LR strengthen as injuries hit hard
8:10am Friday 19th March 2010 in Sport By Gordon Sharrock
ATHERTON LR have made a double swoop to boost their attacking options after dropping into the bottom two of the North West Counties Premier Division.
Manager Dave Hughes has re-signed former Crilly Park striker Paul Crew, who has been released by Runcorn, and has set up a deal to bring Ged Courtney from Caernarfon Town in the Welsh Alliance.
Crew is expected to feature in tomorrow’s game at Padiham where Rovers will look for much-needed points to end a run of results that has seen them pick up just one point from nine games, plunging them deep into relegation danger. Courtney’s availability depends on Rovers receiving international clearance.
Hughes, pictured, who is also hoping to sign a central midfield player before the March 31 registration deadline, has been forced to look for reinforcements because his first-team squad has been decimated by injuries.
“It’s been an absolute nightmare,” he said. “I’ve never known anything like it.
“We have 10 long-term injuries, but that’s just the start. At Colne on Saturday I lost three players in the first half hour and, against St Helens Town on Tuesday when I had to play five reserves, I lost two more in the first half.
“It’s just been one thing after another.”
Hughes added: “I’ve been very pleased with the effort and the way the lads have kept going but it is really tough at the moment. We are sadly lacking a bit of know-how.
“Hopefully Paul Crew, who has played in the UniBond League with Marine and scored a lot of goals for us when he was here, and Ged Courtney will give us more confidence and quality in front of goal.”
Rovers will need all hands on deck over Easter when they play three crucial games in four season-defining days with league games at Silsden and at home to Barnoldswick Town respectively on Saturday, April 3, and Monday, April 5, before they bid to retain the Goldline Trophy when they meet Charnock Richard in the final at the Reebok Stadium the following night.
“I’m looking at getting one or two lads back who have left the club since being registered for the Goldline at the start of the season,” Hughes said.
“Wherever they are registered now, they’ll still be eligible to play for us in the final. That could be a big help over Easter.”
Daisy Hill will be hoping for a repeat of the 5-4 victory they enjoyed over AFC Liverpool in September when they replay the NW Counties Division One fixture at New Sirs tomorrow.
The match was ordered to be played again because loan signing John Buckley, who scored a hat-trick, was ineligible to play because of a suspension carried over from last season.
Division One neighbours Atherton Collieries will aim to bounce back from Monday night’s home defeat by Chadderton when they take on Cheadle Town at Alder House.
Collieries’ four-match winning streak that had taken them into the top six came to a disappointing end with a 3-1 defeat.
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