WITH the third-placed team 68 points adrift of the top spot it can be safely assumed the battle for the Fosters Durham Senior League championship is a two-horse race.
Burnmoor face one of their toughest tests in the run-in when they play at Bunker Hill this afternoon. Despite some recent modest form Philadelphia have still only lost one league game but a key factor may be the continuing absence of overseas ‘pro’ Gerry de Bruin because of his shoulder injury. The leaders have Ian Conn back.
Whitburn can also turn out their best line-up for the home game with a third-placed Boldon side who will be without Johnny Wightman. Hetton Lyons will battle Boldon all the way for third place and today they entertain the current form team, Durham City. While Lyons are unchanged City will not have the silky services of Subhan Christudhas available to them this week but do welcome Rob Flunder.
Horden take on an Eppleton team now securely in the top-half of the table. Kevin Spanton and Paul Patterson are missing for the home side while the visitors are back up to maximum strength as Chris Naylor returns. Seaham Harbour opened up the possibility of avoiding the wooden spoon with their first victory of the season last week, but the euphoria was short lived after their clubhouse was vandalised a few days ago. However, they have picked themselves up and travel to Marsden in determined mood. The home side have two changes with Harry Mann and Brett Horgan replacing David Stewart and Gary Malcolm.
The holiday season has really hit South Hetton hard – the name W A Bennett even appearing at number eleven on their scoresheet last week as the club and league chairman answered a playing SOS. Visiting Felling have not been without their own problems recently and this promises to be an intriguing game given the importance to both sides.
Leaders Esh Winning look like having to give up their number one spot today in the Readers Durham County League.
Esh lead the table by a solitary point from Kimblesworth, but barring a miracle will be in second place at close of play tonight as they take their turn to sit out the day’s programme. Kimblesworth will almost certainly take maximum advantage of their game in hand as they play the side sitting in joint bottom position, Langley Park.
The current champions are in buoyant mood after lifting the Carslberg UK Cup last week and are poised to go back to the top of the tree with a full-strength team at their disposal. And Park could find themselves marooned at the bottom as the two sides who are level with them on points, Etherley and Mainsforth, clash in perhaps the most intriguing game of the day.
Etherley seemed nailed on for the wooden spoon a few weeks ago and then the arrival of replacement ‘pro’ Shikra Dharwan saw a marked improvement in their performances and a surge in their fortunes. Mainsforth also have an overseas gem in their ranks – 22-year-old Trinidadian Brian Yearwood. Father and son duo Bobby and Tom Orton are back to boost Mainsforth but Etherley will be missing Michael Crane and Andy Raine.
A few weeks ago Brandon were looking over their shoulders at the bottom spot but a surge in their form sent them scurrying up the table. They go in search of their fourth win on the trot in their home game with Crook Town. Keeper Craig Hewitt is back in the team for the home side while Town will be missing Michael Fawcett and Lee Formosa. In the other games third-placed Hylton take on fourth-placed Tudhoe, while in-form Evenwood travel to take on league cup winners Willington.
The make-up of this Saturday’s fixture list in the 3D Durham Coast League is such that Castle Eden could take a giant step towards the league title as they tackle the winless Peterlee, while their closest rivals go head to head. Bill Quay are in second place but with time running out their home game with Murton is a win-at-all-costs affair. Murton are currently in fourth position, but have a crucial game in hand on the three teams above them and may pose the biggest threat to Castle Eden’s hopes as the two meet in the last game of the season at Murton. Crucially Quay have the two Cuskerans, Mark and Neil, missing for the game, with Kevin South and James Hutson promoted from the seconds.
Boldon CA’s position is not dissimilar to that of Murton in that they are just four points worse off, but they too have that vital game in hand. With Gary Critchley back and Carl Birkett drafted in they look to have a powerful line-up for their home game with third-placed Seaham Park. The visitors have real problems as lots of players. The other team in the mid-table mix of sides with a game in hand, and who could pose a threat, are Silksworth and they travel to play a Dawdon team with little to play for. The remaining match is at Easington where Ryhope are the visitors.
The home side have lost Paul Griffith to football, with Peter Booth stepping in. Ryhope will keep faith with their young side.
