THE FA Trophy swings into action tomorrow (Saturday) with Glossop, Hyde, Mossley and Droylsden all taking part in the preliminary round where there is £3,000 in prize money at stake.
MOSSLEY are the only club at home and will have to face Skelmersdale without Halifax Town striker Marko Basic, whose loan agreement prevents him from appearing in the competition.
Jamie McLean and Jay Matthews return to the squad, and the Lilywhites have re-signed frontman Mike Fish who left them last season to play for Brighouse and then moved on to Colne.
DROYLSDEN could have as many as six men missing for their visit to Ossett Albion. Danny Hall, Liam Caddick, Jack Rudge and Callum Bagshaw are all ruled out, and Domaine Rouse rolled an ankle in training last night and is doubtful.
Luke Daly completes the final instalment of his suspension.
Lewis Lacy returns for GLOSSOP NORTH END at Tadcaster Albion, but otherwise it’s a tale of woe for the Hillmen.
Matty Russell (hamstring), Dale Johnson (back) and Jay Gorton (knee) are definitely out. Ben Deegan and Jason Hill both have knocks and are rated 50/50.
One “0” will have to go in the tie in which HYDE UNITED visit Cleethorpes. The Lincolnshire side, who top the Evo-stik NPL first division south, go into the match unbeaten, as do the Tigers.
Hyde have not lost since March — a record-breaking run of 24 games. The last time they came close to such a feat was 130 years ago in the same season as they famously lost 26-0 to Preston in the FA Cup.
They seem to have stayed undefeated for 23 matches in 1887-88 although there is a chance they may have lost in the Ashton Charity Cup.
Wingers Luke Porritt and Chris Sutherland return for the Tigers but Kyle Harrison and Tom Pratt are suspended.
Fresh from their victory over Darlington, CURZON ASHTON find themselves home to National League North leaders Harrogate Town.
Matt Regan comes back after a bout of tonsillitis, but manager John Flanagan has to juggle a glut of injuries and suspensions.
Jonathan Hunt is still suffering from a groin strain, Oliver Thornley continues to recover from a broken wrist and Sam Madeley is unlikely to return until November. Niall Cummins completes the final part of a three-match ban.
Andreas Bianga is out until the new year after breaking a metatarsal in the warm-up before last Saturday’s match.
Defender Luke Shaw has rejected an approach from Stockport County and committed his future to the Nash.
STALYBRIDGE CELTIC take on Matlock Town at Bower Fold hoping to build on a three-game unbeaten run that has seen them climb off the bottom of the Evo-stik NPL premier division table.
Manager Steve Burr will still be without long-term injury victims Matty Wolfenden (hamstring) and Joe Garvin (knee), although Wolfenden returned to light training this week. Keeper Joe Slinn is still out with a foot injury with impressive Barnsley loanee Jack Walton continuing to deputise.
ASHTON UNITED will be at their strongest for some time as they prepare to travel to Derbyshire to play Mickleover. Players are returning from injury and manager Jody Banim has made three signings.
The new men are goalkeeper Josh Ollerenshaw who played for Hyde United in the autumn of 2015 before joining the army, Chorley left-back Will Beesley, and frontman Nic Evangelinos from West Didsbury.
Tom Eckersley, Jack Dyche and David Carnell have regained fitness and are available from selection.
Banim said: “We starting to look a bit more like it. It’s important that we have three players back and another three signed. We’ve been struggling for numbers over the last week to the extent that even I’ve had to come on.
“Dave Carnell will go back in goal tomorrow but considering the luck we’ve had with keepers this season I decided a needed a decent number-two and so I brought in Josh.”