Southern Justin delighted ‘experienced lads’ Crouch and Cainey are on board at Farm

WILL Justin believes the eye-catching arrivals of Ryan Crouch and Ryan Cainey to Bristol Manor Farm can prove decisive in turning potential into serious points in the weeks to come.

- Simon PARKINSON

Former Cribbs boss Ryan Crouch

The Creek supremo has an important victory opportunity in his sights tomorrow as his sixth-bottom team lock horns in Wiltshire with a Swindon Supermarine side perched immediately above them in the Division One South standings with the same seven points pocketed from an identical two wins, four defeats and a draw from seven games apiece.

With injuries mounting amid a tough period of fixtures for Farm, Justin has successfully reached out for seasoned centre-half Crouch, who until recently had been working overtime to try to reverse Cribbs' Hellenic Premier Division fortunes as manager, and Taunton Town's central midfielder Cainey, another onetime Cribbs performer of the highest order.

Both could make their Manor Farm bows at Supermarine tomorrow, while Justin, who also recently signed "talented young 'keeper" Owen Crawford from Shepton Mallet, a sports performance coaching student at University of Bath, said: "I'm delighted to have these two experienced lads aboard.

"Crouchy is the type of commanding old-school centre-half that every club wants but are becoming increasingly scarce, while Ryan also has much experience of the level and is one of those energetic, dynamic, box-to-box midfielders.

"I'm waiting on another possible acquisition soon, although that's unlikely to be done in time for the weekend."

Justin's desire to keep his squad ticking along and topped up is understandable, with unfortunate centre-back Kyle Anderson now sidelined with a rib condition, and still being assessed as to its extent, following a collision with Frome Town 'keeper Kyle Phillips late into last Wednesday's agonising 3-2 Badgers Hill defeat.

Centre-half Jake Wilson, central midfielder Abdoulie Tunkara and forward Ibrahim Olateju are on the treatment table "among others," according to Justin.