Roberts heads Down Under

Leek Town keeper Danny Roberts is heading ‘down-under’ to spend the summer playing in the Western Australia League.

Roberts, who is still recovering from a fractured eye socket that has kept him sidelined since 19 November, was due to join Norton United on loan at the end of the month but has opted to go down-under instead.

The big keeper made 25 appearances on the spin for Leek this season before picking up the injury and has made 46 appearances in total since joining the club in January 2011 from Colwyn Bay.

Danny was previously with the Leek Town youth team and has also played for Norton United and Stone Dominoes.

Roberts is this week expected to join UWA Nedlands in the Western Australia League where he will link up with former Leek team-mate Tom Sellers and they could be locking horns with former Blues team-mate Devon Gibson who currently plays for Cockburn City.

Commenting on Roberts’ decision, Blues’ boss Lee Casswell said, “The club is happy for him to play through the summer in Australia.

“It’s a life-time opportunity for the lad and he goes with our blessing. We have an agreement with Danny that when he comes back to the UK he will re-sign for the club in time for our planned pre-season programme.

Leek will this week sign former keeper Bob Hackney as cover until the end of the season. Veteran Hackney has been playing with Blues’ ground-sharers Leek CSOB this season and last pulled on a Leek Town shirt in 2005.

Haddrell comes through the drought
Leek Town striker Matt Haddrell is back in scoring mode after drying up since 10 January when he scored the only goal of the game at home to Lincoln United.

Since then the big striker had gone 10 games without scoring until his winning brace at Sutton Coldfield on Saturday put him on the 22-goal mark this term.

Leading scorers of 20 goals in recent seasons include:
Alan Nagington 20 goals in 2005/06
Matt Haddrell 22 goals in 2011/12
Dave Whittaker 23 goals in 2003/04
Dave Whittaker 25 goals in 2002/03
Dave Whittaker 20 goals in 2001/02

However, Haddrell will have his work cut out to overtake Paul Kiely (33) in 1999/00 and Darren Twigg (40) back in 1993/94.

More player news
The Evo-Stik League transfer deadline closes on Thursday 29 March at 5pm and Blues’ boss Lee Casswell is looking to sign two players as cover to the end of the season.

Casswell especially wants to recruit a central defender as George Ray’s three month loan deal ends after the Easter Monday clash at home to New Mills on 9 April.

Ray, who is currently on loan from Crewe Alexandra, will by then have spent the maximum 93 days aloud and he will return to Gresty Road with an excellent report from the Leek Town management team.

Meanwhile, Blues have doubts over injury victims Ricky Bridge (ribs), Aden Johnson (foot), Christian Millar (knee) and Glyn Mellor (groin) ahead of the home game against Brigg on Tuesday.