HOW much will HYDE UNITED miss influential midfielder Laurie Bell? Their home clash with Farsley Celtic tomorrow (Saturday) should tell us.
The Tigers go into the match as the Tameside area’s form team. They have won their last three matches, are unbeaten in eight, and have lost only once in 12. However, they have to face the highly-rated Leeds team without the impressive Bell who has returned to Sweden to play for lower division club Karlslunds.
Farsley sit second in the Evo-stik NPL first division north — nine points behind Lancaster but with three games in hand. Many people consider them title favourites, including Glossop boss Chris Willcock, who also views Jamie Walshaw as the best striker in the league. Walshaw has 26 goals to his credit, making him the top scorer in the division.
Hyde have no injuries or suspensions for the game, which is bound to gauge the depth and quality of their new-year revival.
Joe Connor is suspended for DROYLSDEN — home to Radcliffe — whose own new-year revival seems to have petered out. Shaquille Clarke comes back into contention.
The Butchers Arms pitch is very wet, and there will be a precautionary inspection at 10.30am. However, club secretary Bryan Pace is optimistic.
Struggling MOSSLEY have a fully-fit squad for their game at bottom club Burscough where they will be desperate to pick up all three points. James Blair is back after illness, and striker Liam Ellis returns after a family wedding last week.
GLOSSOP NORTH END welcome Clitheroe to Surrey Street. After a couple of weeks out, Eddie Moran is available for selection, which means manager Chris Willcock has a full squad at his disposal. Popular striker Mark Reed has signed for Runcorn Town.
There will be a pitch inspection at Surrey Street at 10am.
In the premier division, ASHTON UNITED are home for the first time in several weeks. But, yet again, they find themselves facing a midtable clash, this time against Stafford Rangers.
If the game survives the constant rain and goes ahead, co-boss Jody Banim is confident his side can do well. They have won their six previous games at Hurst Cross and he believes they will keep that run going.
He added: “Tomorrow is a landmark for Will (Haining) and me. Our first game in charge was at Stafford on September 10 and we won 3-1. So we should be able to see how far we’ve come.
“At Rushall last week it was a case of two points dropped and I was very disappointed we could only draw.
“We should have been at least two or three goals in front before they scored. We ought to have won, but then were lucky not to lose because Rushall created one or two very good chances in the last ten minutes.
“I have to say the pitch was one of the worst I’ve seen. It turned into a bog and we had to change to a more direct style because you couldn’t play football on it.”
In National League North, STALYBRIDGE CELTIC have re-signed defender Matty Regan from Colwyn Bay.
On-loan striker James Roberts is poised to make debut at Alfreton Town (weather permitting!) in what is a veritable relegation six pointer. The Oxford United youngster has linked up with Celtic until the end of the season.
Manager Steve Burr has an otherwise fully fit squad to choose from as the Bridge embark on a run of eight games in 24 days that will define their season.
CURZON ASHTON have four men missing — all with strains — as they face Brackley at the Tameside Stadium. The quartet in question are Iain Howard (pelvis), Jonathan Hunt (back), Matt Flynn (knee) and Ryan Jennings (hamstring).