Wearside League: West End boss's '˜on-fire' warning to luckless Murton

He said: “We’ve been in great form recently and played some lovely football.

“I think Stockton Town will take some beating for the championship, but we’ve still got to play them and, at this stage, are definitely in with a chance of taking their crown.”

Nelson is forced into making one change. Work commitments prevent Tom Price from playing and Luke Bell will deputise at left-back.

The boss is more than happy to start with the other 10 players who racked up a 7-0 victory last weekend, including centre-halves Brad Foster and Callum Hodgson.

“The entire team is playing well, but Brad and Callum have been superb in the middle of the defence. We haven’t conceded a goal in the last three games,” enthused Nelson.

Redcar Athletic lead the field ahead of their home fixture with Seaham Red Star Reserves and are boosted by the returns of Joe Blackburn, Joe Ferguson, Danny Wray, Matthew Dunford and Lee Blackburn.

Star manager Kevin Dixon will field his strongest team if Craig Garthwaite and 17-year old Brandon Moran are available. Definitely named are Adam Hepple, Andy Beer and Adam Wilson.

Stockton Town – aiming for a fourth consecutive championship – are only two points off the top with five games in hand on Redcar.

They are away to Silksworth CW and will hope to replicate the form they showed last week when they outgunned Ashbrooke Belford House 5-0 on the same ground.

Stockton’s only doubt is Max Craggs, while Silksworth, who will have assistant manager Willie Crew in charge, have Graeme Pickering, Dean Randall and Andrew Place competing for places.

Keiron Mitchell (ankle) and Alan Golightly (knee) will need their fitness assessed before Crew can finalise his line-up.

Ashbrooke Belford House are away to Harton and Westoe CW.

Joint manager Asa Dobbing welcomes back Callum Hope, Lee Owens and Adam Hopps, but Dillon Holden, Iain Potts and Mark Eggleston are sidelined.

Spennymoor Town Reserves – who have climbed to sixth on the back of some impressive recent performances – could go fourth if they win at Cleator Moor Celtic, who are just above them on goal difference.

Moors miss Connor Dunlavey, Peter Brown and Neil Charlton, while Lee Moore is rated doubtful.

Boldon CA boss Paul Mossa awaits news on the fitness of centre-halves Jonny Gage and Aaron Burn for the visit of Hartlepool, but Frankie Hucks, man-of-the-match last week, is fit.

Prudhoe Town have Kieron Russell suspended but Kevin Moreland comes into contention against Leam Rangers, who are stronger with the inclusion of Niki Langston and Jonny Hirst.