Rhayader Town begin a hectic spell of three games in six days in the Spar Mid Wales League, starting tomorrow (Saturday) when they visit leaders Newtown Reserves.
The Weirglodd team side then have home matches against Aberystwyth College on Monday and Bow Street on Thursday.
It promises to be tough test tomorrow at Latham Park, where Newtown have installed themselves as title favourites – even more so as Town are without Dylan McPhee.
The influential player-manager was taken to hospital in Shrewsbury on Saturday following a bad tackle at Llanfyllin with what was initially a suspected broken leg.
McPhee said earlier this week: “Thankfully it was not broken but it’s very swollen and there’s a nasty gash which required eight stitches”. He now faces a month on the sidelines, while Gareth Jones is also ruled out of tomorrow’s trip to Newtown.
Robbie Owen and Marc Maunder return, however, with Rhayader hoping Chris Murphy and Rhys Thomas come through late fitness tests.
Rhayader are well pleased with their start, having lost just once in eight outings since their promotion from the Watsons Associates Mid Wales League (South).
They do not have the strongest of squads numerically, but McPhee feels that leads to a tighter bond between the players – and that has proved the case with Rhayader showing their character on more than one occasion. But he knows they can ill afford too many injuries.
Newbridge, like Rhayader Town, will have to be at their best tomorrow for the visit of defending champions Aberystwyth Town Reserves.
But the Villagers are in good spirits after stringing together an unbeaten six match run – seven if you count the Radnorshire Cup – since surrendering a two-goal lead in a 3-2 defeat at home against Newtown Reserves in their league opener.
Player-coach Adriano Girolami led Newbridge to three wins in five days last week in the absence of manager Kevin Price, who returns tomorrow. Michael Collister continues to be an injury doubt for Newbridge but Stephen Parry, who has waited patiently for his chance since joining from Builth Wells, will be pressing his claims following two impressive outings last weekend.
Wes Evans should return for Presteigne, who are away again tomorrow when they visit newcomers Dyffryn Banw. And it promises to be another stiff test for the Llanandras Park side, with Banw finding their feet in a 5-0 verdict against Bow Street last week.
