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INJURY WORRIES FOR BILLERICAY 15/08/2012
A mini-injury crisis has engulfed Billericay Town in the days leading up to Saturday's debut clash in Blue Square Bet South.
A total of seven first-team regulars are facing a race against the clock to prove their fitness for Saturday's match against Truro City, a team who are likely to be somewhere approaching full strength after emerging from a financial crisis.
Goalkeeper Dale Brightly and centre half Chris Wild were forced to leave the pitch with a sickness bug during Saturday's 4-2 friendly defeat at home to Leiston, while captain Rob Swaine was also substituted with a foot complaint.
Winger Sam Lechmere came off too after a kick to the knee. Added to the growing casualty list is Dave Collis (lack of match fitness), Nathan Green (ingrowing toe nail) and Craig Edwards junior (shoulder).
Junior Luke definitely misses out with a pulled thigh muscle. "It was just one thing after another," said manager Craig Edwards (pictured) with an air of grudging acceptance.
"With something like 35 minutes to go I said to my assistant that we've only got two players on the pitch that are likely to start next Saturday."
The Blues boss is nervously waiting to see who pulls through but is at least grateful that the season hadn't begun last weekend. "I would use the word mini-crisis because unlike last year we haven't got any really long-term injuries," he said.
"Luckily it's come before the season starts but you don't want it pre-season because you want to get their fitness up.
"We're a little bit in the lap of the Gods but if we get a modicum of luck and don't get too many players out then we'll have a chance of obtaining a reasonable place in the league."
This week forward Emeka Onwubiko has been released while Alex Osborn has signed on loan from Dagenham and Redbridge until December 31. "He's everything I like in a forward, he's very industrious, he's clever, he can score goals and he's so hungry to play football and that sparks off," said Edwards.
A deal to bring Duran Reynolds to the club from the Daggers is on the rocks though: "I wanted a player that can play left-back or centre half but he only wants to go to a club on the understanding that he's going to be playing centre half," said the manager.
"We couldn't give him that guarantee. But until we fill that void the offer remains open to him, he might reconsider and give it a go."
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