Shildon manager Gary Forrest says that he is going to wrap his key players in cotton wool for their local derby at home to West Auckland today.
Shildon’s squad was stretched to the limit because of injuries last Saturday when they pulled off a superb FA Vase quarter final win at Ascot United, and in midweek, two more players, striker Sam Garvie and defender Carl Jones, picked up knocks in the 4-0 defeat at leaders Darlington.
“What's important to the club is these two semi finals and we will now be wrapping certain players up in cotton wool and they won't play again until next Saturday,” said Forrest.
Former Darlington midfielder Phil Brumwell came out of retirement to come on as sub in midweek, and he is sure to play some part in the game at Dean Street.
Second placed West have fitness doubts over keeper Neal Atkinson and centre halves Darryl Hall and Mark Stephenson.

 

Champions Spennymoor are at home to Sunderland RCA, and they welcome back top scorer Gavin Cogdon who has missed the two midweek games because of work commitments. The RCA hope to complete the signing of keeper Jonny Ball from Whitley Bay in time for the game, while Scott Richards, Paul Buzzeo, Gary Shaw and Nicky Kane all return. Moors play twice next week in the league ahead of their Vase tie.


Billingham Town, who have given themselves a chance of avoiding the drop after winning 7-3 at Guisborough in midweek, can close the five point gap on safety if they can beat Penrith at Bedford Terrace. Manager Carl Jarrett is likely to pick the same team that won in midweek.

The pressure is back on Newton Aycliffe , who have slipped to fourth bottom and are at home to Bedlington, and they welcome back midfielder Sean Tarling, but Josh Knox is unavailable.


Bottom of the table Norton need to win at Marske,  otherwise they look doomed as they are 21 points below safety. Manager Andy Campbell will probably welcome back a couple of players who were unavailable in midweek
Marske, who are five points above the relegation zone, are without midfielder David Wells and injured midfielder Alex Dougall.


Second bottom South Shields are at Newcastle Benfield, who are without striker Gary Day, who broke his ankle in training in midweek.

 

Bishop Auckland are looking for their tenth away league win of the season when they go to Guisborough, and manager Colin Myers are hoping that a couple of players will return after missing the midweek win at North Shields. Guisborough manager Chris Hardy has injury concerns over eleven players, while another two are unavailable.
Whitley Bay, who won 4-0 at Durham in midweek, are at Team Northumbria, and they will give fitness tests to four players, Chris Fawcett, Brad Brooking, Ian Watson and Callum Anderson.

Billingham Synthonia are at home to  Durham City, and they add Andy Forster and Dan Newby to the team that drew with West Auckland on Thursday night.
City manager Adam Furness has a long injury list. Scott Fenwick, Ian Ward, Matthew Scott, Craig Hindmarch, Adam Clough and Josh Gray will all miss out. Paul Dixon is unlikely to feature but will have a fitness test, whilst Jonny Giles, Rhys Jobling and Joe Barwick are all unavailable.

Dunston UTS, who are at home to Consett, welcome striker Steve Goddard and midfielder Kane Young back to their squad. Consett include new midfielder Keiran Martin, signed from Sunderland, but they are missing injured centre half Davey Scorer.

Hebburn Town are at home to Celtic Nation, looking for their first win in twelve matches since early January.  Manager Paul Bennett will have a full squad to choose from, except for defender Dan Kirkup, who is suspended.
Celtic Nation are playing for the second time in 48 hours, and they will be missing Tony Hopper and James Earl.

The second division game of the day is between third placed Jarrow Roofing and second in the table Ryhope CW, with seven points separating the two sides.
Jarrow Roofing manager Richie McLoughlin is without injured striker Andy Appleby for the rest of the season, while another striker, Dan Smart, will have a fitness test.
Ryhope, who have scored in every game they’ve played this season, add keeper Chris Rookes to the squad that beat Chester-le-Street 5-0 in midweek, while Ross Stead, Nathan Johnson and Greg Swansbury will all have fitness tests.

Leaders Crook Town, who are nine points clear,  are at fourth bottom Stokesley and they welcome back defender Ian Maddison after suspension, while Chris Wallace, Alex Marshall and Steve Walklate are all injured.
Stokesley, who are two points above the relegation zone, are strengthened by the returns of Danny Ballantine, Derek Bradley and Javier Bravo.

Darlington RA, in fourth after their best ever Northern League win in midweek, are at Whickham, and manager Nick Harrison will be tempted to choose the same team, although he is probably missing Matthew Calvert and Stephen Cheeseman.

Northallerton, in seventh and eleven points off the top three, need to beat Whitehaven at Ainderby Road. Top scorer Adam Emson and defender Danny Shoulder both return to the Northallerton side, while they include new signing Dan Clayton from Harrogate Town for his second spell at the club.

The scrap to avoid relegation is getting more intense.
Bottom club Horden have a difficult away game at North Shields, and manager Darren Atkinson will have a full squad to choose from. Shields, who need a win to stay in touch with the leading trio, are without keeper Michael Robinson, defender John Hook and midfielder Michael McKeown. Striker Keith Douglas and defender Femi Akinbolu will have fitness tests.

Second bottom Esh Winning are at Ryton and Crawcrook, and need to bounce back quickly from their 8-1 mauling at Darlington RA in midweek. Third bottom Alnwick are at Seaham Red Star, who have tumbled out of the top three in recent weeks.


Birtley, who are seventh bottom, are at home to form team West Allotment, and have defender Steve graham and striker Owen Peterson out injured.
Allotment, who haven’t lost in eleven matches, are missing striker Liam Hudson and keeper Aiden Ames, so they will choose from a squad of 20.

Washington are at home to Tow Law in a game that has been switched from Ironworks Road to the Nissan complex. Tow Law manager Gary Anderson welcomes back several players who missed the 5-2 away defeat at Whitehaven last week
Thornaby, who had an excellent away win at North Shields last Saturday, are at Morpeth and hope to have Rocky Andrews and Steve Morrison back in their squad.

Chester-le-Street manager Colin Wake is without Adam Smith, Stephen Buzzeo, Craig Mickle, Ian Davison and Gary Turton for their away game at Brandon, but he could make at least one new signing before the game..


In the Evostik League, Blyth, under the new managership of Tom Wade following the departure of Paddy Atkinson, are at home to Ilkeston and Whitby are away to Matlock