Hebburn manager Kevin Bolam says his squad is coming “closer and closer together”

Hebburn manager Kevin Bolam has said ahead of tomorrow’s game against Whitley Bay that he thinks his squad is coming “closer and closer together”.

The Hornets play their first game in two weeks tomorrow and their first game in the league this month, as they face Whitley Bay for the fourth time this season.

Hebburn won all three of the previous encounters, winning 7-1 in the FA Cup, 5-4 in the league and 2-1 in the League Cup.

Opponents Whitley Bay are without a league win in their last four games and sit 15th in the Northern League Division 1 table.

Meanwhile Hebburn have lost just once in their last 11 games in all competitions and sit top of the division.

However despite his side’s recent form, Bolam won’t be taking Whitley Bay’s 15th placed position in the league for granted.

“It’ll be a tough game they have an evolving squad, I went to watch them last week,” he said.

“They’re a very young side, they’re an improving side and like most games in this league we’ll have to be at it because if we’re not then we’ll not get anything from the game. However we are at home, we are in very good form and we look forward to the game.

Following tomorrow’s game, the Hornets have two big games coming up against Stockton Town in the league and then Lower Breck in the FA Vase. Bolam insists a win tomorrow would be “huge” going into those two games.

He said: “A win would be huge, since the Thornaby defeat in the league a good few weeks ago we’ve been on a fantastic run in the league and all credit to the lads for that because their reaction since that game has been superb and like I said I see them on a weekly basis and I think the squad is coming closer and closer together and I’m looking forward to the second half of the season starting.”

The game, which is subject to a 9:30am pitch inspection, kicks off at 3pm with entry £6 for adults, £4 for concessions and £1 for under 16s.