Tividale struck by injury crisis (From Halesowen News)

Tividale struck by injury crisis

6:00pm Thursday 1st November 2012 in Football

DEAN Whitehouse will try to call in a few favours this week as he struggles to cope with the worst injury crisis during his five years in charge at Tividale.

Whitehouse was without eight first-team regulars for the 3-1 defeat at Heather St Johns, a result which has seen his side slip down to sixth in the Midland Alliance.

He said: “It’s the worst injury list I’ve ever known.

“I’ve been on the phone to a few clubs to see if they can help us out, but they all seem to be in the same boat as us.

“I’m not going to use injuries as an excuse. We just have to get on with it and pull together as a club.”

Whitehouse had to draft in 16-year-old Aaron Bains, who played in second-half against Heather St Johns, while Tom Overfield was included on the bench, even though he was injured.

He has also brought in Connor Collins and Lewis Robinson from the club’s under 18s side in a bid to plug the empty gaps.

To make matters worse, Richard Taylor suffered a gashed knee and is likely to be ruled out for Saturday’s game against Loughborough University at Packwood Road.

Whitehouse is resigned to being without long term injury victims Matt Jukes, Brett Clark plus cousins Kyle and Adam Hill for several weeks.

Meanwhile, Gornal Athletic boss Ian Rowe reckons he will have a few selection headaches to deal with after his side stretched their unbeaten run to eight games following their 1-0 success at Coleshill Town.

Calum Martin converted the only goal early in the second half having hit the crossbar just two minutes earlier.

The Garden Walk side now have the luxury of games in hand over their league rivals and now embark on a string of home games, starting with Heather St Johns on Saturday.

Rowe has Kristian Green back available along with Peter Wood, who has completed a three match ban.

The Gornal boss was gave Gurdip Wilkoo a run-out for the final half-hour against Coleshill, increasing competition for places still further.

That hasn’t stopped Rowe from attempting to increase his squad further, but the Gornal boss missed out on signing Rocester wideman Jordan Nadat.

Gornal are back at Garden Walk next Tuesday when they take on Bridgnorth Town in the League Cup.