STRIKER Lee Ashcroft's hamstring pull means that he is out of action for Town's FA Cup preliminary-round match against Eccleshill tomorrow and, although the injury is settling down he may miss Tuesday night's away trip to Woodley Sports, says manager Tony Hesketh.

Hesketh. who has himself been sidelined with illness, returned to the dug-out for Monday's game against Gresley Rovers and said that, despite the defeat, he was not displeased with his side's performance.

"Gresley have won their opening four matches and we were paid a high compliment by their management who said we were the best side they have met," said Hesketh.

"Kenny Mayers had seven or eight headers go close and on another day he could have had a hat-trick.

"I feel that if we had opened them up in the early stages we would have gone on to win comfortably.

"I was very impressed when Russ McKenna moved into a central role for the last half-hour. He really seemed to find his form and I hope to see a lot more of that in the coming weeks.

"Gresley's first goal came because our two centre-halves got in each others way, the second went in through a forest of legs and could just as easily have been diverted wide."

Ashcroft's injury apart, the team came through unscathed from the two Bank Holiday matches.

Lee Clitheroe is still on the injured list and midfielder Stuart Cliff had a operation on Wednesday for a long-term injury and is likely to be out of action for another three or four weeks.