Penrith and Kendal Town, who both lost their opening Northern League games on Saturday, have a quick opportunity to make amends.
But they have tough tests ahead tonight with Penrith hosting the early pacesetters Blyth Town and Kendal travelling to Newcastle Blue Star.
Blyth’s 6-0 win over Birtley put them top of the pile in the first produced League table and they will be keen to bounce back after last season’s relegation.
They were leading 2-0 when Birtley had a man sent off after 29 minutes so that will have had an impact on the way the game went after that.
Penrith manager Jim Nichols wasn’t too disheartened by the 1-0 home defeat to Easington Colliery, especially because of the football they produced in the second-half.
“On another day we could at least have earned a draw,” said Nichols as he hopes to have a couple of absentees back to face Blyth.
Kendal had no arguments with their 3-1 defeat at Carlisle City when conceding two first-half goals in a lacklustre performance which manager Matt Flynn thought was nowhere near the standard expected.
“We have to bounce back and I’m looking forward to going to Blue Star and try to make amends,” said Flynn.
Like Kendal, Blue Star have lost players in the summer and will also be trying to adjust with new faces in the squad.
They finished a point and a place above Kendal last season – sixth and seventh – but started with a 3-2 home defeat to Redcar Town on Saturday.
But Blue Star twice led – 1-0 and 2-1 – before conceding twice in the last 15 minutes, the winner coming from the penalty spot.
The other Division One games tonight are: Birtley Town v Crook Town; Horden CW v Yarm and Eaglescliffe; Newton Aycliffe v Redcar Town; Northallerton Town v Bishop Auckland; Shildon v Whitley Bay; Thornaby v North Shields; Marske United v Easington Colliery.
