Payne doubt for Stalybridge game

JON NEWBY must wait for a late fitness test on Shelton Payne before finalising his team for Saturday's trip to second-placed Stalybridge Celtic.
The speedy left winger, who celebrates his 23rd birthday next week, has set up the match winning goal in the Seagulls last two away games, but is a slight doubt because of a tight hamstring.
"Having not played for four or five weeks prior to joining us, Shelton has suffered a bit of reaction after playing three games in 11 days, but we are hopeful he will be okay," reported Newby.
If he is, then Newby looks set to stick to the same line-up that won 1-0 at Worcester City last weekend as Colwyn Bay look to stretch their unbeaten run to six games - which include four consecutive clean sheets.
Chris Sanna, Frank Sinclair, Fraser McLachlan, Jon Newby and Rob Hopley will all come back after being rested for Tuesday's 10-0 Coast Cup win over Blaenau Ffestiniog.
Stalybridge have seen their title aspirations badly dented during a poor run of form that has seen them fail to win any of their last six league games (three defeats and three draws) and they have conceded 13 goals in their last four league and cup outings.
That has seen the full-timers fall 12 points behind leaders and title rivals Hyde - albeit with three games in hand.
They still boast the division's second top scorer in Phil Marsh (19 goals), however, and have recently acquired attacking midfielder Djeny Bembo-Leta on loan from Oldham Athletic.
"We are on a decent run of form and our confidence is high at the moment, but they (Stalybridge) are not second in the table for nothing," warns Newby.
"It is a similar situation to last week at Worcester (who were also on a bad run of three straight defeats) and is important that we start well like we did then and don't give the opposition the chance to get their confidence back with an early goal."
If Colwyn Bay do extend their unbeaten run, it will maintain their top 10 position and could put Newby in the running for the January manager of the month award, along with Halifax's Neil Aspin if his side avoid defeat against Bishop's Stortford, after just three months in the job.
Colwyn Bay and Halifax go into Saturday's fixtures as the only sides still unbeaten during the month.
Colwyn Bay (from) Sanna, Denson, Lea, Hughes, Sinclair, McKenna, Evans, McLachlan, Hopley, Newby, Payne, Noon, Davey, McEvilly, Benson, King, Meadowcroft, Metcalf.