Rangers miss six for Tamworth game

Stafford Rangers will have six players unavailable through work commitments and holidays for their pre-season friendly against Tamworth at Marston Road.

Defenders Luke George, Karl Espley, Ryan Dicker, Alex Hedley, right-back Jimmy Turner and winger Peter Heler all miss the match on Saturday.

Trialists Ashley Edwards and Dean Clarke will both start, Edwards replacing Turner at right-back with Clarke just in front of him on the wing.

Jermaine Johnson and Liam Walshe, who will captain the side with last season's skipper Michael Carr on the bench, are at centre-half.

Ryan Brown plays at left-back with Courtney Pitt on the wing while Christian Dacres makes his second Rangers debut in midfield with Lee Downes.

Sean Kinsella will be pushed up front alongside Simon Everall with Danny Quinn and Chris Morris on the bench, the latter shaking off a concussion.

First-team coach Mick Hathaway will take the team as both manager Greg Clowes and his assistant Dorian Garner are away on holiday in Spain.

And Hathaway today vowed Rangers will give their Blue Square Premier visitors a game, despite the two leagues difference between the two sides.

He said: "The lads look fit and ready to go, the enthusiasm is rolling over and they all just want to play football.

"We will be as near to full strength as we can and we won't be quaking in our boots, we will give them a game.

"These are our local rivals, they will be out to impress and the pitch at Marston Road looks fantastic.

"We want to try and play winning football that is attractive and, if we can get a good win, it will set us up.

"We have got some good footballers in our squad and a few old heads, we won't be short in any department."