Firstly I must confirm that I will not be at the match this evening since following Saturday's match I have been diagnosed with a slip disc in my back. I was in pain on Saturday evening and went to hospital on Sunday morning where I was given an injection. As I am sure anybody who has suffered with it will confirm, it is a very painful condition. I am only comfortable lying down or standing up for short periods at the moment. Sitting down is very painful, so the team this evening is in the hands of Osian Roberts. They are certainly a safe pair of hands and I could wish for no better replacement. Osian and I have spoken and he will be making a few changes for tonight's match, some are enforced with Dave Evans also out injured with a damaged groin. It feels more like Casualty than a football team at the moment! Richard Hughes and Gareth Caughter also took knocks in Saturday's match but should make tonight's game.

I was very disappointed with Saturday's result I felt we played well in the first half but had no luck. Buckley played well defensively and looked dangerous on the break as we tried to push forward. Despite the territorial advantage we again achieved we are not turning that possession into goals and therefore points. It is very frustrating for both Osian and me as we know that the team we have assembled is a good one full of good players who are currently not getting their rewards. I have no doubt that our luck will turn, at the moment we seem to be getting a pretty raw deal of it with little going our way.

I was shocked to hear of the Reserves defeat at Rhyl, I had fancied them as one of the favourites for the Junior Cup this season and it was one reason why I had not used any of the Reserves so that John could have a good crack at it.

I am still in negotiations with one or two players, but unfortunately I was not able to secure a signature prior to this evening's game, there will be movement on this front in the coming couple of weeks but we will have to be patient for a little while. Please do enjoy the game in my absence and get behind the lads. Your encouragement could make all the difference.