Peacocks peril

11:36am Thursday 18th October 2007

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Gornal Athletic boss Simon Williams is dreading every game at present as he faces up to having a huge chunk of the squad he started the season with missing.

Following two good seasons in the West Midlands Premier Division the Peacocks are struggling near the bottom of the table and the boss is under no illusions that this is the most difficult period he has had since he took charge in 2005.

Athletic slipped to a 1-0 defeat at home to Wellington on Saturday and the boss is now facing up to the prospect of being without eight players.

John Richards, Andy Price, Wayne Lawley, Nick Robertson and Nicky Turton are all long term casualties due to injury or illness, while Andy Parsons is still suspended and captain Dave Bate has moved to Tipton.

A frustrated Williams said: "This is without doubt my most difficult spell in charge.

"All our pre-season plans have simply being thrown out of the window by those players we have either lost or have got missing for one reason or another.

"I've tried my hardest to bring some new players in but we've had no joy as yet because it's very difficult to replace the quality of player we have missing."

This Saturday, the Peacocks will travel to Wolverhampton Casuals.

While Gornal are on the slide, one club on the up is Dudley Town.

The rocking Robins are sitting pretty in third position after they made it four wins out of four.

Their latest win was a 1-0 triumph at home to Wolverhampton Casuals with debutant Sam Tasker notching the only goal.

The new boy was snapped up by manager Dean Whitehouse from Willenhall and he's been delighted with how his latest signing has fitted in.

Whitehouse said: "Hes a smashing lad with a lot of quality and I was pleased with how he fitted in.

"Our overall performance was not too good but a win is a win."

This Saturday, the Robins will welcome Pelsall Villa to the Dell Stadium (3pm kick off).

Another team on the rise is Dudley Sports who moved up to fifth following a 3-0 win at home to Bustleholme last Saturday.

A double from Grant Joshua and a third late on by Craig Shaw sealed all three points.

Sports will aim to keep their good run going when they travel to Shawbury (3pm kick off ).

Second placed Tividale will be hoping to put their 2-1 defeat away at league leaders Bridgnorth last weekend behind them when they host Wednesfield this Saturday (3pm kick off).