Weekend Non-league Football Previews
DAVE PACE and Aeon Lattie are struggling to put a team together for DROYLSDEN’s game at Ossett Albion tomorrow (Saturday) in the Evo-stik NPL first division north.
Shaq Clarke, Sefton Gonzales and Jamie Frost are all likely to be sidelined with groin strains. Danny Ventre is suspended and Alex Frost faces a fitness test. Jack Rudge has left the Butchers Arms to play football in Australia.
Goalkeeper Elliot Wynne is back at GLOSSOP NORTH END after being recalled by parent club Fylde last week. However, Ben Deegan (hamstring) and Jude Oyibo (groin) are both 50/50.
Joint-bosses Paul Phillips and Steve Halford are taking action to plug the gaps and have put in seven days’ notice for a striker who could feature in the home clash with Trafford.
MOSSLEY face the toughest of tasks in ending their four-match winless run. The Lilywhites, who last tasted victory in a competitive fixture on December 23, have to visit title favourites South Shields.
Logan Jeffs is available, and Caldon Henson returns after being at a wedding last week. Harry Pratt has joined Colne.
There’s a question mark over Tyrone Gay’s availability as HYDE UNITED prepare to travel to Brighouse. The central defender needed 11 stitches above an eye after a clash of heads during last week’s defeat of Goole.
Otherwise striker Karl Jones is fit to play, leaving only Chris Sutherland on the treatment table.
Manager Darren Kelly has signed Scarborough’s former Farsley midfielder Ross Daly who goes straight into the squad.
In the premier division, ASHTON UNITED make the trip to to Witton Albion for what boss Jody Banim terms a huge, huge fixture — and he could have two new “attacking players” in the line-up having been left a little light by Jack Dyche’s departure.
He explained: “We could go third if we win and that’s a massive carrot for us. It would put a bit of daylight between us and the other clubs. And we also have the chance to get a game back on Workington and Warrington who are in the FA Trophy. Fingers crossed we can get the three points.”
Cav Coo has linked up with West Didsbury and Chorlton to gain some match fitness, and Josh Granite is back in the squad after ten weeks out. Josh Ollerenshaw has a damaged ankle and Matt Chadwick remains injured but should return soon.
“We’re starting to get players back at the right time,” Banim added.
STALYBRIDGE CELTIC will be looking to end a 63-week wait for a Saturday away win when they travel to Buxton.
They will still be without defender Ross Killock (calf) but manager Steve Burr has been bolstered by the news that Jordan Chapell’s loan from Chester has been extended for another month.
Goalkeeper Jack Walton will be between the sticks after returning to Bower Fold on a season-long loan from Barnsley.
Fans favourite Sam Walker is back for CURZON ASHTON’s National League North encounter with Chorley at Tameside Stadium.
The influential midfielder, who left the Nash three years ago to sign for Halifax Town, is on loan from Stockport County.
Curzon’s only doubts are Ryan Brooke, who is 50/50 with a back strain, and Jordan Wright (groin).