IT'S four in and four out at Hyde, where beleaguered manager Scott McNiven has delivered on his promise to make changes.
Ahead of tomorrow's Vanarama North encounter with Tamworth at Ewen Fields. The new men are striker Reece Gray, a star of the 2012 title-winning side who has been released by Rochdale, and three midfielders. Luke Giverin was last at Manchester United and Adam Hinchliffe has moved from Sheffield Wednesday. Wide man Jamie Menagh has been signed on a month's loan from Chester. Those leaving the club are Ashley Kelly, Luke Ashworth, Matty Kosylo and Aaron Chalmers. It's believed FC United are interested in Ashworth and Droylsden are speaking to Kosylo. Adam Blakeman is struggling. Hyde go into tomorrow's game having lost all five league matches played so far. Following Monday’s morale-boosting derby win over Stockport County, Stalybridge Celtic travel to Boston tomorrow looking to bury a hoodoo. They have never won at York Street but they make their eighth visit there with a fully fit squad which has been bolstered by the addition of central midfielder Wade Joyce, signed earlier this week from Scottish Premier Leaguers St Johnstone. Striker Liam Dickinson limped out of Monday’s game with a slight groin strain but is expected to be fit. The FA Cup reaches its preliminary round stage tomorrow and Mossley head to Burscough. Liam Higginbottom (knee) and Steve Foster (groin) are both out, while Tom Murray faces a late fitness test. Midfielder Oliver Devenney comes into the squad. James Blair and John Bennett are still at least two weeks from a return. Droylsden have a full squad for their tricky home tie with Runcorn Linnets who top the North West Counties League premier division with a 100 per cent record after seven games. Adam Morning now has international clearance. A groin strain makes Martin Parker a doubt for Glossop North End's visit to Maltby Main. Kieran Lugsden has a slight knee problem. Lee Blackshaw is getting married. Manager Chris Willcock said: "I've seen Maltby a couple of times and they're a very physical outfit. They'll present us with a tough test, especially on their home ground. Each winning club will receive £1,925. In the Evo-stik NPL premier division, new signing Saul Henderson comes into the Ashton United side for their home clash with leaders Stamford who have full points from four matches. Henderson, a former Maine Road striker, played for Stafford Rangers last season. Curzon Ashton go to Ilkeston without Matty Warburton who is suffering from the recurrence of a thigh strain and could be out for two weeks. Manchester City youngster Remero Coley comes into the squad, as does Simon Lakeland. Work commitments ruled Lakeland out of Monday's Ashton derby when Warburton had to be substituted in the first half. CHRIS WILLCOCK wanted a good start to the season and he's got it. Unfortunately, Runcorn Linnets have got an even better one. With seven league matches played, Glossop North End are one of three North West Counties League premier division clubs to remain unbeaten. However, Runcorn have won all seven games while the Hillmen, and AFC Liverpool, have both drawn a couple. That means the Millbank Stadium side enjoy a four-point advantage. Willcock said: "As a manager you're always striving for perfection and, to be fair, we should have another win to our credit. We didn't do enough against Congleton in midweek, but against Congleton last Saturday we ought to have won. It was very disappointing not to take all three points. "Considering our poor start last season it was important we got things right this year, and we have. You can't complain about taking 17 points from the first seven league games. However, Runcorn are in the ascendancy. "I suppose I could sum up by saying that I'm delighted with the way we've begun. But could it have been better? Yet it could. "Then again, there's a long way to go. We're not even out of August yet." On Saturday, Glossop travel to Northern Counties East League premier division club Maltby Main in the preliminary round of the FA Cup. Match preview here on the evening of Friday, August 29. SCOTT McNIVEN'S future as Hyde manager could hang on this weekend's results.
The relegated Tigers, who went through the whole of last season with only one league win to their credit, have lost all three matches played and are bottom of Vanarama North. On Wednesday, they issued a statement saying that McNiven and his assistant, Rhys Day, had been called in by club owner Jonathan Manship and chief executive Pete Ainger, and left under no illusion that results must improve. Many people commenting on the independent hyde-fans forum claim Mr Manship told a supporters' club meeting last season that the manager's position would be reassessed after six matches. Games four and five take place over the next three days. McNiven has a full squad to choose from for tomorrow's home clash with Colwyn Bay. Kyle Brownhill has recovered from the knock that kept him out of the Barrow match. The Tigers boss has also signed 18-year-old defender Jimmy Ball from Bolton Wanderers. Stalybridge Celtic visit newly-promoted Chorley hoping to bounce back immediately from the 3-0 defeat they suffered at the hands of Solihull Moors. Manager Keith Briggs has a fully fit squad but the announcement of a new signing has had to be put on hold because international clearance did not come through in time. In the Evo-stik NPL premier division, Curzon Ashton are away to Grantham Town and have no absentees as they attempt to extend their 100 per cent record before Monday's home derby with Ashton United - the first league encounter between the clubs for 17 years. The Robins' only doubt ahead of Buxton's visit to Hurst Cross is midfielder Gary Gee who is 50/50 with a dead leg. Table-topping Salford City, now in the ownership of Manchester United's Class of 92, are at Seel Park in the Evo-stik first division north. Knocks sustained in Tuesday's defeat by Northwich Victoria mean that Mossley boss Peter Band is forced to make changes. Coming into the squad are Kevin McGrath, Tom Pratt, Ryan Barrow and Dean Warburton. John Bennett (hamstring), James Blair (knee) and Tom Murray (ankle) are all likely to miss out. Josh Granite and Mike Fish both face late fitness tests. If they fail, they are expected to be available for Monday's trip to Padiham. Droylsden welcome Harrogate Railway Athletic. Dave Pace has a fully fit squad but is still waiting for international clearance for Adam Morning who has returned from Australia. Ben Richardson remains the only absentee for Glossop North End, who face Silsden at Surrey Street. He has a damaged meta-tarsal and is around six weeks from making a return. The Hillmen will be looking to extend the 100 per cent record which has put them second in the NWCL premier division and taken them into the preliminary round of the FA Cup where they will visit Maltby Main on August 30. Press release issued by Hyde FC today. Club says it will be making no further comment.
"A meeting took place earlier today between club owner Jon Manship, chief executive Pete Ainger, manager Scott McNiven and his assistant Rhys Day. "The discussions centred on the team's start to the season and how this could be immediately addressed. Scott and Rhys remain positive and are constantly reviewing personnel. Mr Manship continues to offer his support but the management team have been left under no illusion that results need to improve. "The club asks all supporters for unity and to actively support the team on Saturday for the important home match against Colwyn Bay." IT might be a bit too soon to start using Love Affair's "Bringing On Back the Good Times" as the run-out music, but for once Droylsden have grabbed the headlines for all the right reasons. Left on the canvas after two disastrous seasons, they picked themselves up to complete a 7-1 demolition of Bamber Bridge on Saturday. After a fall from grace which has taken them from Vanarama North to the Evo-stik first division north, things are suddenly looking positive. Okay it's only one game, but the Bloods are top of the table, unbeaten, and have a hat-trick scorer in their ranks. Who can remember the last time that happened in a weekend? The man claiming the treble was Yorkshire striker Fernando Moke, a former Leeds, Notts Forest and Sheffield United junior who was signed from Frickley Athletic. "I expected us to win but not 7-1 - you don't expect to beat anyone by that scoreline. It was one of those days where everything went for us and we just seemed to click," said Butchers Arms manager Dave Pace. "Bamber Bridge narrowly missed the play-offs last season and, given our problems over the last couple of years, I think they thought they would turn us over. "But I'm not commenting further until we've got four or five games played. Saturday's win won't look so good if we lose the next match. We need to back it up by beating New Mills. "The squad seem to be gelling and adapting to the way I want them to play. Time will tell if they have enough character." It seems Pace believes he can put out a stronger side than the one that won at Irongate. Four players who might be considered first choices missed the match. Goalkeeper Craig Dootson was serving the first part of a two-match ban. Luke Horrocks has a groin injury, Robbie Booth's paperwork had not cleared in time, and Adam Morning is still waiting for international clearance. All of them are expected to be available for Saturday's home game with Harrogate Railway Athletic. |
Archives
December 2020
Categories
All
|