Worksop v Witton: preview
By Andrew Simpson
Worksop Town v Witton Albion (ko 3pm)
UniBond Premier Division
Venue: Babbage Way
Odds (bet365): Worksop 3/1, Draw 11/4, Witton 4/6
Previous meeting: n/a
Worksop (from): Hernandez (GK), Ratcliffe (GK), Henshaw, Davies, Hawes, Jackson, Staton, Robinson, Smith, Palmer, Cockerill, Bernard, White, Jordan, Alder-Weaver
Doubtful: Woolley (foot)
Injured: Stansfield, Matthewson (finger)
Suspended: Dawson, Sanasy (both one match)
Form guide (last six home): D W W L W W
Top scorer: Kevin Sanasy (10)
Witton (from): Kennedy (GK), Ellison (GK) Coo, Spearritt, Pritchard, Barras, Kearney, Brownhill, Dillon, MacPherson, Lloyd, Wood, Brodie, Peers, Warlow, Thornley, Wilson
Doubtful: none
Injured: Brown (knee), Royle (ankle), Craven (hamstring)
Suspended: none
Form guide (last six away): D D W D W D
Top scorer: Adam Warlow (17)
Match pointers
WITTON will be happy to return to the sanctuary of league action after crashing out of another cup in front of their own fans on Tuesday. Unbeaten since the opening day of the campaign, Jim Vince’s men will be keen to keep up the pressure on the chasing pack this weekend.
"We face a big three weeks before Christmas," said the Albion boss.
"We don’t have a home game now until Boxing Day and we need to keep the momentum going until then but it won’t be easy at Worksop.
"They’re a big, strong side as you would expect of a team that played in the Blue Square North as recently as last season and they’ve turned a corner recently after a poor start, but we’ve got to get the win."
Vince can call on skipper Tony Barras after he came through the midweek cup loss to Winsford United unscathed, while newboys Neil Wood and Kyle Wilson are pushing for a starting shirt. Mark Peers plays the last game before he starts a three-match ban. The big dilemma is who he partners in the heart of the defence with all four stoppers - Barras, Brian Pritchard, Tom Spearritt and Ian Kearny - available.
Opponents Worksop boast victories over Gateshead and Guiseley in the past month, plus an impressive comeback against Whitby from two-goals down. They lie 15th in the UniBond Premier Division after a disappointing start, with five wins from their opening 20 matches.
Tigers manager Paul Rinkcavage has played down his side’s chances againt Albion due to the absence of key men Kevin Sanasy, Kevin Dawson (both banned) and influential midfielder Paul Stansfield (injured).
"Nobody is expecting much from us tomorrow," he said.
"I think we’re massive underdogs, not if we’re at full strength, but definitely with our injuries and suspensions."
He also called on the people of Worksop to come out and counter Witton’s large, vocal following.
"They’ll bring a fantastic support to Sandy Lane," he said.
"They’ll be loud and they’ll be enthusiasticand the Witton fans are good on their travels.
"We need our fans to come out in numbers and get behind the players. It will be a difficult enough game and we don’t want to play it in front of Witton fans, we want a big home crowd there."
9:30am today
