Bogan fires a warning shot to Horden CW’s Wearside League rivals

Last weekend’s 4-1 home win against Norton and Stockton Ancients was followed up by a hard-earned 6-2 triumph at Farringdon Detached in midweek and they will look to make it three wins on the spin when they entertain Darlington RA on Saturday.

Horden head into the game looking to make up a nine-point deficit on leaders Boldon CA, although they do hold two games in hand over David Crumbie’s side.

But as they look to give a further boost to their bid for promotion, Bogan is confident that his side can improve further over the coming weeks.

He told The Echo: “The break hurt us, there’s no doubts about that.

“We were just finding some form, but the two weeks off killed us, and we were well-beaten at Hartlepool and then at Bishops, but there were positives from that.

“The reaction in the second-half on Wednesday was fantastic, and we are looking more like ourselves at the moment.

“In a couple of the earlier games, we looked at our best, and we did on Wednesday in the second-half, but we are still getting there.

“It’s two wins back-to-back, and we are confident that we can keep improving.”

Horden duo Ewan Simpson and Robbie Renwick have been ruled out of the game and Bogan confirmed that Marc Moon and Callum Hodgson will undergo fitness tests.

League leaders Boldon CA will hand late fitness tests to Tom West and Tom Williams ahead of their visit to Norton and Stockton Ancients.

Defender Sam Attewell is definitely out of the game as he serves a suspension.

Silksworth CW manager Jamie Cole will be without Harry Graham, Harry Munday and Dan Martin as his side head to Cumbria to take on Windscale.

However, Dan Thompson will be in the Silksworth squad after returning to the club from Farringdon Detached.

Thompson’s former club will hope to bounce back from their midweek home defeat against Horden when they head to Annfield Plain.

Manager Liam Lay suffered a blow this week after top goalscorer Jordan Southern picked up an injury that will rule him out of the game at Derwent Park.

However, he is boosted by the news that Jay Martin and Adam Frame will return to the squad.

Brian Harrison, Mitchell Simons and Harvey Cronin have all been ruled out of Washington United’s home game against Chester-le-Street United as their side go looking for consecutive wins for the first time this season.

Graham Stephenson will miss Coxhoe Athletic’s visit to West Auckland Tunns as he serves the first game of a three-match ban for the red card he received in last week’s 3-2 against Silksworth.

Gateshead Leam Rangers trio Liam McVicar, Joe Riley and Rob Houghton remain suspended and will miss their side’s home game against Wolviston.