SPORTYWEST NEWS . . . SPORTYWEST NEWS . . . SPORTYWEST NEWS
FOREST Green Rovers' worried manager Dave Hockaday has called for a "concerted all-round effort" to be displayed throughout the club in their battle to avoid relegation from the Blue Square Premier.
Rovers had lost four and drawn one of their previous six games heading into Saturday's home clash with promotion-chasing York City (March 6, 3pm) to leave them languishing in the drop zone.
Hockaday told the South Gloucestershire Gazette: “Now is not the time for the faint-hearted or the moaners, now is the time for everyone involved with Forest Green to rally together and push forward as one in our battle for survival.”
The Gloucestershire Senior Challenge Cup semi-final duel between Bristol Rovers and Bristol City at the Memorial Stadium will now be played on Wednesday, March 10 (7.30pm), a week earlier than scheduled.
Rovers travel to take on Exeter City in a rearranged League One game on March 17, hence the switch.
City, meanwhile, are confident their influential midfield enforcer Marvin Elliott will return to duty within three weeks as his knee injury is not as bad as first feared. However fellow midfielder Evander Sno remains sidelined with a persistent back problem.
Nick Tucker, the Clevedon Town manager, has made an approach to sign Almondsbury Town winger Ross Stearn, the former Bristol City protege who had been striving to resurrect his career with Yeovil Town, Forest Green Rovers and Weston-super-Mare before his switch to Oaklands Park. Tucker has also been boosted by a decision from Dorchester Town defender Ollie Barnes to remain on loan until the end of the month.
Hellenic League promotion hopefuls Almondsbury were anticipating a stern examination of their credentials this Saturday (March 6, 2pm) with in-form Gloucestershire County League outfit and cup underdogs Hanham Athletic hosting them in a 'potential banana-skin' of a GFA Challenge Trophy semi-final clash.
There has been drama in the Toolstation League this week with news that Bitton boss Andy Black has been installed as first division Cadbury Heath's new manager, with Heath's Richard Fey heading the other way in a remarkable 'swap' situation. Black is charged with attempting to lift Heath out of the doldrums - they languish uncomfortably close to the Division One drop zone - while Fey is targeting an upturn in fortunes at Bitton following this season's slump on the back of last term's top-flight title triumph.
Another Toolstation outfit, Bristol Manor Farm, have signed former Bristol Rovers youth keeper Sam Burgess as a replacement for departed regular Lee Ballard.
Somerset County League first division side Cleeve West Town have appointed player and reserve team manager Simon Tarr as their new manager to replace Nick Faiers. Premier Division Backwell United, desperate for a return to Western League prominence, have recruited ex-Bishop Sutton marksmen Rob Dumphy and Chris Mountford in a bid to finish their campaign on a high.
OTHER SPORT
BOB SKELETON: Bath has hailed its golden girl Amy Williams following her triumph at the Winter Olympics. The 27-year-old enjoyed an open-top bus tour of her home city and was greeted by thousands of delighted well-wishers following her gold medal success in Canada. "It's wonderful that so many people have turned out for me," she cried.
RUGBY: Bath have bolstered their ranks with the capture of Glasgow Warriors scrum-half Mark McMillan, 26, on a two-year contract starting this summer. Meanwhile the Rec club insist they will "do everything possible" to fend off an approach by South African giants Natal Sharks for the services of their former fly-half Butch James.
CRICKET: Gloucestershire have applauded a decision by Bristol City Council planning officers to back two applications to transform their County Ground HQ into a state-of-the-art 20,000-capacity arena. The ground currently holds only 4,000 people, while the club want to upgrade hospitality and conference facilities as well as their fitness and education centres.
ATHLETICS: Bristol & West AC's senior women clinched a magnificent third place in the English National Cross Country Championships at Leeds' Roundhay Park.
RUGBY: Bristol have signed 33-year-old Fijian fly-half Nick Little from rivals Bath on a two-year agreement, starting from this summer when Paul Hull's team hope to have cemented a berth in rugby's top-tier once more.
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