Town aim to bounce back
Hangover cure sought after midweek Trophy mauling - Hungerford face defensive worries
THATCHAM Town are hoping to quickly shake off the effects of Tuesday night's 6-1 FA Trophy replay defeat at Weymouth when they return to Evo Stik League action against Bishops Cleeve at Waterside Park on Saturday.
"It was a bad night," said manager Gary Ackling, "but now it is all about how we get over it and make sure we don't suffer a hangover from it."
Thatcham skipped back to third place in the table after midweek results, but can reclaim second spot if they can beat Saturday's visitors and succeed at Abingdon United on Tuesday night.
They completed a minor part of the hangover cure when beating AFC Aldermaston 4-0 in the Basingstoke Senior Cup on Wednesday night with two goals from Mark Hughes and others from James Clark and Gianluca Riccio.
They will have defender Mark James back from injury and Gareth Thomas, Sam Tucker and Tom Meelledew play their last games before suspensions next week.
HUNGERFORD Town manager Bobby Wilkinson's main concern is putting together a defence to face Poole Town at Bulpit Lane on Saturday.
Matt Day, Scott Davis, Matt Jack and Jon Boardman have all been sideliend by injury, wrecking the back line that kept 10 clean sheets earlier in the seaons but which has now weakened to see Hungerford lose two league games in the past three.
Wilkinson is hoping that Boardman will shake off his knock to face Poole, and there may also be a run for Ross Herridge, who shored up the defence during Tuesday night's 3-1 Berks and Bucks Senior Cup success at Marlow.
THE second round of the Evo Stik League's Red Insure Legaue Cup has given Hungerford a home tie with Midlands section Daventry Town on Tuesday, November 22, while Thatcham must travel to former Wesex League rivals Wimborne Town on the same night.
NEWBURY target their eighth sucecssive Hellenic Legaue win when they entertain Milton United on Saturday, while while Lambourn Sports hope to have new signing from Thatcham Steve Rackham in their ranks for their trip to Woodley Town.
