FOOTBALL: Elkins hails Bowles cracker (From The Oxford Times)

FOOTBALL: Elkins hails Bowles cracker

10:00am Friday 2nd November 2012 in Football By Nick Farrant, Sports reporter specialising in Non League Football. Call me on 01865 425488

Didcot Town manager Gary Elkins has hailed Brian Bowles’s spectacular effort in Tuesday’s 2-0 FA Trophy replay victory as one of the best he has witnessed in non-League football.

Town were leading 1-0 and down to ten men after Morgan Williams was sent off when Bowles beat a stunned keeper Nick Hutchings from near the halfway line for his first Didcot goal.

“To be fair to Brian the intent was there and the finish was absolutely fantastic,” said Elkins.

“He went past one player and then drove the ball over the keeper. “It’s up there with the best goal I have seen at this level.”

Didcot are without Lance Williams (banned) away to Merthyr in Division 1 South & West tomorrow.

Josh Dutton-Black is added to North Leigh’s squad for the home game with Shortwood United after being out for 15 months with a serious knee injury.

Boss Mark Gee said: “He’s has the all-clear to play, which is great news.”

Michael Alexis (hamstring) and John Else (shoulder) are out through injury.

Abingdon United keeper James Foster comes in at the expense of Rob Durrant when they host Cinderford Town.

Elsewhere, Banbury United winger Kynan Isaac is going on a week’s trial at championship club Brighton.

Tomorrow’s squads Didcot Tn (v Merthyr, away): from Pereira, Elkins, Stanley, Osborne-Ricketts, Thomas, Henderson, Haysham, Bowles, Clark, Heapy, M Williams, Concannon, Browne, Tappin.

North Leigh (v Shortwood, home): from Warrell, Westlake, Organ, Turk, Franklin, Caton, Coyle, Clark, Mills, Hopkins, Sanders, Deabill, Hole, Dutton-Black.

Abingdon Utd (v Cinderford, home): from Foster, Halliday, Crudup, Carnell, Baker, Tucker, Nowell, Woodley, Biddle, Whitehead, Riccio, Evans, Durrant, Melledew, Self, Young.