Boost for Baker as Grice makes return to training
LEEK Town manager Neil Baker is hoping to have striker Tim Grice available for Tuesday night’s trip to Market Drayton Town.
Grice has been sidelined with a hamstring injury since he hobbled off after 30 minutes of the 4-0 home victory over Ramsbottom on Saturday, September 15.
However, the injury is not as bad as first feared and Grice has already started to step up his training.
The news on Dan Trickettsmith is not so good however.
He limped out of the first round qualifying replay victory against Parkgate complaining of a pull at the top of his thigh and is expected to be out for two to three weeks.
“It’s good news and bad news,” reflected manager Baker.
“Both were playing well and scoring goals, so of course we are missing them, but with a bit of luck Tim should be available for the Market Drayton match on Tuesday.”
Leek were in action last night against Widnes, but don’t play again until next Tuesday as the FA Trophy extra preliminary round leaves them without a fixture.
Leek don’t enter the competition until the preliminary round stage and will take on the winners of the Loughborough Dynamo v Market Drayton Town tie on Saturday, October 13 (3pm). Loughborough and Market Drayton play on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Baker reflected on Saturday’s FA Cup defeat at Chorley and believes it was an opportunity missed.
Blues lost 3-0 to goals from Marcus Carver (24), Adam Blakeman (28pen) and Dale Whitham (30).
However, Baker says if his players had taken their chances when they came along early in the game, it could have been a different story.
“I have no complaints about the result, they scored three times, we didn’t, but I think we missed an opportunity to put them under pressure by not scoring early.”