Big promotion clash for the Railwaymen

While Stockton have just about sealed one promotion place, the next two promotion places are between six clubs – with Shildon and Hebburn second and third respectively.

“We’ve had two good wins on the bounce against Whitley Bay and West Auckland, and now I want our players to make it three,” he said.

“A win will be massive for us, because it will really put the pressure on the other clubs, especially Hebburn and Consett who are still in the Vase.

“I reckon that five wins should be enough for us to clinch promotion.”

Moore expects to choose from a full strength side this afternoon.

Hebburn will learn their Vase semi final opponents today, they’re awaiting the winners of the Leighton Town v Corinthian quarter final.

West Auckland have a big task at home to league leaders Stockton Town, and are hoping to bounce back from three straight defeats in Vase and league.

Stockton will have a full squad, and are on the verge of clinching promotion – they need another eleven points from nine games.

Manager Micky Dunwell said; “We watched West play at Shildon, so we’ve got more of an idea what they’re about from earlier in the season when we played them.”

Bottom club Northallerton have a big home game against Newcastle Benfield, and are looking to bounce back from their 2-0 defeat at Ashington last week.

Newton Aycliffe need to beat Penrith to maintain their top three hopes after losing heavily to Hebburn in midweek. They are currently in fifth place, eleven points behind the promotion places with a game in hand.

Sixth placed Guisborough go to Ryhope CW, and hope that former Darlington and Middlesbrough midfielder Brian Close has recovered from injury. Manager Gary Forster said; “Going there is never easy and they are unbeaten in their last six.”

Midtable Bishop Auckland are at third bottom Thornaby, and hope to bounce back from their heavy defeat by North Shields last week. They hope to sign midfielder Kieran Charlton on loan from South Shields in time for the game.

Manager Ian Chandler said; “Big improvements are needed after last week’s second half collapse. Granted we were down to 10 men when 1-0 down but to gift four goals is not acceptable. The players need to stand up and be counted now, some may be thinking they'll just see the season out and possibly move on – that’s all well and good, but I won’t let them see the season out if I think they are not putting the effort in, I’ll just release them now.”

Thornaby are missing Scott Howes, Matty Crust and Kurtis Howes, and manager Craig Haley said; “We’re looking forward to the game with confidence after our win last week over Billingham Town.”

In the second division, second placed Crook are at home to Chester-le-Street.

Crook manager Jamie Tunstall expects to have a full squad, and said; “Chester-Le-Street are a team I'm always wary of, as they are very well organised and are often hard to break down. Saturday will be no different and we'll have to make sure we manage their threat as best as we can. The lads have got the bit between their teeth at the moment and are focused on the next game. We've got to try and keep winning games and apply the pressure to the sides around us.”

Crook are currently a point ahead of Redcar.

Chester, who lost at Billingham Synthonia in midweek, are missing several players for various reasons, but Michael and Danny Hepplewhite, plus Chris Stephenson all return to the squad.

Manager Colin Wake said; “This is a really tough test given the form of both sides. Crook are flying at the minute and we are struggling to find any type of consistency. It will be backs against the wall for most of the game but if we set up correctly and don't make silly mistakes like we did last night; we will make them earn everything they get from the game.”

Tow Law, who are in eighth have a big away game at third placed Redcar Athletic. Lawyers are seven points off the top four with two games in hand.

Manager Micky Vasey said; “This will be a really hard game against a very good Redcar team.” Evan Graham and Michael Brown are both missing.

Redcar are missing keeper Will Lawrence because of injury, as well as strikers Kallum Hannah and Adam Preston. Manager Steve Connolly said; “We’ve no doubt that Tow Law will give us one of our toughest games of the season.”

Esh Winning take on fourth placed Billingham Synthonia at Waterhouses, and welcome back top scorer Channon North and four other players, but Callum Boakes, Joe Gill, Scott Arnott and Sam Steel are all missing because of injury. Manager Tony Boakes said; “It’s a massively important league game which should be very good and competitive.”

Synners have won their last five matches to climb into the promotion positions, and apart from their long term injuries, expect to be at full strength. Manager Dave Dickson said; “We must win in order to keep the pressure on the teams around us.”

Willington are at Sunderland West End, and expect to have a full squad. Manager Ibby Hassan said; “West End have had an up and down season just like us. They beat us earlier in the season that we expected to win, and it’s important that we put that right. We go into the game full of confidence on the back of two wins.”

Willington climbed up to 12th in the table after winning in midweek at Esh Winning.

Bottom club Durham need to beat Birtley as they try to close the gap on second bottom Brandon. They have signed keeper Mattie Bancroft who has been at Darlington, as they look for only their third league win of the season.

Meanwhile, the league has stated that to avoid the possible spread of coronavirus, there is no need for the pre- and post-match handshakes to take place.

In the Buildbase FA Vase, Consett are at Atherstone in their delayed quarter final, and if they win, will be up against Bitton in the two-legged semi-finals.

Hebburn are already through, which means that a second all Northern League Vase final at Wembley is on the cards.