Bowman injury a blow for Quakers (From The Northern Echo)

Bowman injury a blow for Quakers

8:00am Thursday 23rd February 2012 in Sport By Craig Stoddart, Deputy Sports Editor

Craig Liddle took the positives out of Darlington's encouraging display in Tuesday's defeat at Mansfield Town, but the need for a striker has increased as Ryan Bowman is now injured.

It is a recurrence of an ankle injury that saw him miss all five matches in December, so he is not expected to return in time for Quakers' next game.

That is a crunch clash at home to Stockport County who are one place above Darlington, making it a must-win match for both teams.

But Bowman's injury is a severe blow as the 20-year-old has been the club's only senior forward since Liam Hatch joined Gateshead last month, since when he has been used as a lone front man during most of Liddle's time in charge.

In Tuesday's 5-2 defeat he was joined up front by youth team midfielder Rob Ramshaw and the two linked up well, but Bowman suffered an injury that saw him substituted late on.

Liddle said: "By hook or by crook we've got to get somebody in because Ryan Bowman is going to be out for a while.

"He has done his ankle again - and Aaron Brown possibly won't be fit for the next game - so we now haven't got a fit striker at the club.

"An under-19 player is not the answer for me."

Whether Liddle is able to bring in a striker, or a player in any other position, remains in question owing to the Football Conference's restrictions on clubs in administration signing players.

He has already been rebuffed in his attempts to sign several other targets, while striker Akpo Sodje turned down the chance to return after being released by Hibernian.

The Stockport match is the first of Quakers' final seven home matches and the club have announced a ticket incentive for the last games of the season at The Northern Arena.

The ticket, which could save a fan £50 on matchday prices, will allow entry to home games against Stockport, Luton, Ebbsfleet, Grimsby, Bath, Kettering and Wrexham.

The seven-game adult ticket will cost £75, a saving of £51 on matchday prices, the concession ticket costs £55, saving £29, and the child ticket costs £25, saving £10.

General manager Jason Lee said: "The groundswell of support in the last couple of months has really been unbelievable, so we're hoping to build on goodwill by offering these discount tickets.

"Having bigger crowds makes a difference to the atmosphere inside the arena so the more fans we have coming through the gates and the more noise they are making, the better.

"I'm sure our non-season ticket holders will get behind this and we look forward to seeing bigger crowds for our last seven games getting behind Craig and the lads."

To buy a seven game ticket visit the club's main reception in the day or call 01325-387000.

* At last night's Star Radio Local Heroes Awards, Craig Liddle was named as the Inspirational Person of the Year.