Bad break for Guiseley as Rothery sidelined until April (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Bad break for Guiseley as Rothery sidelined until April

6:40pm Thursday 2nd February 2012 in Guiseley By Ian Whiting

Guiseley manager Steve Kittrick is still coming to terms with being without leading scorer Gavin Rothery for two months.

The midfielder suffered a broken toe in Tuesday night’s West Riding County Cup victory over FC Halifax Town at Nethermoor.

Rothery, who has scored 16 goals in 28 appearances this season, came off after 33 minutes.

Kittrick said: “Gavin kicked the underside of a Halifax player’s foot.

“I am devastated for the lad. He has been one of our main cogs this season and will be out until April but we will just have to get on with it.”

However, on the plus side, the Lions have signed 21-year-old Leeds-based midfielder Tomas Skaret Halvor-sen.

The Norwegian has played for Eidsvold Turn in their third and fourth tier, and FC Norway.

Kittrick said: “He has been training with us for about a month after ringing us up and asking if he could come.

“He is at college in Leeds, looks a good player and has a good touch.

“He won’t be available for Saturday’s third-round Carlsberg FA Trophy tie at Cambridge United but could come into contention for Monday’s Blue Square Bet North league game at Nuneaton.”

The Lions boss added: “We have had Cambridge watched. They are eighth in the Blue Square Premier and are a good club.

“It is a game that we are looking forward to but I still cannot understand why we are playing on a Saturday and a Monday at this time of year, why we didn’t play more matches earlier in the season when the weather was better or why Hyde have played four more matches than us.”

Kittrick’s men knocked one of Cambridge’s promotion rivals out in the previous round, so tomorrow’s tie will not be daunting.

That win over Stalybridge Celtic also kicked off a new unbeaten run which already stretches to five games.

The biggest problem facing the Lions is guessing the weather as, for once, the cold snap gripping parts of the country is not as bad in Yorkshire.

That leaves Guiseley’s travel plans in the air as they await confirmation that the game is going ahead.

Director Stuart Allen said: “We planned to travel today because Cambridge have covers for their pitch and they expect that to protect it from the predicted deep frost.

“Our dilemma is that if we journey down tomorrow and have the cost of an overnight stay it could rebound on us if the game is postponed.”