The second team travel to Paton Field on Saturday for a top of the table clash against old foes Caldy. The sides meet for the first time since Hoppers’ victory in the Raging Bull Cup Final last Spring.
Caldy sit just behind Young’s men in the table having lost just once, to Fylde, a fortnight ago. This season has mirrored last year’s campaign as the two teams were fighting tooth and nail for top spot in the preliminary competition. Hoppers went on to challenge for the Conference A title right up until the final weekend but Caldy fell away somewhat having struggled to maintain their pre-Christmas momentum.
There’s no doubt that Saturday’s game presents Hoppers with new set of challenges, but having seen off an impressive Fylde outfit last weekend, the men from Lightfoot Green approach the game in optimistic mood. As is normal, there are a number of comings and goings from last weekend’s match day squad but Young still has a strong group to call upon. Jack Walker, Ben Rhodes-Powers and Connor Trueman all return following lengthy injury breaks whilst Jonny Doney and James Mawdsley’s fine form is rewarded with a first team call up. The match day squad is as follows:
Mabaya, Tuff, McGuinnness, Proctor, Banks, Wallace, Walker, Taylor, Whyte, Murray, Trueman, Flynn, Farley, Rhodes-Powers, Yates
Reps: Wilkinson, Marshall, Hurst.
@JY75 @Jebbster1975
