Football: Bogie: Win is a top priority; BLUE SQUARE NORTH.

Byline: By JEFF BOWRON

WITH leaders Tamworth idle tomorrow and fellow top-four sides Southport and AFC Telford on FA Trophy duty, Gateshead will go top of the league if they avoid defeat at King's Lynn.

The Tynesiders last lost in the league in the middle of November, a 1-0 defeat at Telford, and since then have taken an impressive 28 points out of 30.

It is a run which could now see Gateshead top the table for the first time, and they will be looking to complete a North East double - with Blyth Spartans having won at King's Lynn last Saturday.

The Linnets, the Conference North draw specialists, are in their worst spell of the season, having gone 10 games without a win - including six draws.

Gateshead manager Ian Bogie said: "We started our current unbeaten run with a 3-2 win over King's Lynn when Lee Novak scored a hat-trick after we had conceded two early goals.

"Since then we have not looked back, while the Linnets have gone backwards.

"However, they are a well-supported club and will be desperate to get back to winning ways.

"Like Gateshead they were promoted last season but, unlike us, they have struggled to score goals this season and have hit a sticky patch. We are the team to beat at the moment, and it is a great incentive that a positive result will see us go to the top of the table, even though we will have played more games than our rivals.

"I would rather have the points in the bag and, while automatic promotion would be ideal, we have opened up a sizeable gap from the sixth-top team, with fifth place the final play-off spot."

Gateshead are making their first visit to The Walks since 1983, and in the seven meetings between the two sides over the years King's Lynn have won only once.

Bogie makes one unforced change, central defender Carl Jones ruled out with a groin injury aggravated during Wednesday's 2-1 win over Workington.

Former Hull City and Boston United defender Matt Hocking is expected to recover from a calf strain to deputise, while Darren Holloway is added to the squad.

CAPTION(S):

CAPTAIN'S CALL: Skipper Gareth Williams - seen in action against Julian Joachim, of King's Lynn, who host Gateshead tomorrow - has urged Spartans to keep it tight at Hinckley