Crosbie moves to strengthen squad after March Town United exit cup ‘with a whimper’

BOSS Paul Crosbie has moved to reinforce his March Town United squad after the severely depleted Hares crashed out of the First Division Knockout Cup with a whimper.

March managed to summon just 12 players for their quarter-final trip to Great Yarmouth Town on Saturday, which resulted in a 3-1 defeat despite Lewis Thompson’s penalty.

The club’s reserve team were also plagued by unavailability as they slumped to a 5-0 defeat against high-flying Witchford.

Crosbie reacted by signing former Wisbech Town talent Joe Gallagher from Leverington Sports and he is also hopeful of bolstering his ranks with another player.

“I knew it was going to be tough this weekend but I didn’t expect the availability to be as bad as it was,” said the Hares boss.

“We went with 12 and I can understand why it was difficult for the lads to keep their focus.

“It was an immensely frustrating and disappointing afternoon. It was an awful way to go out of the cup, with a whimper really.”

Crosbie, who handed defender Max Mattless the armband after his captain Stu Anderson defected to Chatteris Town, said 17 players were missing for Saturday’s fixtures.

Key players Adam Sutton, Scott Welcher, Luke Pepper, Ash Spendelow and Michael Anker were among the absentees, while Danny Emmington came off injured after just 12 minutes.

Crosbie said: “It was soul-destroying because it was not what we had prepared for or how we thought it would be. We will stay motivated, but Saturday was a kick in the teeth.”

The Hares host Long Melford in the Thurlow Nunn First Division on Saturday.