HYDE UNITED’s first home match in a month means that at least one game should survive the seemingly unending rain that washed away so much non-league football over the previous two weekends.
The Tigers take to their 3G pitch against promotion hopefuls Lancaster City tomorrow (Saturday) with a new striking option. Manager Dave McGurk has signed Kielen Adams on loan from Oldham Athletic and will probably put him on the bench. The 18-year-old, who has also featured for Bradford City, has recently been with National League Chorley.
As would be expected after three weeks without a league match, most of Hyde’s injuries have cleared up. Long-term ankle victim Harry Benns is the only absentee.
Both clubs go into the match with patchy form. In January it looked like Lancaster might have had a chance of catching BetVictor NPL premier division leaders South Shields but failed to find consistency. A goalless draw with Nantwich last weekend was followed by a 3-1 home defeat by Whitby on Tuesday.
STALYBRIDGE CELTIC are likely to unveil a new strike force when they travel to struggling — and managerless — Grantham.
Chris Holroyd, signed from Chorley, and Alfons Fosu-Mensah (Llandudno), but perhaps better known for his time at Marine, Southport and Ashton United, are both poised to make their debuts as Simon Haworth’s men go in search of the win required to keep their fading play-off hopes alive.
Haworth has a fully-fit squad to choose from but will be without the suspended Craig Hobson who serves the first instalment of a three-game ban.
Grantham’s management team of Paul Rawden, Russell Cousins and Adam Smith, quit earlier this week. Former Hyde and Curzon midfielder Danny Racchi has been put in caretaker charge.
Liam Tomsett, who is still suspended, is the only absentee for ASHTON UNITED who are away to Whitby. Striker Nialle Rodney has moved on to Ramsbottom after less than two months at Hurst Cross.
In National League North, CURZON ASHTON head to Bootham Crescent hoping to complete the double over top of the table York. But if they do, it will be without Danny Shaw and Nicky Wroe who are unavailable.
Midfielder Kazim Waite-Jackson and right-back Lloyd Bannister go straight into the GLOSSOP NORTH END squad for the BetVictor NPL first division south-east clash with Frickley at Surrey Street.
Waite-Jackson, who has spent time at Alsager and 1874 Northwich, comes in on dual-registration from Winsford. Bannister joins from Darwen. He also enjoyed a short spell at Patro Eisden in Belgium.
Scott Kay and Jack O’Leary are both available after suspension and illness but Bevan Burey and Will Hartshorne are injured and could be out for at least two weeks.
Midfielder Papis Touray is unlikely to play again until the autumn after a heavy challenge at Loughborough left him with a dislocated knee last week.
There’s no let-up in terms of injuries for DROYLSDEN, who are away to Marine in the first division north west. Keano Deacon, Jamie Frost, Kane Hickman and Shaq Clarke are all ruled out.
Dieter Downey has recovered from illness and is able to play for MOSSLEY at Pontefract Collieries. Goalkeeper Theo Roberts is back in training and nearing a return but Jes Uchegbulam is unavailable.