Hebburn Town look to move into pole position in promotion race in Whitby Town test

Hebburn Town manager Daniel Moore believes his players ‘have the bit between their teeth’ as they look to move to the top of the NPL Premier Division table with a home win against Whitby Town on Tuesday night.

The Hornets were finally handed a chance to move on from their Boxing Day defeat at Stockton Town on Saturday when they returned to action for the first time this year with a home clash against play-off contenders Ashton United. After a hard-fought contest that saw the visitors reduced to ten men when Sean Newton saw red before half-time, Moore’s men pounced to claim the points deep in second-half injury-time as striker Gary Martin’s penalty eventually saw off a dogged Ashton side.

The win also ensured Hebburn remained just two points adrift of leaders Hednesford Town - but they could lift themselves to the summit by winning their game in hand against Whitby on Tuesday night. Moore has stressed he could look to make changes to his starting lineup - but insisted he will ‘put the best team out’ as his side look to secure yet another three points on home soil.

He said: “Recovery is important because not playing for the amount of time we have will take its toll on bodies. We might make some changes to keep it fresh but the players have got the bit between their teeth. I think we will always go to the end, we will always try and win and they will be prepared for Tuesday.

“They understand what position they’ve put themselves in and they enjoy doing it. So it’s another big game because Whitby will want to come here and pick some points up. We have got to be ready for that. We will prepare, we will have a look at them and we will put the best team out that we think is going to get three points.”

The likes of Olly Martin, Joe Oliver and on-loan Hartlepool United youngster Kian Foreman could come into contention after they were named as substitutes for Saturday’s win. Doncaster Rovers winger Alex Pavan will also be in the Horners squad once again after joining on a dual registration basis last week.

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