QUENTIN Townsend admits he cannot wait to be presented with a selection headache – and having to leave players out of his Pershore Town squad.
The Town boss has become accustomed to shuffling his squad through injury, suspension and unavailability, but there are signs the numbers are now settling down.
He will have new additions Billy Garvey and Chris Bright ready for action as Town face two away games in four days as they look to extend a season’s best four-game unbeaten run in Midland League Division One.
Pershore head to Heath Hayes on Saturday before a tricky test at Heather St John’s on Tuesday and, although defender Dan Getliff is unavailable between now and new year, Townsend feels he now has the options throughout the team.
“I’ve got a squad of around 22 now and though you always get one or two missing we’ve got the strength in depth to cope a lot better,” said Townsend.
“It’s a nice problem to have. It’s worse when you haven’t got enough players so I’ve been waiting for the opportunity to have to make a few decisions through choice rather than necessity.”
Striker Garvey has become the latest new face, having joined from Redditch Borough, and he will be vying with Kyle Turner, Alfie Bloomer and Oli Manoochehri in attack.
Pershore have had to revamp their attack after the exits of Jamie Clarke, Pawel Tomczak and Charlie Anagho-Ntamark but Townsend says he has plenty of variety to call on, with Garvey now looking for his chance.
“Billy has been desperate to come and get the chance at a higher level,” said Townsend. “He is determined to hit the ground running. I’m looking for him to provide a bit more competition in the attacking roles.”
Chances, however, were in short supply for both Pershore and visitors Nuneaton Griff as they had to settle for a goalless draw on Saturday at the King George V Stadium.
It was a drab affair as both sides struggled for a breakthrough, although Pershore did hit the post through Steve Webb and Aaron Xavier and Cameron Mathewson went close.
Terry Morton impressed in midfield and Shaun Griffiths was a rock in defence.
“It was pleasing to get a clean sheet and a point to continue our run but I was disappointed not to get all three points,” said Townsend. “But we are still moving in the right direction.
“We’ve got two away games coming up and Heath Hayes have been on a bit of a run and Heather have got excellent forwards in Dave Yonwin, who was the league’s top scorer a few seasons ago, Simeon Cobourne and Shane Benjamin, a team-mate of mine from playing veterans football.
“But we’ve done well in the last few weeks and we want to keep it going.”