Church Stretton Town boss Joe Leask hopes Haughmond's Nathan Hodge will be missing for Shropshire FA Challenge Cup tie (From Ludlow Advertiser)

1:20pm Thursday 31st January 2013 in Sport By Ian Morgan

CONFERENCE outfit AFC Telford United have been linked with a move for AFC Ludlow and Haughmond marksman Nathan Hodge.

Church Stretton Town face Haughmond in the Shropshire FA Challenge Cup this Saturday.

And joint-manager Joe Leask hopes he won’t be meeting Hodge.

“I had the pleasure of playing up-front with Nathan for Church Stretton on a Sunday when he scored 56 goals in a season,”

recalled Leask.

“He’s had a trial with Shrewsbury Town and, when he’s been playing with better teams, he’s been banging in the goals.

“Nathan’s also been linked with Market Drayton, so, hopefully, he will end up at a new club before Saturday.”

Stretton are top of the Mercian League Premier Division but Leask says his side face a tough thirdround home tie against higher-g raded Haughmond.

“We have not lost at home this season and we can give it a go because we are not expected to win,” said Leask.

“Haughmond are in West Midlands League Division One and we will need a bit of luck to overcome them.

“Stretton reached the final 10 years ago and lost to Market Drayton.

“It was a cracking day out at the Gay Meadow - we lost 2-0 and Drayton were four leagues higher than us.”

Leask has won the Shropshire FA Challenge Cup as a player but says Shawbury United are ‘clear favourites’ this term.

“I won this cup as a player with Shifnal United and we beat two higher-graded clubs, which proves that giant-killings can be done,” said Leask.

“We will need to play out of our skin and, hopefully, Haughmond will have a bad day.”

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