Shire head south with revenge in their minds

SHIREHAMPTON will travel to Bishop’s Lydeard tomorrow seeking revenge for a heavy beating last season.

Manager Mickey Tanner said: “We were on a good run and we went down there full of beans. We were 3-0 down at half-time and our boys were fighting amongst themselves.”

Shire did not play last weekend and Tanner is concerned his men may be rusty.

On the plus side, he has player-coach and striker Tony Beacham back from holiday and may add reserve striker Nick Alexander to his squad to increase the physical presence in his attack.

Martin Cook and Danny Copeland both had to go off with injuries at Cutters Friday a fortnight ago and may miss out.

Mark Savage takes charge of

The former player took over from Chris Adamson in the summer but had been away on holiday until the impressive midweek win over Cutters Friday. Savage believes the win should have been by more than a one-goal margin.

He said: “It is a good set-up with an excellent chairman in Spencer Lee and a good youth system.” Savage welcomes back brothers Mark and Mike Warrington, both defenders, while goalkeeper Andy Fellows is also available again.

High-flying

Stockwood beat Watchet 1-0 with 10 men last Saturday but have more personnel problems this weekend.

Jason Hawkins is banned and Nat Brain is on holiday, while centre-halves Craig Carter and Glynn Luffman are injured and striker Chris Saunders is an injury doubt.

Rob Martin and Jason Smith are back, though, and manager Paul Beacham said: “Home advantage could be important if I can find 11 players!”

Clevedon United’s bid for revenge over a Taunton Blackbrook side they lost to away from home last weekend has been hit by the absence of player-boss Tony Cook, who is on holiday.

Joint-manager Adam Turl will also be without Luke Hack and Simon White, but Sam Brown and Ben Davey return.

Improving

Attack-minded Conrad Williams is promoted from the youth team, but Chris Mountford (hernia) and Danny Harrison (unavailable) are out.

In other games,