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[Darren]

Eastbourne v Altrincham 
Eastbourne Borough will be without striker Andy Atkin (calf) and Simon Wormull for the game with Altrincham.

Midfielder Matt Crabb serves a one match ban for his sending off against Grays Athletic.

Altrincham defender Richard Battersby has overcome a knock but will have to compete for a starting spot with Chris Lane, who is back after suspension.

Striker Colin Little has slight muscle strain, while Chris Denham is hoping to reclaim a starting place.

 

[Darren]

Preview: Eastbourne Borough v Alty
4:18pm Friday 29th August 2008

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By Connor Murphy »

Blue Square Premier



Priory Lane, Saturday, kick off 3pm

COLIN Little is a doubt ahead of Alty's trip to newly-promoted Eastbourne Borough tomorrow.

The striker has been struggling with a knock picked up in Monday's draw with Wrexham but manager Graham Heathcote is confident he should be fit to start.

Last season's top scorer will undergo a fitness test prior to the game at Priory Lane.

The only other absentee is midfielder Val Owen, who is back on the road to recovery after a scan gave him the all-clear on his troublesome knee.

Eastbourne, however, have a couple of worries with Simon Wormull (hamstring) and Andy Atkin (calf) both ruled out.

Matt Crabb is also suspended after beign sent off in Monday's 1-0 win over Grays.

But midfielder Mo Harkin is back in action after missing Monday's game with severely blistered feet.

After a seriously improved performance in the 1-1 draw with Wrexham, Heathcote has challenged his players to continue their good form at Eastbourne.

He said: "We have to look to build on Monday's performance tomorrow.

"We were all very disappointed with the 4-0 defeat at Kidderminster but when you're reduced to 10 men it changes the course of a game.

"So we have to keep 11 men on the pitch first and foremost and not make any silly mistakes at the back.

"This is one of the games we will be looking at as a chance to pick up points."




Form (last five games)

Alty: WLDLD

Since their season started on a high note with victory at Woking, Alty have had mixed fortunes.

The defeat to Barrow was disappointing, especially considering the Robins' sloppy defending, and more was expected against Kettering.

The 4-0 defeat at Kidderminster was a low point but Monday's draw with promotion hopefuls Wrexham was exactly the response the players had to provide.

Eastbourne: LWLLW

It's been a roller-coaster ride for Eastbourne already but that's probably to be expected from a newly-promoted side.

Interestingly, both their wins have come away from home, 3-1 at Stevenage in the second game of the season and 1-0 at Grays last week, a snatch-and-grab victory secured courtesy of an 89th minute winner.

They are yet to even score a goal at Priory Lane, having lost 1-0 to Rushden and Diamonds and 3-0 to Cambridge.




Probable teams

Alty (4-4-2): Coburn; Lane, McGregor, Young, Peyton; Denham, Danylyk, Lawton, Doughty; Little, Johnson.

Eastbourne (4-4-2): Hook; Baker, Austin, Pullan, Jenkins; Harkin, Smart, Armstrong, Harding; Sigere, Tait.




Opposition key man

Paul Armstrong. Captain and midfield lynchpin, Armstrong has been a consistent performer since joining the Sports from Crawley in 2006.

He is the creative hub of the team and much of their play goes through him. A good passer of the ball and also able to get forward and provide goals from midfield.