THE deadline departures of Charlie Anagho-Ntamark and Dan Getliff will leave Pershore Town with two massive holes to fill, according to manager Quentin Townsend.
Striker Anagho-Ntamark has joined Evo-Stik Northern South promotion hopefuls Bedworth United while defender Getliff is returning to coach in the USA.
Townsend says he understands the reasons but he is disappointed to lose two players who have been big influences in their 2018 improvement in Midland League Division One.
“Since Charlie and Dan have been with us, they’ve been a big part of what we’ve achieved in the last few months,” said Townsend.
“It’s disappointing to see them go but we have to deal with it. It’s up to the players here to step up and fill big holes in the team,”
It is the second time Anagho-Ntamark has left Town after he had a brief spell at Boldmere St Michaels before returning to the King George V Stadium and Townsend had initially been hopeful the forward would see out the season.
“Charlie had assured me he wasn’t going to go but I think the money Bedworth were offering and the fact it’s two levels higher were too tempting,” said Townsend.
“With Dan, he got a phone call out of the blue to go back and coach in the US. He was there in New York last year and now he has got a nine-month contract for more coaching.”
Town, who visit Hinckley AFC on Saturday, have strengthened the squad for the run-in by signing University of Worcester students Harry Walters, a left-back or centre-back, and forward or winger Paul McHugh. Both play alongside Town midfielder Chris Bright in Worcester’s futsal team and will provide cover.
Anagho-Ntamark and Getliff bid their farewells on Tuesday when Pershore returned to winning ways with a 2-1 win at Heath Hayes.
Jack Downing and skipper Shaun Griffiths were on target as Town bounced back from a 4-0 home defeat to Ilkeston on Saturday. A hat-trick from Malachi Lavelle-Moore and a late fourth from substitute Mark Green gave the Robins the points.
Depleted ranks
The key difference, said Townsend, was having a fuller complement of personnel after Pershore had only 12 fit players at the weekend, when Townsend had to play himself and then ended up in Malvern Community Hospital to have six stitches inserted in a gashed ankle.
“We had a few late absentees on Saturday so I was down to 12 players but Ilkeston are a good side,” said Townsend. “I think Walsall Wood are going to beat them to the title this year, but if they don’t go up this season then they will take some stopping next season.
“On Tuesday we had the strongest squad we’ve had for a couple of months and the performance showed that. We controlled the game, apart from a ten-minute wobble early in the second half when they scored, but we were pretty comfortable.”