UNIBOND LEAGUE DIVISION ONE NORTH

Apr 18 2009 The Journal

ALTHOUGH Durham City lead the UniBond League Division One North, they are no longer in the driving seat in the title race.

Nearest challengers Skelmersdale United are just a point behind with a game in hand but even so City manager Lee Collings has not given up hope.

He said: “We’ve already claimed a play of place during our first season and it would be the icing on the cake if we won the league.

“I reckon we’ve got to win our last three games to have a chance. Skelmersdale play Newcastle Blue Star twice and the Tynesiders are still fighting to finish in the play-offs so they are two games which Skelmersdale will find difficult.

“Really, though, I don’t want to look at the possible permutations. All we can do is try to pick up nine points and see where we end.”

Today, Durham face another difficult task when they make the long journey to Colwyn Bay, who are in third place.

“It’s a massive game for both sides,” added Collings. “We thought about travelling down yesterday but it wasn’t possible. Hopefully, the lads will be okay after the journey and if we play like we did against Woodley Sports on Wednesday night we’ll give them a good game, that’s for sure.”

City are again under-strength with David Duke and Jake Richardson joining long-term injury victims John Toft and Shaun Bell.

Newcastle Blue Star need three points from their last four games to be certain of clinching a place in the play-offs.

They go into this afternoon’s vital match with second-top Skelmersdale United in fourth position but can be caught by three clubs.

FC Halifax Town and Lancaster City would need to win their last two games, while Ossett Albion require seven points from nine if they are to pip the Tynesiders.

“We’ve got a difficult run in but we should manage three points out of 12. We’ll be having a real go for a win today and it should be a cracking game between two top four teams,” said director of football Bob Morton.

“We can not catch either leaders Durham City or Skelmersdale United but our results in the last four matches won’t only decide our destiny but perhaps that of other sides.”

Blue Star are hoping for a big gate and a boost is a return to the squad of goalkeeper Dan Lawson, who recently completed a three- match ban

Four players, though, will need fitness tests. Player manager Steve Bowie and Steve Baker failed to make the squad for the Mossley game when Paul Talbot and David McTierner also picked up injuries.

MALCOLM PRATT