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Pace weighing up options

Simon Smedley
19/12/2002

SOCCER: Dave Pace has told his players to go easy on the Christmas pudding if they want to keep their place in the Droylsden first team.

Chairman/manager Pace told the Advertiser that he will need his charges to be fit and ready for the tough holiday programme of UniBond games if they want to keep up their assault on the higher reaches of the premier division table.

Pace said: "I've had the scales out and weighed everybody.

"I told the lads that if they put on any weight over Christmas then they will lose their place in the starting line-up."

Droylsden, whose UniBond chairman's cup tie at Guiseley on Monday was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch, face some stern tests of character over the festive period as Pace tries to build on the encouraging win over Burscough.

Pace added: "It's going to be tough, we've got Altrincham home and away, Barrow, and Gateshead at home on Saturday.

"But we're more than capable of picking up some victories out of those games."

Steve Porter and Gavin Salmon return from suspension for Saturday's visit of Gateshead, but Stuart Locke is still struggling with a groin strain.

Pace is currently eyeing Southport striker Simon Parke after a deal to bring Yeovil's Carl Alford to the Butchers Arms looks to have collapsed.