PERSHORE Town’s relegation fate will not be decided by their Easter matches, according to manager Quentin Townsend.
Which is just as well as they will face two of the top three sides in Midland League Division One and with a much depleted squad.
Town head to third placed Leicester Road on Saturday before they expect a bumper crowd at the King George V Stadium on Easter Monday (3pm) when Bromsgrove Sporting – who will be crowned champions if they win on Saturday – are the visitors.
After that Pershore, who lie two points above the bottom two, will have a potential six-pointer next Saturday at home to Stafford Town before ending the season on April 29 away to Heather St John’s.
But Townsend will this weekend be without top scorer Jamie Clarke and deadline signing Harry Allen, who are both away with the Team GB Deaflympics squad, plus skipper Shaun Griffiths and keeper Sean Edwards.
Striker Clarke, who has netted 18 goals this season, and midfielder Allen will be at a training camp in preparation for the summer’s Deaflympics in Samsun, Turkey, while defender Griffiths is suspended following his red card at Littleton and Edwards is away.
After the 1-0 defeat at Littleton in a feisty affair, Pershore have had a two-week break and Townsend hopes the break has healed a few other knocks and bumps and recharged the batteries for a final push for safety.
“We couldn’t have asked for a much tougher couple of games than playing two of the league’s top three sides, but they won’t decide our season,” said Townsend. “The games against Stafford and Heather are massive.
“It’s not ideal having to make quite a few changes this weekend, especially to the spine of the team, but fingers crossed everybody will be back for the match against Stafford.”
Andy Yarnold will deputise in goal for Edwards, while Dean Waldron or Steve Webb will provide defensive options this weekend but one boost will be the return of Dane Aldington after his six-week injury lay-off.
Pershore surprisingly turned the tables on Leicester Road a few weeks ago, winning 3-2, and Townsend has no doubts they will be looking for revenge on Saturday.
“Leicester Road are strong at home and they will feel they want to get one over us after the game at our place,” added the boss.
Meanwhile, Townsend says the club is proud to see both Clarke and Allen flying the flag to play for GB in the football tournament at the 23rd Deaflympics. The event, the oldest disability sports competition in the world, predating the Paralympics by 36 years, will be held in Samsun on Turkey’s Black Sea coast between July 18-30.
Former Evesham United and Studley player Clarke has been a regular in the GB team and netted a hat-trick in a warm-up game.
“Playing for your nation is a big deal and we will be wishing Jamie and Harry all the best in their training and when the tournament starts,” said Townsend.