Leg Two of a marathon five-game stretch – all within 15 days – sees league-leading Morpeth Town welcome Bishop Auckland to Craik Park.
Can the Highwaymen make it five home wins in succession? Will there be divine intervention from Bishop to end that run?
SNAPSHOT PREVIEW
FORM: Bishop Auckland have had a tough start to the current Division One season, but still find themselves in 15th place. Against the current top six, they have struggled to find results, losing heavily to North Shields (5-0), Marske United (6-1) and Dunston UTS (6-2), in the Durham Challenge Cup. All of those defeats came on the road, suggesting a fragile confidence.
The Highwaymen are imperious at Fortress Craik Park at the minute with a run of four successive victories. In seven league games at home, Town have dropped only two points, winning six and conceding only six goals. Only West Auckland have scored more than once at Craik Park, and they have Nathan Fisher, the league’s top scorer by some distance (he netted twice that day).
LAST GAME: Bishop’s last game was a week ago when they stormed to a 3-0 win at home to Washington, recording their fourth league win of the campaign. Andre Bennett netted for the hosts, with Andrew Johnson bagging a brace as Auckland cruised to victory at Heritage Park.
With the management team looking at the bigger picture, Morpeth changed their starting line-up on Thursday night and came away from Newcastle Benfield with three points. Goals from Sean Taylor and a brace from Liam Henderson ensured a comfortable 3-1 win for the visiting Highwaymen, who conceded a late Ryu Williamson goal late on.
ONE TO WATCH: He is in good goal-scoring form of late so few can ignore striker Andrew Johnson. As mentioned above, the forward scored twice in his last outing and provides a threat to keep Morpeth’s defence on their toes.
WHERE TO WATCH: Craik Park, Morpeth, Northumberland.
SAT NAV: NE61 2YX
