6:00am Saturday 25th October 2008
MELKSHAM Town will be bidding to complete a swift league and cup double when they play Bideford in the Toolstation League Premier Division this afternoon.
Melksham beat Bideford 1-0 away in the Les Phillips Cup last weekend and entertain the Devon side in the league today.
But the Conigre side will be without player-manager Wayne Thorne, who is suspended, and Shaun Benison, who has been called up to play for Team Bath.
However David Seal is available again after recovering from a hamstring injury that kept him out of the cup game on Saturday.
Thorne said: “We’ve put ourselves in a good position in the league and the players are all looking forward to the game because we haven’t played a league game all month.
“We are confident that we can get all three points and if we do we’ll be right back in the mix. We want to pile pressure on the top teams and cement our place in the top four by Christmas by picking up points, especially at home.”
CALNE Town boss Robbie Lardner is expecting a tough game in this afternoon's Toolstation League Premier Division home game against Hallen at Bremhill View.
The Lilywhites are currently ninth in the Toolstation Premier Division place just four points behind Hallen, who are third.
Lardner, who has a full squad to choose from, said: “Hallen are a decent side and they have made a good start to the season so we’re not expecting it to be an easy game.
“We know we’re going to have to play very well to get anything out of the game.
“I would rather be first in the league at this stage of the season but we are where we are and we have to start picking up points in every game.”
FROME Town boss Andy Crabtree will have to make changes as he bids to get his team back on course for promotion from the Toolstation League Premier Division when they entertain Brislington today.
Leigh Burke is suspended and Sim Allison and Alex Lapham are also ruled out.
DEVIZES play their first home league game in three weeks today when they take on Chard Town.
Joint manager Shaun Moffat said: “We need points on the board. It’s a winnable game and it’s nice to be back at home again.”
Aaron Billett, who picked up a calf injury in last weekend's defeat by Willand Rovers, looks likely to miss the match, but Steve Campbell should shake off a rib injury in time to play.
PAUL Brickley’s Westbury side have a difficult away trip to Longwell Green Sports in the Toolstation League First Division today.
Rob Taylor has a knee ligament injury and is likely to be out for at least three weeks, but Nathan Hallett will come back into the side.
Goalkeeper Scott Armstrong is available for selection after signing from near neighbours Frome Town.
BRADFORD Town will have their Toolstation League First Division promotion credentials fully tested when they visit Larkhall Athletic this afternoon.
Larkhall, who currently lie seventh with three games in hand over Bradford, were many fans’ favourites for the league title before the start of the season.
Bradford manager Paul Shanley said: “It is the biggest test this season, but we’re going there with confidence.”
Pete Martin will return after being unavailable the last two weekends.
Robbie Simmonds, who has been suffering with an ankle injury, trained on Wednesday but did not play for the first team or reserves on Saturday.
Shanley expects him to play for the reserves today as he looks to get back to full fitness.
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