North Companions will be chasing a second straight win on the road and third in a row when they take on South Armidale on Saturday, but will have to do it without two of their spine.
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Nick Bowden (ankle) and Ben Todd (groin) both picked up injuries in their win over Joeys FC last week.
Todd might be back next week, coach Gavin Thompson said, but Bowden is looking at about a month on the sidelines. They’re also without Ben van Aanholt.
He’s in Sydney to watch Western Sydney Wanderers take on Arsenal, as is Thompson. He noted that Bowden and Todd picked up their injuries fairly early on, and credited the job their young replacements (Liam Wood and Jordan Balcombe) did.
Their efforts have seen them hold their spots, along with Matt Kelly.
Thompson said they’d had good numbers and good intensity at training this week as they close in on securing a finals spot, and know they can’t afford to take the Scorpions lightly despite last years grand finalists languishing down in seventh.
“The first half last time we played them we totally dominated the game and only managed one goal,” Thompson recalled.
That one goal stood as the difference in the end, with the Scorpions coming back in the second half.
“We have to take our chances and put it to bed early,” Thompson said.
Even last week, while the final scoreline read 4-nil, that was only courtesy of three late goals. In other games, Inverell host Oxley Vale Attunga, Demon Knights are home to Tamworth FC while Norths United battle East Armidale.