumbria, plus possibly another new face before the game. Striker Brian Dodsworth returns.

Willington, who had a good result last week at Heaton Stannington, are at home to Billingham Town, and they could include two new signings – former players David Moffat from Tow Law and midfielder Adam Pinkney from Northallerton. They are without midfielder Mike Weston because of suspension, but Adam Burnicle and Jason White both return. Ian Bishop, Aiden Cattermole and James Robertson all return for Town, but Stephen Hodgson and Joel Callender are both still missing.

Third bottom Tow Law are at Alnwick, and manager Gary Anderson includes new keeper Ryan Mundell, while striker Joe Grant returns after missing the midweek game.

Lawyers have picked up more points away than at Ironworks Road this season.

Fourth bottom Stokesley are at Ryton and Crawcrook, and they welcome back full back Kristian Kamara after being out for two months with a punctured lung, while Matty Crossen is unavailable. Striker Greg Peel returns to the squad.

Birtley, who are at home to South Shields, are without their top scorer Kai Hewitson because of work, while five others are missing because of injury. However, skipper Paul Oxley returns. Shields include new signing Dan Reeves.