Newcastle Benfield Vs Whickham Football Club – Northern League Division One
Whickham are welcomed to Sam Smith’s Park by Newcastle Benfield after a disappointing 2-0 home defeat to Sunderland Ryhope last weekend.
Newcastle Benfield will be hoping for their seventh win of the season following a 3-1 home victory against Northallerton Town last time out.
The Lang Jacks will see caretaker-manager Steve Bowey take charge of his first game for the club after parting company with Mark Convery at the start of the week.
Newcastle Benfield currently sit in tenth place in the league with only two points separating the two teams although Whickham do have a game in-hand.
Whickham come into the game with only one win in six and without key defender Ben Milburn who has decided to leave the club. Other notable absentees are Captain Ross Peareth who remains suspended while Alex Francis and Robbie Williamson are currently injured.
On a positive note striker Zak Atkinson returns to the squad after missing the Ryhope game and Kyle Downey has been recalled from his loan spell to bolster their ranks.
One to watch is striker Paul Brayson who’s notched up an impressive eleven goals so far, however Newcastle Benfield are yet to keep a clean sheet in the league this season.
Caretaker-manager Steve Bowey said: It’ll be a tough game as there is not a lot between the two teams.
The teams will kick-off at 3pm on Saturday with Whickham looking to leapfrog their opponents and move into the top half of the league with victory.
