Wearside League: Silksworth chairman backs more use of 3G surfaces to ease backlog

Ahead of tomorrow’s league trip to Richmond Town, he said: “We went out of the Durham FA Trophy on an all-weather pitch at Stockton West End following three abortive attempts to play on a grass surface.

“It would be helpful if clubs, during bad weather, could manage to get two or three games played in order to ease the backlog at the end of the season.”

Manager Sean Butler takes a fully-fit squad into North Yorkshire, while Richmond Town cannot call upon Mark Edzes or Kalumn Holbrook.

New signing Stephen Ward is added to the squad and Joe Joyce will be pushing to make his home debut, but the pair are in competition with Lee White and Connor Lyon, who have regained fitness.

Seaham Red Star Reserves will be hoping to catch Hartlepool on the bounce. On Tuesday, Pools were thumped 9-0 by Northern League First Division side Newton Aycliffe in the Durham Challenge Cup.

Red Star manager Don Naylor reports that, following the long lay-off, he has no injury concerns, with Kyle Bell and Adam Hepple ready to take their places in the squad

So, too, is Dan Reeves, re-signed from Easington Colliery, and Chris Blaney, who has come in from Sunday football.

Pool, who have no selection worries, will go third, behind leaders Redcar Athletic and Stockton Town, if they claim all three points.

Sunderland West End have played fewer matches than any other side and still have 23 fixtures to complete.

Manager Anth Nelson’s side are fifth in the table and, although 13 points off the top, have no fewer than seven games in hand on Redcar.

The Wearsiders are eight points adrift of second-top Stockton Town, having played two fewer games, so a win at Horden CW tomorrow is a must if they are to keep up with the leading pair.

Callum Charlton and Adam Hopps are still trying to complete bans and are again omitted from the Ashbrooke Belford House team sheet for the visit of Leam Rangers to Silksworth.

An injured knee sidelines Dillon Holden, but Stephen Halliday is now free of suspension and also in the reckoning are Brett Wilson and Michael Jacob.

Leam are in good spirits after a fine Shipowners Cup win last week.

Boldon CA boss Paul Mossa lines up centre-backs Jonny Gage and Aaron Burn, while Adam Sharp, now recovered from an ankle injury, is also named for the fixture at Prudhoe Town.

Rob Graney is banned, but Prudhoe are hoping to strengthen their squad by completing the signing of two players before kick-off.

Annfield Plain’s fixture has been switched to Redcar Athletic because of water damage to the Derwent Park dressing rooms.

The Seasiders, who have a five-point lead over Stockton Town, will probably introduce striker Chris Atkinson, although his new colleagues have done very well, racking up 52 goals in the last eight games.

Jarrow welcome back Kie Elliott at home to Spennymoor Town Reserves but definitely go without Paul Trosh and have injury concerns over Oliver Bone and Brodie Simpson.

Moors’ manager Carl Beasley reports that he will have an almost full pool of players on standby at Perth Green, his only absentee being Robert Thompson.

Stockton Town go to Whitehaven with 18 players, including James Crossman, who is hoping to play his first game of the season.

Tom Coulthard and Tony Johnson have completed bans and Sonny Coleman is fully fit, but Michael Arthur is still on the road to recovery following an operation.

Winless Murton have seen their bottom-two clash with Wolviston at Metcalfe Park postponed.

Wolviston manager Steve Cook has signed striker James Ascough and midfielder Nathan Bayes to bolster his squad for the run-in.