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Brighouse Echo Sports - Town News

Ray McLaughlin10 Jan 2018 - 20:01
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By Dave Parker

BRIGHOUSE TOWN manager Vill Powell is more than hoping to take the momentum from last Saturday's fine win at Kendal into Saturday's home game with in form Hyde United (3.0)

After training on Tuesday night he said:" What a difference a week makes after an embarrassing performance on New Year's day at Tadcaster. Kendal was all about attitude, and the players showed an excellent attitude and desire to get a result and with that gave a dominant performance as well, so I was more than pleased with the Kendal result and the application of the players.

"We have shown all season when we do things properly we can match most sides in the Division but we have to be focused and determined and carrying no passengers which we did from minute one."

Powell continued: "Looking ahead to Hyde, they are a team having a fantastic season so far and we will have to raise our game again to make it difficult for them as they are clear favourites and outside of our dressing room no one will expect us to get anything from the game.

"So, as a group, we will have to be on top form again and fight for every ball in and out of possession."

Hyde, who beat Town 5-1 at Ewen Fields on October 21, a week before they entertained MK Dons in the first round proper of the FA Cup on BBC2, are on a seven match unbeaten run under former short term FC Halifax Town manager Darren Kelly. Last Saturday they beat Goole 5-0 to follow up a 2-0 win over Glossop North End on New Year's Day, which will encourage their good following to come to the Yorkshire Payments Stadium.

With striker Gabriel Johnson suspended for three games from last Saturday, Powell moved quickly to bring in journeyman striker Waide Fairhurst who, he feels, will add a bit of experience and quality to the side.

Fairhurst, 28, played 10 games for Doncaster Rovers in League 1 under Sean O'Driscoll and then began a series of loan arrangements heading for Solihull Motors, then Shrewsbury Town where he scored seven goals in 13 games, Southend Utd and Hereford Town ( four goals in nine) before finally signing permanently for the first of two stints with Macclesfield Town. His first spell at Moss Rose saw him score 14 goals in 37 games, he then went to Lincoln City before returning to Macclesfield where he played a further 32 and scored 13 goals. Upon leaving there he played for Torquay United, FC Halifax Town, Boston United, and at the end of last season Frickley Athletic where he scored four goals in four games.

Speaking to Echo Sport this week, Fairhurst, a Sheffield-based father of three, said: " " I want to concentrate in getting fit and showing Vill (Powell) and the Brighouse fans, what I can do. I fell out with football and haven't been doing anything until I got the call. I have missed it and enjoyed my day with the lads at Kendal. They worked hard and it was a good win.."

The manager says that unfortunately he has had to send goalkeeper Laurence Bilboe back to Rotherham Utd following the player's personal issues.

"A recent family bereavement has led to both myself and Rotherham deciding its in the best interest of the player that he returns at this time," added Powell.

At the very end of Saturday's game at Kendal, striker Aaron Martin suffered an ankle injury on the same one that kept him out of the side during the autumn. He was just about to pull the trigger in the box when the defender caught him but he stayed on his feet and put the ball into the side netting. Physio Harry Gee worked on him until the final whistle and he was then helped back to the dressing room. Martin will have a fitness test this evening (Thursday).

Ossett Town have appointed on a permanent basis Town's former assistant manager Lee Ashforth to Paul Quinn to replace Grant Black who left last week after two years in charge.

He has appointed ex- Farsley Celtic and Ossett Albion player Steve Nicholson as his assistant and they will be both joined on the bench by Steve Mackie.

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