With an eye on the Second Qualifying Round of the Emirates FA Cup just around the corner, two of the four players out on loan will be preparing with their respective sides in a bid to make it to the next round.
Looking back at the last week, Pat Boyes had another brilliant week between the sticks at FC United of Manchester as they hosted Bradford Park Avenue in their most recent fixture, which ended in a 2-0 win, meaning Boyes managed yet another clean sheet.
The game started in the perfect fashion for the side from Manchester as Jay Fitzmartin netted the opener seven minutes into the clash, before completing his brace seconds before the half-time whistle.
Boyes was called upon multiple times in the fixture, with him having to stay on his toes throughout the first half, stopping Bradford from capitalising from their set-pieces, but his main save in the game came in the second half when he denied Chinedu Osadebe just before the end.
Moving on to a player in Merseyside now, Will Russ made an appearance from the bench, being subbed on for Manasse Mampala, in Marine AFC’s 2-0 win over Stafford Rangers away from home at the weekend.
Much like the FC United game, Darius Osei broke the deadlock early in the clash at Marston Road and the side took that one-goal advantage into the break. Russ was then subbed on around the hour mark and made an instant impact at the top of the pitch.
Russ forced a save from the Bradford goalkeeper minutes after being introduced into the game as his effort from close range almost found the back of the net, with the loan side listing this as their best chance aside from the goals.
After creating another chance from virtually nothing in the 68th minute, he found himself free on the left-hand side, storming towards the goal, but his chance was cleverly taken by the goalkeeper before Sol Solomon netted the second goal of the game.
Finally, we move on to the duo over in Ireland with our sister club, Barry Baggley and Drew Baker. Starting off with midfielder, Baggley, he made his way back over the Irish Sea after his shoulder injury last month but was not included in the squad for their clash against Finn Harps last Friday evening as a precaution.
Baker, on the other hand, was on the bench for the clash but ended up being an unused one as goals from Darragh Power, Cameron Cresswell, and a brace from Dean McMenany meant the game was out of sight by the 67th minute, with the league clash ending in a 4-0 scoreline at Finn Park.
Here’s what is up next for our players out on loan:
Baggley & Baker: Waterford FC v Cobh Ramblers – League of Ireland First Division – The RSC – Friday 15 September (7:45pm kick-off)
Boyes: FC United of Manchester v Warrington Rylands – Emirates FA Cup Second Qualifying Round – Broadhurst Park – Saturday 16 September (3pm kick-off)
Russ: Spennymoor Town v Marine AFC – Emirates FA Cup Second Qualifying Round – Brewery Field – Saturday 16 September (3pm kick-off)