SHAUN NEWBROOK

PLAYER SPONSORSNEWBROOK'S PREVIEW

Shaun Newbrook hopes to build off Boxing Day’s clean sheet and 1-0 win away to Dunston.

Daniel Moore's side only played twice throughout December after a number of postponements due to freezing temperatures. “I don’t think it impacted us too much, ” Newbrook stated. “We trained three times a week and worked on a few areas we were struggling with. “Some lads who were injured or ill had time to recover so it was alright in that sense. “Nothing replicates playing games but we trained really hard to keep our fitness levels up and that helped us against Dunston. ” Hebburn's final game of 2022 came in a local derby at Dunston, with Amar Purewal snatching the

victory on 74 minutes. Newbrook admitted the game lacked quality, but exaggerates the most important thing was the win. “It was a good performance, ” said the shot-stopper. “It was a scrappy game due to the quality of the pitch so it was about winning the battle. “Everyone done their job and put a shift in - the lads put their bodies on the line. “We’re delighted with the win and hopefully we can build off it as we’re in a good position now. ” The experienced keeper tasted his first league clean sheet in over two months, when The Hornets beat Consett on October 22. Since then, excluding the Durham Challenge Cup victory over Jarrow, Hebburn have conceded in our last six. “It’s been a long time coming, ” he admitted. “We should’ve had a few more to be honest, so hopefully that’s the way it’s going to go for the rest of the season. “Reidy [Sean Reid] has come in at centre-back and done excellent, Wayne [Phillips] and Dan [Groves] both put 10/10 performances in at left-back. “It makes no difference in who plays at the back because they’re all very good players. " Now Hebburn are set to play eight times throughout January - six of which are at The Green Energy Sports Ground, while there's also trips to Whickham

victory on 74 minutes. “We’ve got to take advantage of them, ” Newbrook explained. “We’ve played decent on the road this season but it’s about time we turn home into a fortress and pick up some points here. “We’ve been a bit sloppy at home so with the number of games coming up, it’s a good chance to put things right. ” The Hornets open this year with today's fixture at 1pm against North Shields. The sides last met at the end of August, when Purewal scored a 95th minute header to win 2-1. “It was a good game against them in August, ” Newbrook reflected. “We deserved the win in that game - fingers crossed we can get the same result later today because it’ll be massive ahead of a hectic January. “I’ve got quite a few memories over the years against them - I’m not very well liked but I’ve always done quite well. “We’ll have to be on our game - everyone knows how good of a centre forward Dan Wilson is so we need to be switched on. ” Hebburn then welcome Pontefract Collieries to The Green Energy Sports Ground on Saturday, January 7 before visiting Whickham in the Durham Challenge Cup quarter-final.