Very big week for Rovers
NORTH and Rovers are scheduled to meet for FNB Priaulx League points at Northfield tonight and it is the proverbial ‘must-win’ for both clubs at the start of what is a particularly big and testing week for the ‘Soifers’.
After the chocolate-and-blues, it will be table-topping St Martin’s on Saturday for Kevin Gillease’s side.
A maximum six points would put Rovers in a decent position and make the title chase a true two-horse race, but to lose either game would be very damaging, Gillease recognises.
‘We can’t afford to lose...not really, but having said that there’s still plenty of games. But a loss would make it hard for ourselves.’
The heavy rains of the past few days put tonight’s game in some doubt.
If it does go ahead the visitors will again be without dominant centre-back Tobi Oluborode, who is back in light training but still probably a fortnight away from returning to match action.
On top of that, Louis Falla is out and new winger Martin Savident is sidelined until the end of the year.
There is, though, good news for Rovers.
In delaying his university return, hot striker Fin Whitmore is here until at least the end of October, and Will Fazakerley will not be making a switch to Vale Rec, which was a rumour swirling in the October low-pressure systems. He will soon be available says Gillease.
As for North, their lousy start to the season has left them out of the title picture with only a quarter of the schedule completed.
Although nowhere near as bad as their lowly seventh spot, they are 16 points adrift of St Martin’s.
