Darlington RA face a crunch match at the bottom of the second division when Alnwick come to Brinkburn Road today.

The RA are currently second bottom of the table, just above Alnwick who pulled off a shock result a fortnight ago when they beat promotion chasing Heaton Stannington to move just a point behind the RA with two games in hand. They are two points behind third bottom Brandon, with the bottom two likely to go down at the end of the season.

RA assistant manager Mike Colman said; “It’s a huge game for both clubs, and we’re looking to get a massive win to kickstart a revival in form.”

Keeper Phil Pentony and defender Andrew Lonsdale will both be missing because of injury.

In the first division, Bishop Auckland manager Colin Myers takes his side back to one of his previous clubs, Consett – their second game this week on a 3G surface after playing and losing at Stockton on Wednesday night.

Top scorer Andy Johnson and midfielder Tommy Marron are both missing because of injury.

Shildon are hoping to maintain their challenge for second place when they go to Guisborough, and manager Danny Moore is hoping to have a full squad available.

Shildon are currently sixth in the table, five points behind second placed Consett on the same games.

West Auckland travel to Ryhope CW, to whom they lost 5-2 at home earlier in the season.

Manager Gary Forrest said; “We’re pushing for a top three finish, so we need to get our heads down and win games.”

West have scored 14 goals in their last three matches, and they will be missing midfielder Alex Francis today.

Newton Aycliffe go to Stockton Town, who climbed to into seventh place in midweek, and manager Deano Browne expects to choose from a full squad. “We’ve still got a bitter taste in our mouths after the defeat at Ryhope in our last game, and we are looking forward to righting the wrongs against a Stockton side who have performed really well this season and deserve to be in the semis of the Vase.“ Stockton are putting tickets on sale today for the home leg of their Vase semi-final against Marske on March 24th It’s a big day at the top of the table with Marske taking on leaders Morpeth. Marske are 21 points behind with ten games in hand. The game has been switched to Billingham Town because Marske’s ground is unfit.

In the other second division matches, Tow Law, who are in sixth but with games in hand on the teams above them, are at Durham City and are looking for their first win in four league matches.

Durham, who are in tenth, will be missing Ste Malloy and Jeremy Allen, but Josh Thompson and Matthew Smith both return.

Manager Olly Hotchkiss said; “It will be a tough game against a very good side but hopefully if we can perform to our maximum then hopefully we can get a positive result.”

Willington, who are ninth, have a big test away to Heaton Stannington and manager Rob Lee will have a full squad to choose from. “It’s another difficult game against a team in form and one place above us in the league. We will have to be at our best.”

Chester-le-Street, who are 13th, go to the 3G at West Allotment, who are two places and three points behind them.

Kieran Megran and Tom Iley will both be missing for Chester, whose manager Colin Wake will give a debut to striker Sam Moore, signed from Ryton a month ago. He said; “We have bad memories of playing on 3G surfaces from last year up at Consett so we will be looking to put to bed some demons against West Allotment. We will just be glad to get some football on after the little mini-break.”

Crook Town, who are fifth bottom, are at home to Jarrow two places above them. Midfielder Callum Johnson is missing because of an ankle injury, and manager Chris Lax said; “Hopefully we can carry on from the Tow Law win and get another three points which we are capable of doing if we reproduce the same work ethic again for 90 minutes.”

Crook are currently twelve points above the bottom two with games in hand.

Esh Winning, who are in twelfth, are at fourth bottom Bedlington, and they will be without Nick Marley who is suspended, while Chris Mordue and Kai Hewitson are both missing. However, they include new signing Sean Johnson.

Manager Tony Boakes said; “We are expecting a very hard game but we will be looking to reverse the result from earlier in the season.”

Brandon, who have only picked up one point from their last four matches, are at Blyth AFC, and they will be missing strikers Connor Lowes and Nathan Stephenson because of injury, while keeper Jack Robson is doubtful with a leg injury.

Manager Steve Skinner said; “This will be another big game, but all of them are big at the moment. We will give everything we have to try and get the points needed.”