There are two key clashes at the top end of Northern League Division Two on Saturday.

Boldon CA have been told they must focus on themselves as they prepare to play a part in an intriguing weekend in the Northern League Division Two title race.

The FA Vase heroes moved back into second place in the table when they claimed a 3-1 home win against basement club Durham United and they are now sitting level on points with leaders Billingham Town ahead of Saturday’s fixtures. Chris Spence and Keaton Trott’s side are now looking towards a tough trip to fourth placed Tow Law Town as they look to boost their bid for what would be a first ever promotion into the Northern League’s top tier.

Boldon CA claimed a 1-0 home win in an FA Vase first round tie against local rivals Jarrow (photo Kieran Gough) | Kieran Gough

placeholder image — Boldon CA claimed a 1-0 home win in an FA Vase first round tie against local rivals Jarrow (photo Kieran Gough) | Kieran Gough

However, they will have one eye on events at Bedford Terrace as the current league leaders host third placed Jarrow as all four the division’s top clubs face off in what is a thrilling weekend at the top end of the table.

Speaking to The Echo ahead of his side’s trip to Tow Law, Boldon joint-manager Spence said: “As the management team, we probably do look at what is going on elsewhere - but we try to not let that filter into the squad because we want the players to be focused on their own jobs.

“We want to focus on ourselves and that’s the mentality we have to have during the rest of the season because if we aren’t doing our jobs then nothing else matters. It’s human nature to have one eye elsewhere especially when you are up there and we have spoken about this weekend and how big the weekend could be at the top end of the table. But the lads know, and we know as a management team, that our only focus has to be on getting a result at Tow Law because we know that is going to be a very, very difficult game for us.”

Fixtures

Saturday: AFC Newbiggin v Billingham Synthonia, Billingham Town v Jarrow, Durham United v Chester-le-Street Town, FC Hartlepool v Grangetown Boys Club, Seaton Carew v Ryton & Crawcrook Albion, Stokesley SC v Seaham Red Star, Sunderland RCA v Darlington Town, Tow Law Town v Boldon CA, Alnwick Town v Newcastle University

Your next football read: Régis Le Bris confirms Sunderland team news latest ahead of Chelsea clash