RYAN JENNINGS and Kallum Mantack come into the ASHTON UNITED squad for tomorrow (Saturday’s) National League North match at Alfreton Town.
Jody Banim says that the two players, signed from Nuneaton and Altrincham respectively, will give him options out wide.
Matty Regan and Matty Chadwick are both close to a comeback but the manager believes they need another week before being ready to return. Chadwick is close to fitness after two weeks out while Regan managed to train last night (Thursday).
Ashton head to Derbyshire hoping to make it three consecutive wins. Having said that it was vital they beat FC United and Nuneaton, Banim now insists his side have to win their next two games, against York and Hereford. And he doesn’t think last week’s postponement will have done anything to disrupt momentum.
“I think the break actually did us a favour because it allowed one or two little injuries to cleat up. If there is a problem, it’s that we need to assimilate new players. We play an 11 v 11 in training to help with that,” explained the boss.
“If we’re going to stay up we have to beat the teams around us, and that’s why our next two games — against York and Hereford — are also must-wins. I watched York lose to Hereford in midweek and I think we’re capable of beating them.
“We have to be positive and tomorrow we’re going to set up to attack because I believe we’ve got a chance. I don’t think they’re are any better than us right now. We’ve got to forget who they are and focus on their results.”
CURZON ASHTON, whose spectacular new-year run now stretches to five wins from six unbeaten league games face Alfreton at the Tameside Stadium.
Mo Ali, who has a bruised foot, is manager Mark Bradshaw’s only concern, and he is largely able to rely on the line-up that has taken the Nash from the relegation zone to the fringes of the play-offs, and reached the final of the Manchester Premier Cup where they will meet Mossley.
As a further boost, Danny Shaw, Connor Hughes and James Baillie are all back in training. Bradshaw is pondering whether to loan out Hughes so that he can regain match fitness after a lengthy lay-off.
In the Evo-stik NPL premier division, James Poole has left HYDE UNITED who are home to Matlock.
The Altrincham midfielder pulled up against Marine two weeks ago with the recurrence of a hamstring injury, and left the field in tears. But he has returned to Moss Lane because his month-long loan has ended.
Centre-back Matty Hughes, who has not featured for many weeks, has gone on loan to Trafford. Tom Pratt starts a two-game ban for yellow cards. Otherwise the Tigers have a full squad.
STALYBRIDGE CELTIC are hoping they will be able to welcome Witton Albion for what would be only their second home match of 2019. The Bower Fold pitch is sodden and would struggle to cope with much more rain.
Last week’s enforced break has allowed all of Simon Haworth’s squad to regain fitness as his side look to extend their unbeaten home league run to seven games even though five of the last six have ended all square.
In the first division west, Portuguese midfielder Ishmael Camara has signed for DROYLSDEN ahead of their clash with title-chasing Radcliffe at the Butchers Arms. His team-mates have already nicknamed him Pogba.
Steve Rigby, who is suspended, is the only absentee as the Bloods bid to make it three wins on the bounce.
Can MOSSLEY resume the impressive run that ended at Atherton Collieries two weeks ago? Co-boss Dave Wild is hoping so as they prepare to travel to Widnes.
Their team will feature much-travelled striker Raul Correia who has been signed from Radcliffe.
Godwin Abadaki faces a fitness test on a groin injury.
Jason Hill and Frank Jones return for GLOSSOP NORTH END who are home to Colwyn Bay.