We have to keep midfield general James Scowcroft quiet, says Margate boss Iain O'Connell

Sunday 20th February 2011

MARGATE boss Iain O’Connell is wary of Bury Town’s dangerman when he takes his side to Suffolk this coming Saturday, writes Stephen McCartney.

James Scowcroft, the £3.5m, 35-year-old midfielder, is playing for his home town club, having notched 502 Football League appearances for the likes of Ipswich Town, Leicester City, Coventry City, Crystal Palace and Leyton Orient, before joining the Rams in September 2010, helping them to promotion into the Ryman Premier League and enjoying a fine debut season as at present they lay second, eight points behind Sutton United.

“Three points would be fantastic,” said O’Connell, with his Margate side in fifteenth place, a comfortable fifteen points clear of the relegation zone.

“I know they’re a decent side, they’ve got Scowcroft as well, who is a midfield general, who has been there and done it and he scored an absolute worldy goal against us this season in our last game (against Bury Town) so we’ve got to make sure we take care of that.

“But they’re generally a young side though. They get a lot of players from Norwich and Ipswich that have been released. The manager’s done really well there.”

Southend resident O’Connell, says he knows plenty about Bury Town, from his managerial days at Ryman League Division One North outfit Great Wakering Rovers.

“I know them from old, Bury, they used to play in my previous team’s league and they’ve always been very sharp, quick, they always play football so it’s going to be a very tough game. They’ve had a great debut season.”

Meanwhile, the club confirmed that Dan Stubbs and Dean Hill are both suspended for the game at Ram Meadow.

Visit Margate’s website: www.margate-fc.com

Bury Town v Margate

Ryman Premier League

Saturday 26th February 2011

Kick Off 3:00pm

At Ram Meadow, Cotton Lane, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk IP33 1XP