Result will focus minds on run-in – Brier
DESPITE seeing his side's winning run ended on Tuesday evening, Town manager Mark Brier said he was frustrated and agitated to have drawn – but pleased that the setback might act as a wake up call for the team.
"One or two have been, I feel, getting a little too comfortable in their shirts and this might have come at the right time ahead of what will be a tough home game on Saturday with Staveley (3.00)," he said.
Staveley side have been bolstered this week by the capture of two former York City academy players – Steve Lyons and Michael Slaley– who have been playing with Selby Town and have also added the former England, Newcastle United, Sheffield Wednesday, Tottenham Hotspur and Worksop player Chris Waddle to their squad, also employing him as a guest coach.
Lyons, 23, a goalscoring midfielder, has already scored 23 for Selby this season and Staley, 22, is known as a resolute defender.
Town, who lost 4-3 in controversial circumstances earlier this season when they had two men sent off, are looking on this as one of the biggest games of their season and would like a home crowd to match it.
Brier wants an improvement on Tuesday's performance to take care of this ambitious side who have the millionaire father of striker Ryan Damms backing them to the hilt.
The manager said over the last few games his charges haven't played as well as they had earlier in the run but the victories had been coming and he would certainly back in September taken 34 points out of a possible 36 from a run by the middle of March.
"I would have snapped anyone's hands off if that's what they had been offering and it has been a truly remarkable run and could have been extended on Tuesday with more effort and quite a few things that were out of our control.
"We went into the Teversal game minus Danny Davidson who had been such a force at Worsbrough Bride but he has a groin injury and was on a resting brief with this game on Saturday in mind.
"He will have a fitness test on Saturday and Lee Burgess was on the bench Tuesday as he had been unwell and his energy levels were down. Matty Sparkes has a knee injury and will have a fitness test on Tuesday evening while skipper Andy Markham was seeing a specialist yesterday (Wednesday) with regards his troublesome knee.
"I feel after he has had the report we shall be hearing better news on it and I and the squad sincerely hope so. So far the lad has had to go with the injury diagnosis longer than expected.
"While I know the reserves have their eye on possibly Gary Trewhitt and Andy Lockhart possibly linking with them on Saturday, we may well, depending on what happens Thursday evening, be needing them on Saturday.
"This really will be some game and it any sportsman at loose end wants some action then I suggest he pops up to the Dual Seal Stadium."
Town following their game will host their annual dinner at the Holiday Inn, Clifton where local star comedian and soccer enthusiast in his own right, Johnny Casson will be the star turn.
TOWN'S Reserves travel to Storthes Hall on Saturday (2.30) for their West Riding CAL Premier Division match, with new signings and better strength and depth to the squad.
Manager Rick Addy will be hoping that Mark Brier's side don't come call if they have any injury reaction after the midweek game against Teversal, as he will be hoping to pick from a full squad for the first time in the last few weeks.
Town will welcome back Gary Trewhitt after his holiday and work commitments, and Andy Lockhart will be included in the squad if he is not selected for the first team.
They have also made a couple of new signings. Glyn Haley has come to Hove Edge from Glasshoughton via Ellandians, and assistant manager Daz Laycock says the club has been chasing him for almost six weeks.
Chris Payne, who used to take the headlines in the Brighouse Sunday League when banging in the goals for the now deceased Country House at Hipperholme, has come via Halifax Irish and the Martins Nest Saturday side, but hasn't played this season due to injury.
"We are strengthening and adding depth to the squad for the run in and next season," added Laycock.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Halifax
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 11 C to 18 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 18 C
Wind Speed: 24 mph
Wind direction: East
