CAN STALYBRIDGE CELTIC do the impossible and avoid relegation? Despite Tuesday’s victory over Bradford Park Avenue, the odds remain heavily stacked against them.
They are 12 points behind Worcester City, who are in 19th place in National League North, but another win tomorrow (Saturday) and, as they have three games in hand on Worcester and Gainsborough, the two clubs immediately above them in the table, there might just be cause for the Bower Fold fans to start dreaming.
However, Celtic won’t have history on their side when they travel to bottom club Altrincham. The Bridge have not won a league fixture at Moss Lane since the early 1960s, and they have not registered an away victory of any kind since late October — a run of nine games.
On the plus side, manager Steve Burr has a fully fit squad to choose from and the players should be in good heart after the heart-stopping midweek win over relegation rivals.
Stalybridge’s hectic schedule, brought on by a rash of postponements due to the parlous state of their pitch, continues on Tuesday when Harrogate Town visit Bower Fold.
Jonathan Hunt and Ryan Jennings are both back in contention for CURZON ASHTON’s home clash with midtable rivals Nuneaton Town after recovering from injury. However, reserve keeper Cameron Mason is unavailable because of a family event.
Iain Howard’s pelvic problem is improving and he could return in two weeks’ time. Matt Flynn, who has a long-standing knee injury, is to have a scan.
New signing Charlie Duke should start for ASHTON UNITED who face Matlock Town at Hurst Cross in the Evo-stik NPL premier division.
Duke, who comes from St Helens, was at Torquay United, a club managed by Kevin Nicholson, a former team-mate of Robins co-boss Jody Banim. He can play anywhere in midfield and could feature tomorrow in place of a number of Ashton players who have knocks.
Banim said: “Charlie did a good job against Marine in a difficult situation. We were down to ten men after Domenico Maiese was sent off and it was a case of damage-limitation. He won the ball and broke up play well.
“But the Marine game was a massive disappointment. We just didn’t turn up in terms of fight or work rate which was very frustrating after we did so well against Buxton.”
The game of the day in the first division north is the derby clash between DROYLSDEN and GLOSSOP NORTH END at the Butchers Arms. After a good start to the year, the Bloods’ form has tailed off recently but they must feel hopeful after the Hillmen surprisingly lost 3-2 at home to basement club Burscough in midweek.
Tuesday proved to be a night of surprises as Farsley went down 2-1 at home to Goole who are second-bottom of the table.
Joe Connor comes back into the Droylsden squad after suspension but Domaine Rouse is injured and Shaquille Clarke is on a work course. Clayton McDonald’s loan from Altrincham has been cancelled.
Martin Parker is Glossop’s only absentee.
The wet weather has put the game in doubt and there will be a pitch inspection at the Butchers Arms at 11am.
MOSSLEY travel to Goole. Peter Band and Lloyd Morrison have two men out: Jason Hill and Sam Livesey.
HYDE UNITED have no match tomorrow. Manager Darren Kelly has praised the team who won 3-1 at Ramsbottom in midweek.
He said: “We won with a depleted team but I don’t like that term because it makes it sound like the people who came in weren’t valued. Many of those I brought in played out of position and we ended up with a well, well-deserved three points.
“We’ve got another tough one on Tuesday, at Kendal. We’ll have one or two back for that and then, fingers crossed, I’ll have some selection headaches the following Saturday when we should have a full squad to face Ossett Albion.”