Bridgwater & Albion and North Petherton gear up for weekend matches (From This is The West Country)

Bridgwater & Albion and North Petherton gear up for weekend matches

10:00am Friday 1st February 2013 in Sport By Daniel Milligan

AFTER having their weekend clashes postponed, Bridgwater & Albion and North Petherton are looking forward to getting stuck into some action on Saturday.

For Albion, they take on National League Division Three South-West side Weston in the Somerset Cup after their league clash with Paignton was postponed due to a flooded pitch.

Petherton are scheduled for a trip to Sidmouth on Saturday and still have to agree a date for their Somerset Cup clash with Wellington.

Albion head coach Kevin Innalls said he is using the cup match as a chance to integrate some new faces into the side.

He said: “We know it will be a tough match and we are missing Matt Hastie, Christian Preece and Matt Northey but we can give some lads on the fringe a go and also use it to build the new players into the side.”

Speaking about their league form, Innalls said they can turn things around but there can be no more excuses.

He said: “I want to see the players express themselves – we are in a relegation battle in the league and that is the highest priority.

“We have strengthened the side and there may be more to come but we need people to stop moaning and get stuck in because a couple of wins can see us climb up the league fast.”

North Petherton still sit pretty at the top of the South West One West pile but team spokesman Simon Freeman said the lack of games and increasing postponements is a concern as the fixture backlog mounts up.

He said: “Ultimately it is frustrating as it has pushed fixtures closer together in the middle part of the season.

“On a positive note it does give the players carrying injuries more time to recover.

“The season so far reads well and some strong performances where are defence has been the difference.

“The work in training on defensive systems has paid off because it some matches we have been denied possession.

“The club is taking one game at a time and enjoying the highest position it has been in.”