HAVING ravaged the dressing room, GLOSSOP NORTH END’s run of injuries and illness has now reached the managers’ office.
Co-boss Paul Phillips has a suspected broken bone in his hand, which means that Abbey Hey keeper Eliot Wynne takes over in goal for tomorrow (Saturday’s) Evo-stik NPL first division north game at Colwyn Bay.
But Phillips’s injury is only the tip of the iceberg. Also missing are Adam Jones (calf), Lewis Lacy (ankle), Dale Johnson (back), Alex Perry (virus), Callum Chippendale (thigh), Jay Gorton (personal issues) and Liam Turner (virus), plus long-term absentee Matty Russell who has a torn quad muscle.
Mike Connor and Mark Haslam are both rated as 50/50.
Phillips and partner Steve Halford have responded by bringing in left-back Callum Spooner from Bolton Wanderers and may make another signing in time for kick-off. Spooner, who is the son of Bolton youth coach Nicky Spooner, was at Stalybridge Celtic last season.
“We don’t have a team at the minute,” said Phillips. “What we do have is more injuries than Tameside Hospital’s accident and emergency department.”
Domaine Rouse returns for DROYLSDEN, who finally won in midweek after four games without a victory. However, a calf strain means Ciaran Kilheeney is doubtful for the visit to Atherton Collieries.
At the moment (Friday afternoon) Colls are reporting that the Kensite Stadium pitch is playable and the game should go ahead.
Twelve months after leaving HYDE UNITED, left-back Kyle Brownhill has left Ramsbottom and returned to Ewen Fields. He goes straight into the squad for tomorrow’s home clash with Trafford. Manager Darren Kelly said: “Kyle adds balance to our left-hand side and competition for places.”
Chris Sutherland is the only absentee. He had to be substituted last weekend after straining a calf muscle and the quick recovered that was envisaged has not materialised.
MOSSLEY have no match.
After a weekend off, CURZON ASHTON get back to National League North action with a visit to North Ferriby who are 12 points adrift at the foot of the table.
It’s effectively a case of one in and one out for John Flanagan’s men. Richie Baker returns after a hamstring injury but Chris Rowney has to serve a one-match suspension.
Tyrell McKenzie continues to struggle with a thigh/hamstring problem and looks unlikely to come back before the new year. Paul Marshall’s heel is showing signs of improvement and he is hoping to resume light training in about ten days’ time.
In the NPL premier division, STALYBRIDGE CELTIC head to Warrington — who lost their last match 5-0 at Shaw Lane — hoping for an end to their abysmal away form, which continued last week with a morale-sapping defeat at bottom club Sutton Coldfield.
It’s now 16 matches without a win on their travels for Steve Burr’s men and a whopping 58 weeks since they last tasted victory away from home on a Saturday.
Olly Roberts is the only doubt for the beleaguered Bower Fold outfit. The influential midfielder faces a late fitness test on his injured groin.
Weather permitting, keeper James Coates will make his debut after signing from Tameside neighbours Droylsden earlier in the week. Loanee Joe Slinn has been recalled by his parent club Port Vale as first-team cover.
Suspension completed, Aaron Chalmers returns to the ASHTON UNITED team that travels to Witton Albion. Makhosini Khanye, who received a straight red against Barwell, still has two games to serve.
Simon Woodford is away and also misses the match.
Manager Jody Banim said: “We’ve not been at our real best over the last couple of weeks but even so I don’t think we’re far away. We’ve carried on picking up points so we’ve not done too badly.
“I expect us to be back where we were a few weeks ago quite soon. In fact, I’m hoping that we pick up a gear against Witton tomorrow.”