The two clubs are at opposite ends of the footballing scale as far as the non-league is concerned. United are a full-time professional club with a wage bill of about £1 million and home gates of 5,500 while Canvey operate on a part-time basis and have little more than £200,000 in player wages to cover from their gates of about 600. They have been promoted three times in the past nine years and under manager Jeff King have climbed to their highest ever position in the national pyramid. 57-goal striker Lee Boylan will be the man the Cumbrians must stop tomorrow in front of what could be a 6,000-plus attendance. Boylan has notched almost 150 goals in the last three seasons but the 25-year-old marksman will find it much tougher to maintain that sort of ratio in the Conference. Alongside him could well be Junior McDougald, a much travelled striker who has been in the league with Brighton and also impressed at Conference level with Dagenham and Redbridge. Veteran midfielder Jeff Minton will add his experience to the Canvey spine. Minton spent a number of years at Brighton in the late 90s when they were struggling for league survival, so he will at least have some sympathy with the home players tomorrow. For Carlisle, Paul Simpson's main decision will be who to pair with new signing Karl Hawley up front. Hawley was the Cumbrians' in-form man during pre-season, grabbing eight goals in eight appearances. Kevin Henderson, Craig Farrell and Andy Preece will all be champing at the bit to partner Hawley although the smart money still seems to be on 37-year-old Preece. In midfield, Carlos Roca has been earmarked to play in front of a three-man line that could consist of Brendan McGill, Chris Lumsdon and Chris Billy. Will McDonagh will be contesting the second central defensive spot alongside Lee Andrews with Peter Murphy and Simon Grand. Grand, Lumsdon and keeper Kieran Westwood are all available on non-contract terms for tomorrow's game and all hope to sign permanently when the Fred Story takeover goes through. With Simpson and stopper Kevin Gray unavailable through injury and suspension respectively, there will be 20 players competing for the sixteen spots available. Picture from News & Star |
