Delight for Denis as McEvilly doubles up

By ROB GRIFFITHS

14 DECEMBER 2006

DENIS SMITH today admitted he was delighted to see at least one of his injured strikers back in action in a reserves run out.

Lee McEvilly, who missed the start of the season with a broken bone in his foot was given a 45 minute run-out for the reserves over Macclesfield Town at Collier’s Park after shaking off an illness – and he helped himself to a brace and Alex Darlington added another in the Reds 3-1 win.

Smith, who has seen his side dogged by injuries for virtually the whole of the season, said: “The good thing about the game was the Lee got on the pitch, which we didn’t expect him to, and he also got a couple as well.

“We got one of the strikers to have a run out, but I would have liked to have given all
three some time on the pitch.”

Smith was hoping that both Neil Roberts and Juan Ugarte might have had a chance of seeing some action, but admitted it was a long way off for the pair of them.

“There’s still some way to go for them,” he said. “They’re a long way off just yet. Neil played 20 minutes at Boston and did some work after the game, which we do with all the lads if they’ve only had a bit of playing time, but on Sunday his ankle just blew up. Juan is still struggling with a hamstring injury.

“I was hoping to have them involved at some point because they both need a game.”

Smith also gave a run out to a host of other first teamers with Simon Spender, Ryan Valentine, Matt Crowell and Matty Done featuring as the Reds boss needs to make
changes from the side that crashed 4-0 at Boston United last Saturday.

Steve Evans also played in the win over Macclesfield, but will miss the visit of Walsall on Saturday as he starts a four match suspension.

Smith said: “I know I need to make at least two changes to the side that played last weekend because Steve Evans and Mark Jones are definitely out, so we needed to give a few players a work out.”