Northern League: Frustrated Boldon CA look to end poor run of form
There is a busy weekend lying in wait across the North East non-league scene.
Joint-manager Chris Spence has admitted there is an air of frustration as Boldon CA as they look to preserve their Northern League status during the final weeks of the season.
The Villa outfit are sitting just two points and two places above the relegation zone ahead of Saturday’s visit to Ryton and Crawcrook Albion and they will face a tough challenge as they look to end a run of eight games without a win at the Oldhaulage Stadium. Spence believes results haven’t always matched performances in recent weeks - but warned his players they must start producing if they are to avoid the drop into the Wearside League.
He told The Gazette: “The mood in the camp is probably a bit frustrating if I’m honest. We have shown we can compete with good sides in recent weeks by going toe-to-toe with Redcar Town and missing a penalty in injury time and then beating Carlisle City in the cup - but we just haven’t managed to replicate those performances consistently.
"The lads are determined to get us out of trouble. It’s about finishing as strong as we can now and then resetting next season. We’ve got a talented squad and we believe with a full pre-season and a fresh start we can really push on. We head to Ryton on Saturday and we know it’ll be a tough test, but when we hit the levels I know we can, we’re capable of giving anyone a game.”
Boldon will be without Jesse Nelson as he is serving a three-match ban but Jordan Laidler is back in contention after completing a suspension of his own.
Non-League Day fixtures
National League: Gateshead v Yeovil Town - NE10 0EF
National League North: AFC Fylde v Darlington - PR4 3JZ, King’s Lynn Town v Spennymoor Town - PE30 5PB, South Shields v Alfreton Town - NE32 3UP
Northern Premier League Premier Division: Hebburn Town v Lancaster City - NE31 1UN, Hyde United v Stockton Town - SK14 5PL, Morpeth Town v Leek Town - NE61 2YX
Northern Premier League East Division: Blyth Town v Heaton Stannington - NE24 3PS, Consett v Pontefract Collieries - DH8 7BF, Newton Aycliffe v Blyth Spartans - DL5 5AG, Redcar Athletic v Bishop Auckland - TS10 3RW
Northern League Division One: Newcastle Blue Star v Penrith - NE15 7HB, Carlisle City v Crook Town - CA1 3AF, North Shields v Thornaby - NE29 0SS, Marske United v West Auckland Town - TS11 7BW, Northallerton Town v Boro Rangers - DL7 8HA, Birtley Town v Easington Colliery - DH3 2QW, Newcastle Benfield v Guisborough Town - NE6 4NU, Whitley Bay v Horden CW - NE25 8HR
Northern League Division Two: Yarm & Eaglescliffe v Durham United - TS23 4AG, FC Hartlepool v Redcar Town - TS24 8PJ, Park View AFC v Tow Law Town - DH3 3SH, Esh Winning v Sunderland RCA - DH7 9BQ, Chester-le-Street Town v Jarrow - DH2 3BX, Prudhoe YC Seniors v AFC Newbiggin - NE42 5EH, Ryton & Crawcrook Albion v Boldon CA - NE40 3SN, Seaham Red Star v Alnwick Town - SR7 0BH, Billingham Synthonia v Newcastle University - TS19 0QD
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