Cup D-day for Duke (From Dorset Echo)

Cup D-day for Duke

8:50am Saturday 7th March 2009 in Sport By Dill Butcher

IN-FORM Duke of Albany will be without the services of two key men as they aim to reach the Dorset Intermediate Cup final in their first-ever attempt at the competition by overcoming TX United in tomorrow’s semi-final at Redlands (10.30am).

Former Weymouth man Carl Mutch misses out due to a groin strain while Chickerell United winger Tommy Hastie is unavailable but player-boss Luke Tomlin will have the services of Jason Pearce, Liam Miles and Portland United hotshot Adam Linaker, who were all rested in last week’s rout of the Rendezvous.

TX United overcame Phil Anderson’s Rodwell 2-1 at the third round stage and currently occupy fifth spot in the second tier of Bournemouth’s Hayward League with five games in hand on the leaders.

Tomlin said: “We’ve come into a bit of form just at the right time with three wins on the spin and the lads have been looking forward to this one since the draw was made.

“Last week we gave one of our best performances of the season so I’ll be expecting more of the same in the morning.”

Veteran Simon Ansell in on stand-by to replace Josh Burton if the centre-back fails to shake off an ankle knock while defensive duo Jamie Spivey and Dan Welch have declared their availability.

Another Weymouth side looking to make the final this weekend is the Belvedere. The reigning Premiership champions will host the Angel of Poole at the Marsh in the other semi-final tomorrow as they look to go one better than 2005 when they were beaten finalists.

Player-boss Bobby Darch said: “As both a player and a manager it’s the one trophy that has eluded me so I class this as a massive game for us and we can expect a really tough test too.

“Our visitors are a very strong side who have already beaten the holders Joscelyne Builders, who knocked us out the last two years, so we are under no illusions. However, we go into the game after a great win last weekend where we showed our strength with a number of decent individual performances.”

Darch has a few selection posers ahead of the game as the names of Alex Halloran and Dan Skelton are added to last Sunday’s impressive squad list. However, two men still missing for the Belve are Lewis Whyton and Dan McDonald, who are sidelined through suspension and injury respectively.

Over at Budmouth, Tuatara manager Chris Meadows was hoping to field the same XI that fully dominated proceedings last weekend in a 7-2 triumph over the Lugger when his side meet the Kingswood in the Premiership’s game of the day.

However, the T-Bar have been rocked by the withdrawal of both goal-getter Danny Dancer, who is unavailable, and the injured James Robinson. They will also be without Michael Upton and Gregg McKinstry.

Both Tuatara and the Kingswood are unbeaten in 2009 and vying for a fourth-placed finish so it should be an intriguing contest.

Meadows said: “I will captain the side in Danny’s absence and we will go into the game high on confidence. We have three players close to double figures for goals this term while Tom Grattidge is pushing the Duke’s Russell North for the league’s top scorer mantle.”

The Wood have won their last six but co-manager Jason Wellman is fully aware that tomorrow could be his side’s biggest challenge to date.

He said: “We are unbeaten in our last 10 and we have beaten some good sides in that run but we are now seen by many at the moment as the team to beat and no side knows us better than the T-Bar who we have the utmost respect for. It is going to be a huge test.”

Vice-captain Ian McDonald will be absent for the Wood, who also have doubts over the availability of Nick Etherington and the fitness of goalkeeper Nick Gregg, who sustained a foot injury last week.

Elsewhere, Galaxy Windows will return to league action when they face a buoyant Queens Park Venue for the first time this term at the Marsh in the Championship.

Dan Ellis returns after three months on the sidelines while back into contention for the Whites comes Queens’ old boy Olly Tilson.

However, the club’s only ever-present player this term, Aaron Riley, misses out due to work commitments.

TOMORROW’S FIXTURES (all 10.30am) Sunday Intermediate Cup, semi-finals: Belvedere v Angel of Poole (Marsh), Duke of Albany v TX United (Redlands).

Minor Cup Semi-finals: DH Britannia v Fleetsbridge, Hare & Hounds v Sunseekers Sports & Social.

Weymouth Sunday League Premiership: Lugger v AFC Black Dog (Budmouth), Punchbowl v George, Portland (Grove), Railway Tavern v Rodwell (Redlands), Tuatara v Kingswood (Budmouth).

Championship: Clean Connections v Southill (Redlands), George, Dorchester v Dorothy (Sandringham), Old Castle v Alex (Redlands), Queens Park Venue v Galaxy Windows (Marsh), Rock v Market House (Budmouth).

Dorset Sunday League Division One: Bryanston Club v Poole Wanderers, Horse & Groom v Windgreen Corfe Mullen, Weld Arms v Poole Borough, White Swan v Broadstone Con.

Division Two: Bere Regis v Wallisdown Sports, Broadmayne v Morden, Dumpton Academicals v Harbourside, Corfe Mullen v Harrys Sports Bar.

Dorset Under-18 League Division One: Poole Town Wessex v Holt Utd, Swanage Town & Herston v Bournemouth Poppies, Westland Sports v Blandford Wanderers, Weymouth Youth v Sturminster Marshall, Wincanton Town v Rossgarth.

Division Two: Blandford Kings v Parley Sports, Bournemouth Poppies v Dorchester Town, Hamworthy Rec v Wareham Rangers, Parkstone Heights v Weymouth Terras, Poole Borough v Hurn Jets Utd, Teram Gryphon v Stourvale.

Dorset Women’s League: Donhead United v Boscombe Albion, Purbeck v Poole Town.