WOOTTON Bassett Town manager Paul Braithwaite insists that he won’t have to pick his players up for tomorrow’s trip to Holyport following their controversial midweek defeat to Ardley United.

A questionable penalty decision in the dying stages of the match with last season’s Hellenic League Premier Division runners-up denied Braithwaite’s men a share of the spoils.

With Bassett aiming to leapfrog their hosts tomorrow, Braithwaite is sweating over the fitness of keeper Ben Mitchell after he sat out Tuesday’s defeat.

“Ben is struggling with an ankle injury,” Braithwaite said. “He missed Tuesday night and we are not sure about Saturday yet either.

“There are one or two options out there, but we will leave it as late as possible.”

Braithwaite, who refuses to comment on the manner of Tuesday’s defeat, believes that his players can take a lot from the Ardley match.

“They can be proud of the way they played,” the Bassett chief said. “They won’t need picking up at all.

“If they play like they did on Tuesday then they will be fine.”

The defeat to Ardley has left Bassett sitting in 13th place in the Premier Division on 21 points, while their hosts tomorrow sit one place above with the same number of points but with a superior goal difference.

Holyport come into the match after they suffered a 2-1 defeat to Highmoor Ibis in the Berks and Bucks Senior Trophy on Monday night.

Highworth Town will be hoping that they recent wet weather doesn’t prevent them from playing their Wiltshire Senior Cup tie at Downton tomorrow.

Last weekend’s heavy rain put paid to the Worthians’ trip to the Wessex League side and they will be hoping that they maintain the form that saw them sink Windsor 4-1 in the FA Vase a fortnight ago.