SOUTHERN LEAGUE: Striker light (From Swindon Advertiser)

SOUTHERN LEAGUE: Striker light

6:00am Friday 3rd February 2012 in Football By Ned Payne

SUPERMARINE may have just one fit striker for Saturday’s crunch Southern Premier clash against Redditch - and he’s only just come back from a broken leg.

With Max Etheridge facing a late fitness test and Steve Cook unavailable and injured, Bradley Gray could lead the line on his own at the Webb’s Wood Stadium.

Nick Stanley would normally slot into a second-striker role but he is unavailable, leaving joint bosses Gary Horgan and Matt Robinson with a selection dilemma.

“We managed to get 75 minutes into Brad against Evesham last Saturday but it’s not ideal for us,” admitted Horgan.

“We’re a bit thin on the ground and are hoping Max might come through his fitness test.

“On Saturday we pushed Snakes (Stanley) up front after we took Brad off, and him and Max worked out quite well together.

“But with him missing we’ve only got one out-and-out forward in what is another massive game for us.”

Supermarine are currently nine points from safety while Redditch are hovering one spot above the relegation zone, meaning tomorrow’s game could have huge significance in the battle for survival.

Redditch have lost four on the spin while Marine are off the back of a 4-3 victory at Evesham, although that is their only win in the last eight games.

Meanwhile, Chippenham boss Adie Mings is contending with severe injury problems ahead of the Bluebirds’ meeting with Bashley at Hardenhuish Park.

No less than nine players look like they will not be fit to take their place in the squad, but Mings insists the scamp must be positive in the face of adversity.

“I’ve challenged my players not to feel sorry for themselves at the moment and concentrate on getting the club through what’s going to be a difficult few weeks,” said Mings.

“It’s all a massive blow to us at the moment because we’re trying to get that consistency into the side and we’re struggling for bodies.”

The players currently on the injured list are goalkeeper Kevin Sawyer, Nathan Rudge, Greg Tindle, Alex Kite, Iain Harvey, Mani Randhawa, Ashley WIlliams, Shaun Lamb and Lewis Powell.

Elsewhere, second-bottom Cirencester continue their fight for survival at Weymouth.