Weymouth boss waiting on fitness of key duo (From Dorset Echo)

Weymouth boss waiting on fitness of key duo

8:19am Tuesday 5th March 2013 in Sport By Adam Summers

ASHLEY Wells and Stephen Reed are both major doubts for the Terras ahead of tonight’s tough encounter at title-chasing Hemel Hempstead Town (7.45pm).

Both players have been under the weather since last Saturday’s 2-1 victory at Hitchin Town but on the plus side Ed Palmer and Danny Clay are set to return from suspension.

Weymouth boss Brendon King, whose side currently sit one point adrift of the play-offs, told Echosport: “Tonight’s game is going to be one of our toughest of the season and it is a massive one for both sides.

“We have got ourselves into a great position but we now have 10 cup finals ahead of us and this is the first of them.

“If we could come away with something it would be fantastic but Hemel need the points just as much as we do as they look to keep the pressure on Leamington at the top of the table.

“They are a big and mobile side that are very handy from set-pieces so we are going to have to be switched on from the off.

“If we can do that and stay nice and solid then we will stand every chance because we have always got goals in us.”

The Terras have collected 15 points from their last six outings in the Evo-Stik Southern Premier Division while Hemel have picked up 13. King added: “They beat us 1-0 at our place earlier in the season but in many ways we had our pockets picked that day and did not get what we deserved.

“We know it is going to be even harder up there and the fact they came back twice to beat Bedford 4-3 on Saturday just goes to show what we are up against.

“Having said that the boys are buzzing at the minute and confidence is high, so hopefully we can go there and keep the momentum going.”

Going on to comment on Wells and Reed, King said: “Unfortunately there is a bit of sickness in and around the camp.

“Ed and Danny Clay are both back but Reedy has been suffering with tonsillitis and Ash has had a bit of flu about him.

“I am just waiting to see how those two are. If they come through then we could have a bit of a selection headache on our hands, which would be nice, but I really don’t know.

“We could be a bit stronger or we could be back to square one, we will just have to wait and see.”

The Terras, who will definitely be without the injured Kyle Critchell, are still waiting for confirmation on the length of Palmer’s next ban after he was sent off in last Wednesday’s Dorset Senior Cup semi-final.

King concluded: “Ed is back as his suspension is split. He got a one-game ban for the sending off against Cambridge City, which he has now served, but it is likely he is going to get another three or four games for the one last week.

“With that being around half of our remaining matches we are looking to get someone in on loan as cover, but a lot will depend on who is available and whether they are the right player.

“The next few games are going to decide the rest of our season and we need to make sure we are as strong as possible.”

Hemel currently sit four points behind league leaders Leamington having played two games more.

Terras (from): Evans, Povall, Poole, Palmer, McConnell, Wells, Clarke, Clay, Reed, Skinner, Duff, Walker, Smith, Joyce, Ford, Groves