Whitley Bay manager Ian Chandler has confirmed that striker Paul Chow has a badly sprained ankle – but he should bit for their FA Vase final date against Coalville on May 8th.

Chow, who has scored in every round of the Vase this season, was carried off in the second half of Whitley’s 2-0 home defeat by Ashington last Saturday, and many spectators feared that he would be missing for the rest of the season, including the game at Wembley.

However, x rays on Saturday night revealed that his ankle wasn’t broken, but badly sprained. Chandler said with a hint of understatement: “Paul was rather worried when he was carried off the pitch, but after x rays he should be ok in two or three weeks.”

Meanwhile, Bay are in league action tonight for the fourth time since their Vase semi final victory against Tow Law at Hillheads. They need to win to recover lost ground and keep the pressure on leaders Spennymoor.

Lawyers are without striker Greg Bainbridge, who is unavailable.

Newcastle Benfield can reduce the deficit on the leaders to six points with victory at second bottom Esh Winning.

In the other first division game, South Shields go to Ashington with keeper Josh Carmichael back in the starting line up. Ashington are without midfielder Steven Shaw, who is suspended.

In the second division, North Shields can take advantage of Team Northumbria’s slip up at Whickham on Monday night and go six points clear in third place if they beat Thornaby, and manager Anthony Woodhouse could choose an unchanged side.

Thornaby welcome back Darren Morton, Neil Wilkinson, Alex Marshall, Matty Crossan, Dean Fox and Rob Pearson to their squad.

Crook Town manager Brian Maitland is hoping that several players will return to the squad for their away game at bottom club Morpeth. Crook only had eleven players on Saturday for their home defeat by Guisborough.