Bartley: We can cope with fixture pile-up (From Bucks Free Press)

Marlow find safety in numbers

11:20am Wednesday 30th January 2013 in Local Sport By Alan Feldberg

MARLOW FC boss Mark Bartley believes he has the squad to cope with a now inevitable spring fixture pile-up.

The Hellenic League leaders have seen four games called off in recent weeks as their march to promotion has ground to a halt.

But Bartley insists they won’t be derailed by a Saturday, Tuesday regime.

He said: “At the start of the season I wanted to run with a high number. I wanted a squad of 22, 23 players and I think now is the time that strength will start to show itself.

“We’ve got three good goalkeepers, we’ll be fine in terms of numbers in the forward line, and we’ve got four or five in the middle of the park with a few returning to swell the numbers.

“In an ideal world I’d like another defender and I will look to do something about that in the next couple of weeks.

“But if you said I couldn’t sign anyone I’d be comfortable with what I’ve got.”

If they do need a boost, Phil John has just returned to training after breaking his leg in September.

He scored ten goals before then, while central midfielder Chris Hatton is also on the mend. They won’t be fit for Saturday’s visit from Reading though, which should be Marlow’s first game since January 12.

Bartley said: “I came from there and so did one or two players, so I expect them to have extra fire in their bellies for this one.

“There is a lot of feeling, good or bad, between Reading Town and myself and a few of my players. But we’ll be professional and prepare as we always do.”