GOATACRE have been hit by a raft of injuries and absentees ahead of their clash with table-topping Clevedon in WEPL Premier Two this weekend.

Clevedon have won each of their three matches this term while Goatacre, already inconsistent, have to do without five regular first-team players.

Fast bowler Giorgio Rigali has a hamstring problem, while Kevin Iles is away, Ed Kilbee is on a stag do, Toby Horton is working and Jif Wilkins is out with a broken thumb.

It all stacks up to become a tricky conundrum for captain Brad Dawson, who told the Advertiser: “George is out. He’s done his hamstring, which is a shame. He’s going to struggle to play this week but he’ll be looking to get back to full fitness the week after.

“From Saturday’s team, three or four players have gone so it’s going to be fun against Clevedon, who have won every game.

“Connor has been in the twos and he’s got some wickets. He’s going to come in and bowl.

“Chris Chapman has scored runs for the twos - he’s their leading runscorer - so he’s in.

“Dan Wiseman is another young lad. He got wickets for the thirds two weeks ago and he also got 91 for the twos on Saturday against Thornbury, and Joe Tilley is in as well.

“There’s no pressure on them. We haven’t been winning games so it’s not like they’re coming into a team that’s expecting to win the games but we haven’t done so far.

“There’s nothing wrong with changing it up, trying something different and seeing whether that can get us a win.”