SIMON KELLY misses Radcliffe Borough's most important match of the season tomorrow when promotion play-off rivals Spennymoor visit Stainton Park (kick-off 3pm).
Kelly serves the first of a three-match ban he picked up following his sending off in the 3-2 defeat at Stocksbridge on April 13 and he will be sorely missed.
The talented utility man has turned in some fine performances in defence -- and when he has been switched to midfield -- this season.
"Simon has done well. He is one of the lads that has really stuck at his game," said Radcliffe Borough manager, Kevin Glendon.
"One or two players have dropped from the level we are used to seeing them play at. Simon's not done that."
Glendon added: "It's a massive game tomorrow. If Spennymoor win they can go above us."
Supporters are invited to a meeting in the social club at 12.30pm to discuss various issues that have arisen during the season and put questions to the Boro management.
If Boro lose tomorrow and face the possibility of missing out altogether in the promotion stakes, there will be just one question on everybody's lips: "How did you manage that?"
Glendon declared: "We have really had a bad time since Christmas. I don't know whether it was partly to do with me because I was off or a few players having a loss of form. We had suspensions, but that happens to everybody.
"The right results from the next three games will give us the chance to get back to something like we were before Christmas when everyone thought we were unbelievable.
"It's the same bunch of players and I haven't got that big a squad to change things round. The players don't want to lose. They are not throwing it away and I am confident they can do it.
"We have got two really big home games with a trip to Trafford in between, but scoring the first goal tomorrow will be a big boost for us.
"It would be a crying shame if we were not to even go into the play-offs after what we have done this season."
Apart from the suspended Kelly, Glendon has a fully fit squad to choose from. Spennymoor boss Tony Lee is in a similar situation.
The only person missing from his usual first team squad is his son, Anthony, who, like Simon Kelly, begins a three-match period of suspension tomorrow.
"I was pushed into a barrier. I was the one sent off and I wasn't even allowed to appeal," moaned an extremely affronted Lee.
His dad has taken the County Durham outfit from the lower reaches of the UniBond Division One table to within touching distance of a promotion play-off place.
They went 14 games unbeaten after he took over and have only lost three league games since he arrived from nearby Bishop Auckland, bringing Anthony with him.
Other lads to look out for in the Spennymoor side are striker Danny Brinskill, midfield man Jason Ainsley, centre back Steve Hutt and goalkeeper Jim Provett, who is on loan from Nationwide League neighbours Hartlepool United.
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