Northumbria Focus On Darlo Test

Colin Stromsoy revealed Team Northumbria remain quietly confident but far from complacent with just four games to go in the race for promotion to the Northern League’s first division.

The long-time Division Two leaders host Darlington RA at Coach Lane tomorrow looking for the victory that would put the club within touching distance of the top flight.

But after Wednesday night’s back-from-the-dead win at Crook Town, experienced coach Stromsoy is taking nothing for granted.

“I’m not allowing the players to think about anything else other than the next match,” he added. “We’ve come too far and achieved too much to take out eye off the ball now.

“We’ve had an emotional couple of weeks and to come through that period and still be top of the league is a credit to the lads.

“The way that we won the game on Wednesday - coming back from 2-0 down to win 3-2 in the last 20 minutes - showed what we’re all about.

“But let’s face it: we were a hair’s breadth away from dropping points down there and that’s why we won’t ever be complacent.

“We have been there to be shot at for most of the season and it’s not easy leading from the front but the mentality of the players has been excellent.

“They know what they have to do and the ley thing is we’re not doing anything differently with four games to go.

“We have a system that works well and it’s served us well so why change? We can control our destiny if we do things right.”

Darlington RA - like so many teams this season - have nothing to lose against a table-topping TN side that finds itself on the brink of promotion for the third season running.

Successive fourth place finishes have proved incredibly frustrating and yet missing out by the narrowest of margins has only served to fuel a collective desire to regain the club’s Division One status in 2017.

“The character and determination that the lads have shown all season has been incredible,” added Stromsoy. “I could have given them a night off on Thursday after their heroic response the night before but they came in and did a session so that that we’re fully prepared for the Darlo game.

“We just need one final push and everyone is in this together.”