WHAT a difference a win makes. Victory over FC United last week, and a vast improvement in the injury situation, have palpably lifted the mood at ASHTON UNITED.
If the Robins can repeat that win at bottom club Nuneaton Borough tomorrow (Saturday) manager Jody Banim believes his side will have dramatically improved their chances of National League North survival.
“By beating FC United we gave ourselves half a chance,” he commented. “But now that I’ve got most of my injured players back, and we’ve got new faces coming in, I believe we can strengthen our hand before the run-in.
“We’ve got Craig Hobson back and virtually a clean bill of health. So we’re up for the challenge. We’re playing the clubs around us and I believe we’ve got a good chance.”
Banim has already brought in two players on loan from Oldham Athletic. Sonhy Sefil is a centre-back from Martinique, and Javid Swaby-Neavin is a 17-year-old left-back.
More signings should follow next week but one of Banim’s targets, Fleetwood defender Lewis Baines, has joined Stockport County.
The only player injured in addition to broken-jaw victim Mark Lees is Remy Howarth, who has a damaged hamstring.
CURZON ASHTON, who are looking to make it five straight league wins in 2019, face Darlington at the Tameside Stadium.
Manager Mark Bradshaw said: “I’ll be picking from the same group of players as last week. Danny Shaw is close to a return to training and I’d say that Connor Hughes and Adam Morgan are three to four weeks away.
“We’ve let Jack O’Leary go to Glossop North End on a dual registration so that he can get some minutes in.”
In the Evo-stik NPL premier division, STALYBRIDGE CELTIC travel to Buxton buoyed by the news that defender Josh Solomon-Davies returns to the squad. That leaves only Elliot Cooke (ankle ligaments) on the injury list.
Manager Simon Haworth has added to his squad this week by snapping up left-sided defender Nathan Heath on his return from a scholarship in America. Heath made 26 appearances for Celtic in the 2014-15 season after joining from Cambridge United.
HYDE UNITED are as good as at full-strength for their home clash with Marine who feature on-loan Curzon striker Niall Cummins up front. The only absentee is Chris Sutherland who continues to struggle with a long-term Achilles tendon injury.
After beating Witton with a late goal last week the Tigers will be hoping for another win to take them closer to the play-off places.
Having beaten first division west leaders Radcliffe last week, MOSSLEY find themselves at home to their replacements, Atherton Collieries, tomorrow.
They go into the match on the back of a seven-game unbeaten run in which they have won seven times, but they may have to do without 100-goal striker Michael Fish who faces a fitness test on a knee. Defender Steve Mason completes a suspension.
Co-bosses Peter Band and Lloyd Morrison have ripped up the template at GLOSSOP NORTH END after last week’s 5-0 defeat at Ramsbottom.
As well as Curzon defender Jack O’Leary, they have signed former Oldham and Radcliffe defender Callum Scullion, Sandbach keeper Matty Green (dual registration), midfielder Steve Yarwood from Wythenshawe Town, and Matty Russell returns from Runcorn Linnets.
Jack Tuohy returns after two weeks out but Frank Jones, Ross Murphy and Paul Marshall are all injured and unavailable. Devon Golden has been sent to Abbey Hey to get some match fitness.
DROYLSDEN are home to Newcastle Town. Assistant-manager Aeon Lattie said: “We have no injury worries. We’re just hoping for good weather and to get the game on.”