Chichester boss may turn to youth as City return to action

Rivals Pagham have moved four points clear of Chichester in the division-one table. Now Girdler will need his team to make count the games in hand they have over the sides above them in the top half.

He said: “We were without Tom Broadbent last week as he was away, so he was a big miss for us at centre-half – and he’s only a kid.

“We were still missing Adrian Brockway through injury – and Callum Cutler. I thought Callum was probably about ten days to a week, so as we didn’t have a game last Saturday hopefully he should be fit for our next match, and the same with Adrian.”

A win could take City fourth, and with their impressive goals-scored record, Chichester shouldn’t find hitting the target a problem – Ringmer have failed to keep a clean sheet in six consecutive games.

Girdler may field some youngsters against the 15th-placed side, something the former Portfield man regards as important.

He said: “It was nice to get a few kids on the bench last week, and we got Adam Barton on. He’s a different kind of player to Luke Killner who’s come on and done well for us in the past.

“We’ve got a good under-18 side and it’s always nice to blood in the youngsters. They’re being blooded into the reserves and Adam’s been on the bench before.

“He’s done very well.”

MARK ALLAWAY