Town face keeper crisis
BRIGHOUSE Town, face a goalkeeping crisis ahead of their friendly with FC Halifax Town tomorrow at the Dual Seal Stadium (3pm).
Manager Mark Brier said: "Both our new goalkeepers have prior engagements.
"Lee Ashforth is in France and Andy Woods is at a family wedding. He is currently in negotiations with the family, which has seen him run the idea up the flag pole but it hasn't been saluted yet.
"Danny Box, our goalkeeping coach, is always on standby. However, at the moment he is nursing a hand injury.
"We can also rely on our reserve team goalkeeper Sean Cook. Reese Richardson has also been keeping fit with us until he jets off to America, but unfortunately he is at a cricket on Saturday. It will all be sorted out in training."
Brier is hoping to give outings to two other new signings, Graham Marchant, the former Harrogate Railway, Garforth Town and Wakefield striker, who was at Nostell last term and defender Ishbal Hussain, who will provide cover for Alex Hallam.
They are also looking to field a trialist, who he says couldl be a tremendous asset to the club.
Town no longer have the services of striker Danny Davidson. He says he has been given an opportunity at Bradford Park Avenue, who are in the Evo Stick Premier League with FC Halifax.
"They are obviously two divisions above us and, of course, we would not want to hold anyone back.
"We have told Danny that should it not work out then he is most welcome to come back," said Brier.
Town are also looking at the possibility of losing Danny Toronczak, who is talking with Harrogate Railway where former Halifax Town centre forward of the mid-nineties Micky Norbury is assistant manager.
A couple of postives for Town are that Matty Sparkes, who has been carrying a knee injury, is back in training after intense physio, although he will not be fit for Saturday.
Skipper Andy Markham, who also damaged a knee mid-season, could be back within four months and not 18 as originally predicted.
"It was baffling the physio so they sent him for an arthroscopy as it was thought he might have posterior and anterior ligament problems. Fortunately it was discovered that it was just slight posterior and with key hole surgery they have removed some bone and cartledge."
Despite the absence of several players Brier is positive he will have the luxury of fielding two teams of 11.
"We had two very strong teams in a recent training game and I know Halifax fielded two teams in a friendly. I will make a decision after I have spoken to Town's manager Neil Aspin to see what he is doing," he said.
To improve the squad that won the league last season, Shay boss Aspin has bolstered his team with new signings in the form of Mark Bower, Jamie Vardy, Simon Garner, Nathan Taylor, Liam Hogan, Danny Holland and Harry Winter as he plans his assault on the Evo Stick Premier Division.
Brighouse Town officials are hoping the game will draw a healthy three figure crowd and will open the training ground area for extra parking providing it reamins in a firm condition.
Town open their new Koolsport Premier Northern Counties League account with a home game against Pickering Town on August 7.
Known as the Pikes, under manager Mark Wood they finished seventh in the Northern Counties East last season.
The week after they are drawn to make their debut at home in the FA Cup, sponsored by EON.
It is the Extra Preliminary Round and it will see them take on Dunston UTS, Gateshead, on August 14.
Dunston started 25 years ago as a works outfit at Her Majestys Stationary Office. They joined the Newcastle City Amateur League and success came quickly.
Their manager is Billy Irwin and they play in the Northern League Division One. They have plenty of experience in their midfield in Gareth McAlindon (ex-Scarborough, Newcastle and Carlisle) and Fergal Harkin (ex-Leicester City).
If they beat Dunston they have been drawn away on August 28 to the winners of Pickering Town v South Shields in the Preliminary Round.
Unfortunately for Mark Brier, due to a family committment made earlier on in the year, he will be absent from the game.
The first qualifying round proper on the way to Wembley in May is on September 11 when Town if successful in their two ties will have to travel.
In the FA Carlsberg Vase first qualifying round on September 4, Brighouse have been drawn away at Glasshoughton Welfare, who are in Division One of the Northern Counties East.
In the Northern Counties East President's Cup they have drawn Farsley AFC away, who have been dropped down from Blue Square North after the old club at Throstle Nest went into liquidation earlier this year.
In the Northern Counties East League cup they have been drawn at home to Liversedge. Ties to be played in September.
Town have a second successive home league game in August when Lincoln Moorlands Railway visit on Tuesday, August 17, and then on August 21 they are home to Bridlington Town.
The Academy side has a bye in the first round of the FA Youth Cup, sponsored by EON, and entertain Ossett Town in the next round.
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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
