RICHARD Fey is getting ready to fill in between the sticks for Chippenham Town when they face Conference North opponents Gloucester City in the fourth qualifying round of the FA Cup next weekend.

With teenage starlet Conor Thompson joining Torquay United last week and Ben John, who made his debut in last weekend's draw with Arlesey Town, cup-tied, the Bluebirds are now launching a last-ditch attempt to bring in cover for their showpiece clash with Gloucester.

But if their search proves fruitless, assistant manager Fey, a former keeper at Frome Town, may have to step up to the plate at Whaddon Road this Saturday.

"Ben’s cup-tied and as it stands, it might be me," said Fey.

"We’ve got to hopefully find a keeper that isn’t – Conor’s now contracted to Torquay so, there’s not much we can do about him.

"At the end of the day we’ll have seven players out and we’re going there with bare bones.
 

"Clayton (Fortune) and Tyrone (Mings) are also cup-tied. 

"Toby Osman's suspended, Iain Harvey's suspended and then Josh Egan pulled up after Saturday and Dean Griffiths looks like he needs stitches in his foot."

The Bluebirds take on Paulton Rovers in the first round of the Red Insure Cup tomorrow evening.

Meanwhile, crisis-hit Kettering Town's Red Insure Cup tie with Arlesey, scheduled for tomorrow is off.

The club today informed the League that Nene Park will not have electricity to stage the fixture.

A league statement said: "The League has accepted that the match is postponed.

"The matter of the playing of the match will be discussed in due course by the League’s Board of Directors.''

Kettering have called off games with Leamington and Bideford in the last seven days.

MORE CHIPPENHAM TOWN NEWS IN THIS THURSDAY'S GAZETTE AND HERALD