Quilter set for fitness test ahead of Welling clash

JAMES Quilter will have a fitness test ahead of tonight s Blue Square South game at Welling United. The defender limped out of Saturday s 2-1 win over Eastleigh after taking a knock to his Achilles and boss Steve Castle is unsure whether he will be able t

JAMES Quilter will have a fitness test ahead of tonight's Blue Square South game at Welling United.

The defender limped out of Saturday's 2-1 win over Eastleigh after taking a knock to his Achilles and boss Steve Castle is unsure whether he will be able to call upon the former Tottenham man's services.

"James will have a fitness test before the game tonight and we'll have to wait and see," Castle told The Herts Advertiser. "At the moment he is probably 50-50."

Assistant manager Mark Peters has also picked up a knock and with his defensive options limited Castle has added Bradley Thomas to the squad, after he turned out for the club's reserves last night.

Thomas has vast experience and lists Peterborough United, Yeovil and Crawley Town amongst his former clubs and spent last season with King's Lynn where he played alongside Peters.

"Bradley Thomas has signed and if everything is ok and gone through then he will be involved tonight," said Castle. "Mark Peters has a calf strain but apart from that we're going there as strong as we can be."

City are boosted by the return of Paul Hakim though the performances of Gary Cohen, Danny Green and two-goal hero Drew Roberts at the weekend might mean last season's top scorer has to be content with a place on the bench.

Green's performance on Saturday drew praise from Castle and he'll be hoping for more of the same from the former Harlow man tonight.

"Danny started the season but he struggled a little bit with shin splints and didn't look happy with himself down at Dorchester and it was one of them that didn't work well for us.

"Paul Hakim has come in on Tuesday (against Worcester) and it's probably shown him the stark reality - if he isn't doing things then maybe he won't be starting. He put in a very workmanlike performance and it makes it very difficult for me to change that front three if they're all fit."

Castle believes tonight's encounter will provide a stern test for his troops.

"They'll be a very strong team I know they haven't started well which will make it all the more harder.

"They've got Mr Clarke who'll probably be in their team and (has already) scored who'll no doubt want to prove a point," he added.

"We just want to compete, and I keep on saying that an awful lot, but that's been pleasing in that respect and now we've just got to make sure that we start winning these games.