NEWTON Aycliffe manager Deano Browne is hoping that their midweek win against Bishop Auckland can help them in their away game at leaders Morpeth.

Aycliffe lifted themselves out of the bottom three with a good 2-0 away win at Bishop Auckland in midweek, and manager Deano Browne said; “The lads have a bit of confidence after beating Bishop, but we know that the trip to Morpeth is the toughest of the season, but we will be ready and will give 100 per cent to try and cause an upset.”

However, Aycliffe won’t be helped by the absence of five players for various reasons.

Bishop Auckland, who are two points above the relegation zone, have a big home game against third bottom Washington.

Bishops have lost their last two matches, and manager Colin Myers said; “Our performance was very poor in midweek, there is a lot of work to do on the tea.”

Myers expects to choose from a full strength squad.

West Auckland are at Consett, one of their title rivals, and manager Gary Forrest will choose from a full squad.

He’ll be hoping that his defence will keep only their second clean sheet of the season in the league – they have the worst goals against record in the top half of the table.

In the second division, Tow Law are hoping to stretch their unbeaten start to the season to twelve league matches away to Bedlington, and they are strengthened by the returns of striker Kai Hewitson and defender Lewis Harrison, but Kieran Parnaby and Ellis Tait are both on County FA duty.

Lawyers are currently two points clear of Northallerton who go to Willington. Skipper Dan Jones, Stephen Jackson, Aaron Ramsbottom and Liam Jarvie will all have fitness tests, while Elliot McGlade is unavailable, but Andy Shepherd, Stephen Cheeseman, Matty Dixon and Colin Anderson should all return.

Willington include new signing Matty Moffat, who made his debut on Wednesday against Esh Winning, but Connor Winter, Jeff Smith, Michael Brown and Nathan Plews are all missing, but Evan Graham and Connor Lowes both return.

Crook Town face Durham City at the Millfield, and will be missing Luke Hogan and Paul Stevenson, but otherwise they are at full strength. Manager Wilf Constantine said; “We’re glad to have a game after a free weekend last week.” He includes new signings Marcus Laing from Northallerton and Isam Mohamad from Esh Winning.

Durham, who are seventh from bottom, are without Jeremy Allen and Ross Simpson, but Craig Hennis and Ste Malloy will return.

Second bottom Chester-le-Street are looking for their second home win of the season against midtable Esh Winning and will be without Chris Stephenson, Aaron Thompson and Alexander Walker. Manager Colin Wake said; “We are looking to build on the encouraging second half performance at Jarrow last week when we started playing somewhere near our potential. It took some stern words before that game to get a reaction.”

Esh are without their top scorer Callum Boakes as well as five other players missing, but Joe Gill, Sean Johnson and Joe Wilkinson all return.

Darlington RA go to managerless Easington, and will include new signing Jim Wilson in their squad, otherwise they will be at full strength.

Brandon are at Heaton Stannington, and they include new signings Zak Renwick and Aaron Jackson, but they will be missing Michael Searby, Dan Quine, Luke Thompson, Reece Marshall and Kyle Wren.