Leon Osbourne from Brighouse Town to Hyde United
Florian Da Silva from Stalybridge Celtic to Marine
Lingouba Amour Cesaire from Stalybridge Celtic to Northwich Victoria
Charlie Duke from Torquay United to Ashton United
Leon Osbourne from Brighouse Town to Hyde United Florian Da Silva from Stalybridge Celtic to Marine Lingouba Amour Cesaire from Stalybridge Celtic to Northwich Victoria
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WEEKEND PREVIEWS
STALYBRIDGE CELTIC will be glad simply to hear the click of the Bower Fold turnstiles tomorrow (Saturday) — a sound that will mean they are playing their first home National League North game for nine weeks. Promotion hopefuls Darlington are the visitors and manager Steve Burr is able to choose from a fully fit squad with the exception of midfielder Kristian Platt (tonsillitis). New signings James Roberts and Matty Regan are both expected to make their debuts as Celtic look to play their first competitive game since February 18. They are scheduled to play five of their next six at home with the sole away trip in that sequence being to bottom club Altrincham. Fleetwood midfielder Kieran Dunbar has agreed to extend his loan spell until the end of the season. CURZON ASHTON will be seriously under-strength when they play their own version of the 330 derby at Stockport County who sit just outside the play-off places. The Nash have at least four players unavailable: Ian Howard, Ryan Jennings, Matt Flynn and Alex Brown, while Niall Cummings (back) and Joe Guest (groin) are doubtful. “It’s a nightmare. What a game for this to happen,” groaned manager John Flanagan. ASHTON UNITED are set to meet up with a former co-boss at Marine in the Evo-stik NPL premier division. Paul Phillips has signed for the Crosby side and is expected to play in goal. “It’ll be good,” said Robins joint-manager Jody Banim. I’m sure he’ll be keen to win the game — just as we are.” Ashton go into the match having won at Buxton in midweek after a performance Banim described as the most complete since he and Will Haining took charge at Hurst Cross at the start of September. He said: “It was a brilliant display. It means we’ve won eight of our last 12 games and lost only three. We’re getting the side where we want it to be and it shows we’re moving in the right direction. “But we also want to beat Marine because we’ve got unfinished business with them. Back in the autumn they beat us twice in a week at our place — 4-0 in the Trophy and 4-1 in the league. “I know they’ve had a change of personnel since then but there’s a little bit of added pressure on us to correct what happened. They played well and beat us comfortably, so we’ve got to right that wrong.” Ashton are looking to make two signings ahead of Thursday’s transfer deadline. In the first division north, HYDE UNITED have three players suspended for their rearranged home fixture with Radcliffe Borough — chief among them star striker Matt Beadle. Skipper Paddy Miller and defender James Burke are also banned. Mark Dempsey is ruled out with a calf injury. Beadle’s place could be taken by new signing Leon Osborne from Brighouse Town. Manager Darren Kelly describes him as a player with pace and physical presence. Jason Hill returns for MOSSLEY who face Clitheroe at Seel Park. Central defender Andy Watson is expected to be fully fit. Co-bosses Peter Band and Lloyd Morrison are hoping to bring back Danny Bell and Rob Flynn who are currently with Diggle. Band said: “When they left us, it was because some promises were made to them, but those promises didn’t happen.” Suspended Joe Connor is the only absentee for DROYLSDEN who visit Prescot Cables. Speaking of last week’s match with Radcliffe in which the Bloods came back from 3-0 down to draw 3-3, assistant-manager Aeon Lattie commented: “We have too many comebacks. What we need is to be ahead in games.” Chris Willcock has a full squad to call on as his GLOSSOP NORTH END side prepare to entertain lowly Goole looking for their fourth consecutive win. IF Stalybridge Celtic get to play Darlington at Bower Fold on Saturday — and given the recent fine weather the signs must be good — it will be their first game since February 18.
The backlog means that the Bridge are not only 15 points off safety, they have to play 14 games in seven weeks — nine of them at Bower Fold. This not only makes the task of avoiding relegation even more difficult, it could deprive the club of badly-needed funds. “We are doing everything we can to get Saturday’s game on, but we are also hoping that the weather gives us a break,” explained chairman Rob Gorski. “It’s a triple whammy in that the fans, who we desperately need in this run-in, are faced with the cost of three home games in a week. That’s a strain for them, but we not only need them to help the cash flow, but we also need them to support the lads. “Pete Owens, who is a truly fine groundsman, has been doing everything within his considerable skills to get matches on, but there is a ‘thatch’ within the surface that is not letting the water seep through and thus the incessant rain has just been sitting on the surface. “We paid a considerable sum to rent a light machine last week that spikes 10ins below the surface and that was working until the rains came back. “It’s a terrible position on many levels. We haven’t had a home league game for more than two months and the cash-flow problems have been horrendous. “Our manager, Steve Burr, has got the lads buzzing in training, but desperately wants to get out there playing competitive matches. And, of course, we are very close to having to play Saturday-Tuesday-Thursday-Saturdays, which would be a nightmare scenario. “The team were magnificent at Salford and it’s interesting to note that six of our next seven games are at home. They may well define our season.” Lee Gaskell from Ashton United to Ramsbottom United
Anthony Griffith from Glossop North End to Trafford Weekend Previews
HOW much will HYDE UNITED miss influential midfielder Laurie Bell? Their home clash with Farsley Celtic tomorrow (Saturday) should tell us. The Tigers go into the match as the Tameside area’s form team. They have won their last three matches, are unbeaten in eight, and have lost only once in 12. However, they have to face the highly-rated Leeds team without the impressive Bell who has returned to Sweden to play for lower division club Karlslunds. Farsley sit second in the Evo-stik NPL first division north — nine points behind Lancaster but with three games in hand. Many people consider them title favourites, including Glossop boss Chris Willcock, who also views Jamie Walshaw as the best striker in the league. Walshaw has 26 goals to his credit, making him the top scorer in the division. Hyde have no injuries or suspensions for the game, which is bound to gauge the depth and quality of their new-year revival. Joe Connor is suspended for DROYLSDEN — home to Radcliffe — whose own new-year revival seems to have petered out. Shaquille Clarke comes back into contention. The Butchers Arms pitch is very wet, and there will be a precautionary inspection at 10.30am. However, club secretary Bryan Pace is optimistic. Struggling MOSSLEY have a fully-fit squad for their game at bottom club Burscough where they will be desperate to pick up all three points. James Blair is back after illness, and striker Liam Ellis returns after a family wedding last week. GLOSSOP NORTH END welcome Clitheroe to Surrey Street. After a couple of weeks out, Eddie Moran is available for selection, which means manager Chris Willcock has a full squad at his disposal. Popular striker Mark Reed has signed for Runcorn Town. There will be a pitch inspection at Surrey Street at 10am. In the premier division, ASHTON UNITED are home for the first time in several weeks. But, yet again, they find themselves facing a midtable clash, this time against Stafford Rangers. If the game survives the constant rain and goes ahead, co-boss Jody Banim is confident his side can do well. They have won their six previous games at Hurst Cross and he believes they will keep that run going. He added: “Tomorrow is a landmark for Will (Haining) and me. Our first game in charge was at Stafford on September 10 and we won 3-1. So we should be able to see how far we’ve come. “At Rushall last week it was a case of two points dropped and I was very disappointed we could only draw. “We should have been at least two or three goals in front before they scored. We ought to have won, but then were lucky not to lose because Rushall created one or two very good chances in the last ten minutes. “I have to say the pitch was one of the worst I’ve seen. It turned into a bog and we had to change to a more direct style because you couldn’t play football on it.” In National League North, STALYBRIDGE CELTIC have re-signed defender Matty Regan from Colwyn Bay. On-loan striker James Roberts is poised to make debut at Alfreton Town (weather permitting!) in what is a veritable relegation six pointer. The Oxford United youngster has linked up with Celtic until the end of the season. Manager Steve Burr has an otherwise fully fit squad to choose from as the Bridge embark on a run of eight games in 24 days that will define their season. CURZON ASHTON have four men missing — all with strains — as they face Brackley at the Tameside Stadium. The quartet in question are Iain Howard (pelvis), Jonathan Hunt (back), Matt Flynn (knee) and Ryan Jennings (hamstring). IT would be an overstatement to suggest Glossop North End have 12 games left to rescue their season. But they do need to secure a major percentage of the 36 points on offer if they are to reach the Evo-stik NPL first division north play-offs for a second season.
That means they have to find some consistency after a troubled period. Not only has their form been poor since early December — most recently in a run of three consecutive defeats in which they twice conceded four goals — star striker Jamie Rainford quit Surrey Street three weeks go. After four seasons of success, this is uncharted territory for manager Chris Willcock and the club as a whole. However, last Saturday’s 2-1 win over Colwyn Bay, in which new signing Dale Johnson grabbed a late winner, suggests the Hillmen might still have a few shots in their locker. Johnson, one of the biggest names on the local non-league scene, has moved to North End from FC United. He was twice an effective striker for Hyde United and was at the forefront of Ashton United’s recent promotion bids. Not surprisingly, Willcock was happy to sign him. “After Jamie Rainford left us we needed to add another centre-forward and I was delighted when Dale agreed to join us. He’s a local boy and a great addition to the squad. I’m sure he’ll really contribute to our fight to reach the play-offs,” said the Glossop boss. “He scored the winner for us at Colwyn Bay and I’m sure that won’t be the last time he does that. I hope Dale hits the ground running and adds to the quality we have here. He’s already given us a lift and the dressing room is buoyant that he’s joined us. “Obviously, he hasn’t played for a couple of months since leaving FC United, and he needs to get fitter and sharper, but I’m sure that will come. I expect Dale to make a big impact over the last two months of the season. “As for Jamie Rainford, it was purely a financial thing. He got an offer from Colwyn Bay that he couldn’t turn down. He felt it was the right thing for him to accept it. “Jamie scored something like 50 goals in 64 games for us and was a great servant for the club. I wish him all the best and I wish I could have kept him. Sadly we just couldn’t compete with Colwyn Bay’s offer.” Although Willcock admits to being frustrated by the number of postponements the Hillmen have suffered in recent weeks, most of the outstanding fixtures are at home and he believes that will work in the club’s favour. Glossop’s form has been very good at Surrey Street where they have won ten out of 14 league games, losing only twice. He added: “The problems with our pitch are well-documented and we’re having conversations with High Peak Council to find out whether they might be able to do something to sort out the situation long-term or short-term going forward. “It’s very frustrating when matches are called off, especially when we won at the weekend and wanted to build some momentum. We really need to be playing Saturday – Tuesday –Saturday if we’re to get that momentum. I want us to get points on the board from our games in hand so that we’re in a stronger position. “Strange as this may sound after we’ve twice let in four goals recently, I truly believe our defensive performances are getting better. I can see improvement on a weekly basis. What we have to do is shake off the inconsistency, the lapses of concentration and the lack of communication. We’ve got to eradicate that. “If you look at our recent record, we beat Trafford, who had been unbeaten in 18 games, and up to half time were holding Farsley who are a very strong team and I’m sure will be challenging for the title. In Jamie Walshaw I believe they have the best centre-forward in the league. “In the first half we did well and kept them quiet. After the break we conceded three goals in 12 minutes but I felt the scoreline flattered them slightly. We were punished for three key mistakes and that really disappointed me. Up to then we had defended so well. “We should have beaten Ossett Town — that was fine margins — then against Radcliffe I was bitterly disappointed again. We must have created 20 chances and not taken them. “But we did well against Colwyn Bay, coming back from a goal down at half time. They’re a good side and Llanellian Road is a tough place to go and pick up three points. “So the play-offs remain our aim. I won’t say I’ve got my fingers crossed, but I’m hopeful. We’ve got to play a lot of teams around us so we’ll see what develops. It would be a great achievement to make the play-offs again but we’re not there yet.” |
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