HYDE UNITED will be hoping history repeats itself this weekend. The last time they won a game was on November 8 when they beat Colne, tomorrow (Saturday’s) visitors to Ewen Fields.
The Tigers were booed off after the goalless encounter with Brighouse in midweek, drawing an angry reaction from manager Darren Kelly who described the fans responsible as an absolute disgrace.
He added: “People have short memories. That 1 per cent — and I know who they are — let the club down. What you had there was an excellent performance. Every single player wore his shirt with pride and gave everything he could. For them to be booed off was an absolute disgrace and I’m very annoyed.”
However, results have not been going well. Frustration is growing among Hyde’s following and Tuesday’s match attracted a crowd of only 186. The club are 18th in the Evo-stik NPL first division north and have won only once in nine games since the end of October. The Tigers have failed to score in their last three matches.
Sam Heathcote (knee) and Russ Saunders (neck) will both undergo late fitness tests but are expected to be fit. Defender Kyle Brownhill serves the last instalment of a three-match ban.
Kelly continued: “We want to get people in and we’re hoping to sign a couple, but probably next week rather than this week.”
In contrast, MOSSLEY’s form has started to pick up. They entertain Prescot Cables looking to complete a hat-trick of victories. Co-boss Peter Band puts the improvement down to a few new players and a bit of hunger.
Band and partner Lloyd Morrison have a full squad to choose from following the return of Tom Fisher and Mason Duffy.
After wins over Ossett Town and Bamber Bridge, DROYLSDEN are also looking to register three victories on the bounce. Defender Sean Clancy, who has to work, is the only absentee for Clitheroe’s visit to the Butchers Arms.
There could also be a new face in the Bloods squad. Manager Dave Pace was hoping to complete a signing tonight.
GLOSSOP NORTH END might find goals a little harder to come by at Ossett Albion as 14-goal striker Jamie Rainford is ruled out through suspension. Otherwise manager Chris Willcock has a full squad to call on as the Hillmen look to stay up with the promotion pack.
In the premier division, ASHTON UNITED are home to Stourbridge who have yet to play their FA Cup second round tie with Northampton Town. They host the EFL league one outfit on Tuesday after Sunday’s match was postponed.
Robins co-manager Jody Banim is hoping the desire to do well in such a high-profile fixture might mean Stourbridge fail to give the Hurst Cross encounter the attention it deserves.
“It’ll be a very tough game but they might just take their eye off the ball a little bit. Their players may not want to get injured or Stourbridge may decide to rest one or two people. It might turn out to be a good fixture for us,” Banim commented.
There could be three new players in the Ashton line-up. Banim and partner Will Haining have signed defender Danny Shaw from neighbours Curzon, goalkeeper John McIlwaine from Abbey Hey, and midfielder John Roberts from Macclesfield Town.
McIlwaine stands to replace Richie Brannigan who has a torn thigh. Roberts, who plays box-to-box, was released by Accrington last year and joined the Silkmen over the summer.
Neither STALYBRIDGE CELTIC nor CURZON ASHTON have a match as a result of the FA Trophy first round. The two clubs meet at Bower Fold on Tuesday in the Manchester Premier Cup.
Curzon manager John Flanagan has been named Vanarama Nation League North manager of the month for November after leading the Nash to the second round of the FA Cup.
Rob Gorski, chairman of Stalybridge Celtic, has paid tribute to Ian Milligan who has resigned as Bower Fold chief executive because of health problems.
In a statement on the club’s forum, which he described as the saddest he had ever written, Gorski said: “Ian was only with us a year but was a phenomenal success. His financial impact effectively added about 20 per cent to the annual turnover of our club.”
An announcement about changes to the management of the club’s operations will be made early next week.