JODY BANIM has his fingers crossed that three players could return to his injury-ravaged ASHTON UNITED team tomorrow (Saturday) to take on lowly Halesowen at Hurst Cross.
Defenders Lanre Olapede and Tom Eckersley, and midfielder Danny Pilkington, face late fitness tests. Banim is optimistic they will come through saying: “I’m hoping they should be okay. They say they are.”
On the minus side, Simon Woodford is unavailable as he is getting married. There is also a suspension looming for Banim who was sent off after Tuesday’s defeat at Whitby, but as a player rather than as manager.
Since topping the Evo-stik NPL premier division two weeks ago, the Robins have made progress in the FA Cup but lost two league matches. Even so, Banim rejects the notion that his team have gone off the boil.
He said: “Both league performances were good. Considering we lost our keeper after 20 minutes, and Aaron Chalmers had to go in goal, I was really pleased with how we did against Buxton. We battered them in the second half. It was never a 4-1.
“I thought we did well at Whitby too, especially considering we only had 14 men. A penalty was given against us on 93 minutes and their player did nothing more than fall over.”
STALYBRIDGE CELTIC take on high-flying Stourbridge at Bower Fold on the back of six straight defeats in the league — a run that has left them anchored firmly at the bottom of the table.
Manager Steve Burr will have midfielder Lassana Mendes available again after his recovery from a hamstring strain, but he will still be without defender Joe Garvin (hamstring), midfielder Greg Wilkinson (thigh) and striker Jake Charles (knee).
Further changes to the squad are expected next week as Burr looks to arrest an alarming slump that has seen Bridge lose 12 of their last 14 games, and squander a 3-0 lead at Farsley in midweek.
In National League North, Chris Rowney is available for CURZON ASHTON who are home to FC United. The midfielder missed Tuesday’s 2-2 draw at Kidderminster because of a work-related issue.
Jordan Wright completed a full training session last night and should be back in the squad next weekend. Rory Fallon has returned to full training and is expected to be fit in two to three weeks.
In the NPL first division north, key midfield player Jani Lipka has recovered from a hamstring strain and should play for HYDE UNITED at Skelmersdale. Fellow hamstring victim Jack Stockdill, who had to be substituted against Radcliffe Borough, is unfit. Chris Churchman remains sidelined.
Co-boss Paul Phillips serves the last game of his suspension as GLOSSOP NORTH END travel over the Pennines to Ossett Albion. Russ Saunders replaces him in goal, having completed his own ban after being sent off for handball against Hyde on Bank Holiday Monday.
Jason Hill is 50/50 with a hamstring but Phillips and partner Steve Halford otherwise have a fully fit squad.
DROYLSDEN, the season’s surprise package so far, will be looking to extend their winning run to seven at Kendal Town as they begin a sequence of three games away from home. Liam Caddick is the only doubt and faces a fitness test on his damaged ankle.
Midfielder Adam Latham misses MOSSLEY’s home clash with Prescot Cables as he starts a three-match ban. However, central defender Jamie McLellan returns following a one-game suspension.