Guisborough can maintain their title push and do Billingham Synthonia a favour at the bottom with an 11th home win of the Ebac Northern League Division One season tomorrow.
Goals from Danny Earl and James Risborough gave Guisborough a 2-0 home win against Crook on Wednesday night which moved them four points clear at the top of the division.
Tomorrow’s visitors to the KGV Stadium are Newton Aycliffe, who are locked in survival battle with Synners and West Allotment Celtic at the foot of the table.
By contrast, Guisborough are enjoying a sensational 18-game unbeaten league run dating back to November.
And although manager Chris Hardy is sticking with his stance that Shildon remain title favourites with games in hand in third, he has every confidence that his young side can stay in contention for the silverware.
Hardy said: “I’ve always said that Shildon are title favourites and that hasn’t changed.
“If we win every single game between now and the end of the season we still aren’t favourites.
“That’s the way it is. All we can do is maintain what we are doing and hope other teams slip up.
“I would say it’s maybe a five-horse title race now which includes us and Marske, but it’s still wide open and the unbeaten run we are on is incredible.
“We didn’t have a great start to the season, but we were still out-creating teams.
“Now we have found a bit of form with goalscorers and the results have fallen into place.
“Winning breeds winning and the lads are going into games confident..”
Fourth-placed Marske have seven games to go - two more than Guisborough - and are at home in the first part of a double header against Sunderland RCA.
The visitors are still down in the basement but have vital games in hand, although a Marske win would give them something to think about and do Synners another favour.
Marske have a fully-fit squad but must decide whether to include key midfielder Austin Johnston, who is one yellow card away from a ban.
Synners are at sixth-placed Dunston with manager Conrad Hillerby believing they need to win at least two of their remaining four games to stay up.
New midfield signing David Edwards is back but Stevie Huggins is still injured and Dan Dillon sits out the penultimate game of a six-match ban.
Norton need to get their promotion bid back on track at Northallerton after missing out on the chance to go second in Division Two in Wednesday’s 1-0 home defeat to Hebburn.
The Ancients hit the post in the first half through Rocky Andrews, but Channon North’s header ended Norton’s unbeaten home record with just one more game at Station Road to go.
After beating Ryton 1-0 at home with a Nathan Porritt goal on Tuesday, top six chasers Thornaby are back at Teesdale Park tomorrow against Ryhope.
Defender Michael Joseph is re-signing for the club from Norton.
Billingham Town have Michael Dalton, Ian Bishop and Alan Taylor back for their home game against bottom side Brandon. Stokesley are back out again next weekend, when they visit Birtley.
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