Boss Barry blasts back at critics of Sales

Sales, a £5,000 signing from Salisbury City in February last year, has had setback after setback with injury this season.

The gifted striker spent over two months out with groin trouble and then pulled his hamstring at Dorchester on Boxing Day after just six starts back in the side.

He made his long-awaited comeback less than a month ago, but now faces at least another fortnight on the sidelines after his hamstring went again in last week's 4-1 win over Fisher.

Blankley, left, said: "It's disappointing for me, the fans and the club, but people should spare a thought for Paul too. No one's as disappointed as he is.

"He usually stays behind for a drink after the game, but last week he shot off straight away because he was feeling so down about it."

When Sales joined Bashley, they were fighting for their lives at the foot of the Eastern Division. Going into tomorrow's home game with Histon, they are sitting pretty in pole position and, for all his injury troubles, Sales has played a massive part in turning the club around.

Hitting back at the critics, Blankley said: "Some people have got very short and convenient memories and should be careful not to start knocking.

"Paul joined us with 16 games to go last season and scored 14 goals. They say no man makes a team, but he made a hell of difference between finishing bottom and finishing tenth.

"No one enjoys being injured and while I'd admit that Paul's pain threshold isn't the biggest, he's not the sort to go ducking out of any challenges. I couldn't knock any of my forwards, they've all been superb."

Frontman Richard Gillespie should be fit to face the league's highest scorers, Histon, tomorrow and both Aaron Cook and Mark Lisk are available again.

Bash will have big-time revenge in mind having been slayed 6-0 away to Histon back at the start of September - their biggest defeat of the season.

Steve Tate reckons Newport Isle of Wight would be the ideal destination for Leigh Phillips if the Jewson Wessex League sharpshooter decides to leave Lymington & New Milton.

The Islanders' player-manager knows more than most about demands on Southern League strikers from his days with Waterlooville, Havant and Weymouth.

Phillips's future has been the subject of speculation since Graham Kemp quit as Linnets manager a fortnight ago and Tate said: "If Leigh did decide to come to Newport, he'd have a great ally in me because I'm a centre-forward myself. If he's not going to make it at a higher level with me, then he's never going to make it!"

Although Tate has lodged notice of approach for 29-year-old Phillips, he has still got to clear it with his chairman, Bill Manuel, to get a fourth forward on board to join Jamie O'Rourke, Danny Hatcher and Ashley Wright at St George's Park.

He said: "We've got 12 games left and I'd like to have Leigh here to find out what my best options are for next year. The strikers we've got are all quite similar, but Leigh's a robust type who could score 20 or 30 goals a season."

After parting company with player/coach Steve Riley last week, Tate has had to let another experienced player go.

Midfielder Steve Leigh has been released only two months after rejoining the club where he won the Eastern Division title two seasons ago.

Tate admitted: "It was another hard decision to make, but Steve's had some injury problems and has had an unsuccessful period back with us."

Danny Rofe and Mark Isaacson are Port's only injury absentees for tomorrow's Eastern Division trip to Dartford.

Salisbury City, who are also running the rule over Leigh Phillips, already have an ex-Linnet in their camp.

Utility man Steve Strong, who left Lymington in the wake of Kemp's resignation, has been training with the Wiltshire club.

Assistant manager Tommy Killick said: "We'd like Steve to join us but he's keeping his options open for the moment.

"He's very versatile. He can play out wide, in central midfield or up front. At a push, you could even get him to play at full-back. That's the reason he'd be a valuable addition to our squad."

Rib injury victim Tyronne Bowers is still very sore and unlikely to feature in tomorrow's big third-versus-fourth clash at Stamford. Defender Josh Thomas misses out with a groin problem and Swindon scholar Ian Herring is suspended.

Co-manager Mark Dennis has warned his third-to-bottom Fleet side to cut out the silly mistakes that are placing the club's Eastern Division future in jeopardy.

Despite two good performances at Erith and Rothwell this week, Fleet have come away empty-handed because of bad mistakes by the likes of Wayne Noad and skipper Rob Marshall at the back.

But Dennis, who leads his side into home action against Ashford tomorrow, said: "We've got to stay upbeat. We've got ten games to go and we've still got a chance of getting out of this. Spalding losing to Ashford on Tuesday has given us a lifeline."

Latest new name at the north Hampshire club is 28-year-old Giorgi Lebanidze who, until recently, was playing his football at Locomotive Tiblisi in Georgia. But Dennis said: "He's not one for the future. He's got all the twists and turns, but this is not a league for tip-toeing through the tulips!"

Havant & Waterlooville have been warned by co-managers Liam Daish and Mick Jenkins that they will not stand for

another performance like Tuesday's 2-0 surrender at Bashley in the Hampshire Senior Cup.

Hawks may be FA Trophy quarter-finalists, but they are only three points clear of the Dr Martens Premier relegation zone and Jenkins snapped: "The performance at Bashley was unacceptable. Half the team looked like they didn't want to be there and that won't be tolerated.

"We asked for 100 per cent passion, desire and commitment and got none of it. Now let that be the last of it. We've got two league games before we meet Forest Green Rovers in the Trophy and we need results. Tomorrow's game at Chelmsford is massive for us."

Former Saints Aacademy lad Brett Poate should return from a dead leg tomorrow, but Chris Ferrett is doubtful after limping off at Bashley with a groin strain.