IT HAS certainly been a rollercoaster ride supporting Albion Sports this year with goals raining in – and not always for the Lions.

In their first game of 2017, Kulwinder Sandhu’s men shipped in eight without reply at Staveley MW but they bounced back with a 4-2 home win over Rainworth MW. That scoreline set the tone but the next two 4-2 results were both defeats before a 4-3 loss at Worksop Town.

Albion shared the spoils with neighbouring rivals Thackley last Saturday as the Dennyboys earned a point at Throstle Nest from a 2-2 draw.

The Lions are still a lofty sixth in the Toolstation Northern Counties East Premier Division table as they head to Maltby Main today but their manager remains frustrated.

Sandhu said: “We played Thackley last week and I had only five lads in the side that had played for us when we won at their place early in the season.

“It’s been a shocking period for us really because we’ve had so many injuries and players unavailable. Going forward this is good for the club because at the moment half of our side are teenagers.

“It’s great for them to get the game time and experience while they’re young but this is a tough league. It’s difficult with a lot of old heads and ex-pros playing against us week after week.”

In the six games Albion Sports have played this year, they have conceded 24. Following their drubbing at Staveley, they have scored 13 goals in five games yet only banked four points.

Sandhu believes there are many reasons for that run but the key one is that skipper James Firth has been out for three months already and will miss the rest of the season.

He said: “James is a main player and he’s not just my captain, he’s my leader on the pitch but he needs a knee operation. It’s been a massive blow to us having James out for so long.

“I’ve asked Asif (Hussain) to do me a job in there and he’s a very good player and a great lad with a top attitude, but he’s 38 now.

"Asif loves to play and he is still good enough to come in. He used to be my captain, so he’s also a very good leader but we can’t punish his body for a whole season.

“We’ve got a lot of games left and if it gets to the stage where we’re playing three a week, it would be impossible for him. James and Asif are big players for me and, on his day, I think James is the best centre half in this league.

“Any team would miss a player of that quality.”