Weekend Non-league Football Previews
A WEEK of wet and snowy weather means that tomorrow (Saturday’s) Tameside and Glossop programme of non-league football hangs in the balance. Just about every club has a pitch inspection lined up, whether they are playing home or away.
CURZON ASHTON will be forced to make changes for their home encounter with seventh-placed Kidderminster Harriers in National League North. Ryan Brooke has a back injury and Jordan Wright will probably miss out. His pelvic strain is improving but manager John Flanagan doubts he will be able to start.
Paul Marshall continues to struggle with a damaged heel and is unlikely to be involved, but Tyrell McKenzie is available for selection having overcome thigh and ankle problems.
The Nash go into the game having lost 2-0 to Chorley last week following a somewhat lacklustre display. They have failed to win any of their last four league matches while Kidderminster have drawn their last two.
In the Evo-stik NPL premier division, Jody Banim has several players missing for ASHTON UNITED’s home clash with Stafford Rangers and is likely to name himself and assistant Simon Woodford among the substitutes.
Defender Lanre Olapede starts a three-match ban having been shown a straight red at Witton last week. Liam Tomsett is unavailable and Matty Chadwick, Josh Ollerenshaw and Nicky Platt are injured.
Young striker Jamie Hinchliffe, recently signed from Witton, fills the gap left by Jack Dyche’s return to Scunthorpe.
STALYBRIDGE CELTIC will be looking to keep their unbeaten start to 2018 intact when they meet Grantham at Bower Fold.
Manager Steve Burr will be without the services of defender Ross Killock (calf) and midfielder Theo Bailey-Jones (knee) but Greg Wilkinson is set to return after recovering from an ankle injury that kept him sidelined for a month.
In the first division north, Jamie Frost is doubtful for DROYLSDEN who are home to Bamber Bridge. However, Shaquille Clark and Ben Barber could figure. They trained last night (Thursday) and will have late fitness tests. Danny Ventre returns after completing his suspension.
Former Glossop striker Jamie Rainford has joined the Bloods on loan from Colwyn Bay.
Midfielder Will Shawcross and striker Max Hazeldine, signed from Curzon Ashton and Marines respectively go into the GLOSSOP NORTH END squad for the trip to promotion-chasing Prescot Cables. Jude Oyibo could also feature.
Lewis Lacy is injured while Matty Russell has been released.
Chris Sutherland should be HYDE UNITED’s only absentee at Ossett Albion. It’s understood the wideman has overcome his injury but lacks match fitness. Karl Jones and Tyrone Gay may start as substitutes.
MOSSLEY will face a side with a record as poor as their own when they meet Skelmersdale at Seel Park. Both are winless in their last five league games, having lost four of them.
The return of striker Tom Fisher who had a bad knee injury, Dieter Downey and Jonah Gosling could prove the boost the Lilywhites need to register their first victory since December 23.