Win it without me, says Blues winger

Whitby Town are preparing to take on Blue Square North Droylsden in the FA Cup on Saturday without the services of new signing Shane Henry.

The 21-year-old winger is cup tied after featuring for Billingham Synthonia in a 1-0 Extra Preliminary Round defeat to fellow Northern Leaguers Celtic Nation, a week before Town's Evo-Stik NPL Premier season started.

However, Henry will be at the Turnbull Ground to cheer on his team-mates in the Second Qualifying Round. He told Andrew Snaith at the Whitby Gazette: "I'll just go along and warm up, sit on the bench and have a bit of crack with the lads. Hopefully we'll get the win that we need."

The ex-Guisborough Town winger has backed player-boss Darren Williams to help other young players through the tough tie and go on to pull the Blues away from the bottom two in the Evo-Stik NPL Premier Division.

"The older people, who've been around and played in the further rounds, they'll have experience and have done it all before," he insisted. "Daz said 'things are starting to change for the better' and I agree with him. I think we've turned the corner now, results just need to start falling into place."

The Seasiders' midweek result at North Ferriby United - a 1-1 draw against a side fresh from five successive wins and sitting sixth in the league - looks good on paper but Henry reckons the hosts' late equaliser made it feel like a defeat for Town.

"We were all gutted afterwards because we grafted for ninety-plus minutes and then switched off once and it cost us. It was a bit hard to take really. Throughout the game, we showed a lot of togetherness and really grafted and deserved more than a point, which was the frustrating thing."

Town will be hoping to upset another team on Saturday who've won just once so far this season and also lie second from bottom in their league.

Whitby have won the two clubs' last four meetings and it's been eight years since Dave McTiernan scored in a 2-1 Turnbull Ground defeat to the Lancastrians.

Striker Graeme Armstrong is one player who'll definitely be challenging for a place to help the Seasiders record another victory and reach the FA Cup's final qualifying round.

Armstrong is available again after missing Tuesday's game and looking forward to the challenge. He said: "It's quite nice to have a break from the league, for once. That should take a little bit of the pressure off, especially with our position in the league. We know how they play, they like to get the ball down and pass it so it should be a great game."

Armstrong, 29, who played against Droylsden for Blyth last season, is optimistic that Town can extend their unbeaten run to five matches and their overall record against the Bloods to 8-6.

He added: "Surprises happen and we played well to get past Ossett, who were a decent side. Hopefully we can get a bit of luck on the day and get through to the next round."

Admission at the Turnbull Ground for the 3pm kick off is £9 for Adults, £5 for Concessions and £2 for Under 16s. The event of a draw, the teams will replay at Droylsden's Butcher's Arms ground on Tuesday night. KO 7.45pm.