Town confident despite absentees

Banbridge Town manager Ryan Watson doesn’t exactly have a packed changing room ahead of this weekend’s return to league action.
Banbridge Town's squad is severely depleted ahead of Saturday's game at home to Moyola Park. Pic: Edward Byrne Photography INBL1437-245EBBanbridge Town's squad is severely depleted ahead of Saturday's game at home to Moyola Park. Pic: Edward Byrne Photography INBL1437-245EB
Banbridge Town's squad is severely depleted ahead of Saturday's game at home to Moyola Park. Pic: Edward Byrne Photography INBL1437-245EB

Three red cards in their last three matches mean Stephen Greene, Michael Ferguson and Marty Buchanan are all suspended to compound the team’s injury woes.

Ryan Evans and Damian McParland are still to return while long-term injury victims Chris McGrath and Adam pedlow are added to the list of unavailable players.

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Nonetheless, Watson reckons his side can still come out on top this Saturday when they host early league leaders Moyola Park (kick-off 3pm).

“It’s a big dent in picking a team but it makes me more determined,” he said. “I have no doubt that we will progress and improve. The lads have been playing well and the rest have battled well when down to 10 men so I’m confident that things will change for us.

“Moyola are top of the league and flying so we will expect a really tough test. We really want to get things going a get a positive result and I have every confidence that the team we have on the pitch will be capable of doing that.

“We have no complaints about the recent red cards but we could really do without them. I wouldn’t say it’s a discipline problem, it’s just been a bad run and the boys know that it can’t be happening any more.”

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Moyola are three points clear and are unbeaten , picking up four wins and a draw from their opening five matches. Town, meanwhile, have just four points from their four games.

They follow up this weekend’s game with another two at Crystal Park. Town were supposed to travel to face Tobermore United on Saturday 11 october but that game has been switched and Coagh United then visit Banbridge the following week. It’s a chance to get points on the board for Watson’s men and the boss is hoping that come the end of that run, his list of unavailable players will have shrunk.

“I’m looking forward to getting back to normality,” he said.

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