Weekend Previews
DALE JOHNSON must sit out tomorrow (Saturday’s) match of the day — the Tameside derby between ASHTON UNITED and Hyde United at Hurst Cross. The striker starts a suspension for being sent off in the last minute of the Robins’ game at Rushall Olympic two weeks ago, where they surrendered a 2-0 lead to lose 3-2, conceding all the goals in the last half-hour. Defender Alex Frost is injured and midfielder Adam Morning is 50/50. Midfielder Paul Marshall could make his debut after signing on loan from Bradford Park Avenue. Only James Burke is missing for HYDE UNITED. The full-back starts a two-match ban for picking up too many yellow cards. Striker Scott Spencer completes his own suspension and will be available to play against Buxton at Ewen Fields on Monday night. The match, the first league meeting between the two Tameside rivals for nearly 13 years, has all the ingredients for a fascinating encounter. Ashton, although much higher in the Evo-stik NPL premier division table than the Tigers, have shown patchy form of late, yet snatched a very creditable 1-1 draw at Darlington on Tuesday with a last-minute striker from Ed Toner. Until Monday, Hyde hadn’t won a league game since October 26 and were getting perilously close to the relegation places. After a very poor first half in which they trailed Whitby 1-0, they showed some rare passion after the break and came out 2-1 victors thanks to an Ayrton Bevins double. Ashton’s key advantage could be the fact they will be playing at home. The Tiger’s won’t relish Hurst Cross and especially its heavy pitch. In the first division north, MOSSLEY have a new man in the ranks as they head up to Preston to play Bamber Bridge. Defender George Mannion moves to Seel Park from Prescot Cables. Caldon Henson and Dougie Carroll remain unavailable with hamstring injuries. Lee Wilshaw has left the club and Andy Fitzgerald has gone to Padiham to get some match practice. Shell-shocked DROYLSDEN are away to Prescot and will be hoping for a change of fortune having conceded 21 goals in their last three games. Ben Hampson is the only man unavailable. GLOSSOP NORTH END, 3-0 winners at Kendal Town in midweek, have no injuries or suspensions for their home clash with Brighouse Town. STALYBRIDGE CELTIC will be looking to bounce back from Tuesday’s embarrassing 5-0 loss at Worcester City when they take on Vanarama North bottom club Telford United at Bower Fold. Manager Liam Watson has a full-strength squad to choose from for the first of three home games in eight days, but could well make wholesale changes after a woeful performance at Aggborough. Defenders John Shaw and Oliver Crowley may be in line for a recall to the starting line-up alongside forward Chris Simm. Alex Brown returns for CURZON ASHTON who are home to Bradford Park Avenue. Jordan Wright is back after recovering from a hamstring problem. Liam Tomsett is waiting for a scan on damaged ankle ligaments. Weekend Previews
AFTER shipping 16 goals in two games the last side you would want to be up against is the one that’s top of the table. But that’s the task facing DROYLSDEN. Having lost 8-2 at Northwich Victoria and 8-0 at Brighouse, the Bloods are home to Evo-stik NPL first division north leaders Warrington Town tomorrow (Saturday). Assistant-manager Aeon Lattie freely admits he has no idea what to make of the last week’s events. “We’re bruised — who wouldn’t be? — but we never, ever saw it coming. Those two results were a total surprise,” said Lattie. “There were lots of random mistakes and on Monday everything Brighouse hit went in the goal. “Because we’d been drawing so many games we changed the shape slightly. We don’t have a 20 goals a season centre forward so we tried to release another midfielder. Maybe that had an effect, or the way we had to warm up at Northwich, or the unrest in the squad caused by other clubs approaching some of the players. I really can’t put my finger on it. “After losing so heavily to Vics, heads were down at Brighouse and I suppose we were easy meat. But we had a good chat at training last night and hopefully the lads are in the right frame of mind to take on Warrington.” Lattie and manager Dave Pace have no injury or suspension worries. However, Steve Gibson has returned to Bury at the end of his month’s loan. Buoyed by their midweek victory Glossop — and on the back of an eight-game unbeaten run — MOSSLEY get the chance to test their mettle against title favourites Northwich Victoria at Seel Park. The midweek display took its toll on Peter Band’s squad with Caldon Henson and Dougie Carroll both picking up hamstring injuries. On the plus side, Dave Short and Sam Robinson return. GLOSSOP NORTH END travel to Clitheroe at the end of a strange week in which they beat Harrogate Railway Athletic 5-1 with a less than impressive performance, and then lost to Mossley. Eddie Moran has completed his suspension which means Chris Willcock has no absentees. In the premier division, Martin Pilkington returns to the ASHTON UNITED squad after recovering from a foot injury. The Robins are at Ramsbottom and need to revive their promotion challenge after allowing a 2-0 lead to slip against Rushall Olympic. They lost 3-2 and have fallen to eighth place, although they have games in hand. It’s as-you-were for HYDE UNITED who are home to Nantwich Town. Sam Fitton, young Adam Jones and Scott Spencer remain unavailable. New signings Billy Reeves, Adam Jones snr and Kyle Brownhill should make their home debuts. Before the match there will be a minute’s applause in memory of former player and manager Eric Webster. It will be led by eight former players: Jim Clarke, Joe Clayton, Jack Dobson, Jimmy Elms, Paul Fitzgerald, Jeff Fry, Dennis Middleton and Les Sutton. STALYBRIDGE CELTIC face their third top-five team in a week when they welcome big-spending Fylde to Bower Fold in National League North. Manager Liam Watson again has the luxury of a fully fit squad to choose from as they look to bounce back from Tuesday’s disappointing home reverse against Harrogate Town. Midfielder Aaron Chalmers, on the bench in that game after returning from suspension, is expected to regain his place in the starting line-up. Goalkeeper Hakan Burton is 50/50 for CURZON ASHTON after picking up a wrist injury at Tamworth in midweek. Jordan Wright requires a fitness test following a hamstring injury, Alex Brown completes the final instalment of a two-match ban, and Joe Guest is 50/50 having picking up a deadleg at Tamworth. However, Matt Flynn returns to the squad after two months out with a broken foot, and striker Matt Warburton is back having been unavailable in midweek. Liam Tomsett, who has an ankle injury, is expected to need a further two weeks before regaining fitness. Weekend Previews
STALYBRIDGE CELTIC travel to Boston United tomorrow (Saturday) in Vanarama North without influential midfielder Aaron Chalmers who is serving a one-game suspension as a result of his sending-off at Curzon Ashton. Manager Liam Watson has an otherwise full-strength squad to choose from as Celtic look to stretch their unbeaten run to four games. They are looking for their first win at York Street on what will be their ninth visit. Skipper Matty Hughes was rested for Wednesday’s Manchester Premier Cup semi-final victory over Radcliffe Borough but is expected to return to the starting line-up. CURZON ASHTON have no fixture but travel to Tamworth on Tuesday evening. Midfielder Billy Reeves comes into the HYDE UNITED squad for the Evo-stik NPL premier division game at sixth-placed Barwell, having been signed on loan from league one club Port Vale. Jordan Snodin is fit again after two months out with a hamstring injury and new signings Adam Jones, Kyle Brownhill and Andreas Bianga should all figure. Striker Zeekell Parkes moves up from the academy. However, Sam Fitton remains unavailable and Scott Spencer’s FA suspension continues until the end of the month. The Tigers badly need some points having failed to win a league match since October 26. Rushall Olympic are the visitors to Hurst Cross where ASHTON UNITED will have to face them without Martin Pilkington who has a foot injury. Defender Cavell Coo remains sidelined with a damaged hip. In the first division north MOSSLEY welcome back Scott Cheetham and Godwin Abadaki for their game at rock-bottom New Mills. Defender Kevin McGrath has joined Ramsbottom but travelling in the opposite direction is midfielder Max Harrop. Centre-back Liam Baker has moved to Seel Park from Winsford United. Midfielder Shaquille Clarke is unavailable for DROYLSDEN who travel to top-of-the-table Northwich Victoria who are now managed by former Curzon coach Adam Lakeland. James Hampson remains injured. The suspended Eddie Moran is the only absentee for GLOSSOP NORTH END who welcome Harrogate Railway Athletic to Surrey Street. have an 8.30am pitch inspection arranged in case they have to tell their visitors — Evo-stik NPL premier division leaders Blyth Spartans — not to travel. If the match is played, several new signings could figure for the Tigers who have not won a league game since the end of October. Lowe has signed defender Kyle Brownhill on a month’s loan from Telford United. Defender Adam Jones returns to Ewen Fields from Shaw Lane Aquaforce, and the Hyde boss has also picked up French-born Congolese former Burnley midfielder Andreas Bianga. Striker Frank Van Gils joins from FC United. Scott Spencer, still suffering the effects of a knee injury, is under a month’s ban for not immediately reporting to the FA “an approach by a third party related to seeking to influence the outcome or conduct of a match or competition” even though he was not involved in any attempt to fix matches and did not accept any money or gifts. On the injury front, Sam Fitton is unlikely to return before mid-March. Jordan Snodin is described as a week away. Young Adam Jones faces another two to three weeks out. Weekend Previews
MANY of tomorrow (Saturday’s) games are in doubt and could be called off if overnight rain is as bad as forecast. HYDE UNITED have an 8.30am pitch inspection arranged in case they have to tell their visitors — Evo-stik NPL premier division leaders Blyth Spartans — not to travel. If the match is played, several new signings could figure for the Tigers who have not won a league game since the end of October. Lowe has signed defender Kyle Brownhill on a month’s loan from Telford United. Defender Adam Jones returns to Ewen Fields from Shaw Lane Aquaforce, and the Hyde boss has also picked up French-born Congolese former Burnley midfielder Andreas Bianga. Striker Frank Van Gils joins from FC United. Scott Spencer, still suffering the effects of a knee injury, is under a month’s ban for not immediately reporting to the FA “an approach by a third party related to seeking to influence the outcome or conduct of a match or competition” even though he was not involved in any attempt to fix matches and did not accept any money or gifts. On the injury front, Sam Fitton is unlikely to return before mid-March. Jordan Snodin is described as a week away. Young Adam Jones faces another two to three weeks out. If the game goes ahead there will be a minute’s applause for former player and manager Eric Webster led by some of his 1968 era squad: Les Sutton, Jimmy Clark, Paul Fitzgerald, Joe Clayton and Dennis Middleton. Cavell Coo remains sidelined with a hip injury as ASHTON UNITED prepare to visit Frickley Athletic. Matt Chadwick is 50/50 with an ankle problem while late checks are in line for Martin Pilkington (foot) and Joe Connor (bug). In Vanarama North, STALYBRIDGE CELTIC have a full squad available for the home clash with North Ferriby but the match is in severe doubt and there will be a pitch inspection at 10am. CURZON ASHTON go to Gainsborough Trinity without Alex Brown who starts a two-match ban. Jordan Wright is out with a torn hamstring and Liam Tomsett remains sidelined with ankle ligament damage. Goalkeeper Hakan Burton is unavailable following the birth of a son. Matt Flynn has returned to training after breaking a foot and should be available in a fortnight. In the Evo-stik first division north, only the suspended Eddie Moran is missing for GLOSSOP NORTH END who are away to Kendal Town where there will be a pitch inspection at around 9am. James Hampson is the only doubt for DROYLSDEN, at home to Spennymoor. Michael Fish and Godwin Abadaki are injured for MOSSLEY who welcome Scarborough to Seel Park. |
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